What Time Is the Eurovision Grand Final?
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place this weekend, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the event. In Vienna, Austria, the show will start at 9pm local time. However, due to the time difference, viewers in Australia will need to adjust their schedules accordingly.
Here’s a breakdown of the times for different regions:
- ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria: 5am AEST
- Northern Territory and South Australia: 4:30am ACST
- Western Australia: 3am AWST
This means that for many Australians, the grand final will be an early morning event.
Where Can I Watch Eurovision?
For those in Australia, the grand final will be broadcast on SBS, and you can also stream it on SBS On Demand. If you’re looking for live commentary and analysis, Hanan Dervisevic and Rudi Maxwell, SBS’s resident Eurovision experts, will be providing live updates on the ABC News website throughout the event.
How Do I Vote in Eurovision?
Voting for your favorite song is an essential part of the contest. You can cast your votes on the official Eurovision website. It’s important to note that each vote costs 70 cents, and you can cast up to 10 votes. However, the site warns that you’ll only be able to submit your votes once per payment card.
There’s one crucial rule: you cannot vote for your own country. This means that while we all hope for a strong performance from Australia, we won’t be able to influence the results in our favor.
Who Is Representing Australia?
Australia is represented by Delta Goodrem, a well-known figure in Australian pop culture. She first gained fame as Nina Tucker on Neighbours in 2002. Her debut album, Innocent Eyes, was released the following year and included five number one singles, such as Born to Try, Lost Without You, and Not Me Not I.
Goodrem has since released eight more albums, starred in the Australian production of Cats, coached contestants on The Voice, and portrayed Olivia Newton-John in a biopic about the singer’s life. She has a new album set to release later this year.
What Is Delta Goodrem’s Song About?
Goodrem will perform a song titled Eclipse, which was released in March and reached number one on the Australian AIR Independent Singles Chart. The track was co-written by Goodrem along with Ferras Alqaisi, Jonas Myrin, and Michael Fatkin.
One of the standout features of her performance is a gold, sparkly piano that doubles as a podium. Goodrem described the song as open to interpretation, touching on themes of connection, timing, and alignment.
“You could take it as a love song,” she said. “You could take it about the timing of love or your time in your own life that aligns when time is meant to be. And that’s when eclipse happens.”
The lyrics of Eclipse include lines like:
Shadows in the moonlight, dancing with the sun
Planets are aligning to love as one
And it won’t be long ‘til the morning comes
In a sky full of stars, though our lives were apart
We’ve only just begun
The song is a powerful expression of love and connection, and it promises to be a highlight of the competition.
Why Is Australia in Eurovision?
Australia’s participation in Eurovision is largely due to the support of SBS, which has covered the event since 1983. Although Australian acts have only been competing in the contest for 12 years, the country has made a significant impact.
The first Australian contestant, Guy Sebastian, competed in 2006 and placed fifth. Following this success, SBS struck a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to keep Australia on the bill until 2023. Since then, the country has continued to participate each year, with artists such as Dami Im, Electric Fields, and Go-Jo representing Australia.
Dami Im holds the record for the highest placement by an Australian contestant, finishing second in 2016 with her emotional ballad Sound of Silence.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re hosting a Eurovision watch party or watching alone, there’s something for everyone in this year’s competition. Don’t forget to share your experience with us—send in your photos and videos to join the conversation.
