Australian broadcaster SBS has announced that they will select their act for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on 26 February, with the return of Eurovision – Australia Decides. The national final, which was last held in 2020, will be hosted again by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst live from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Ten entries will be selected to take part in the national final with the winner being selected by a combination of public and professional jury voting. It was reported back in September 2020 that the selection would be returning in 2022, but no further details had been confirmed since. ‘Australia Decides’ was cancelled in 2021, following the internal selection of returning artist Montaigne.
“We’ve got some very exciting artists to announce”
Following the announcement this morning, the national final’s creative director Paul Clarke has said that there is “exciting” announcements to come from Australia. It was also announced that song submissions for Australia Decides 2022 are now open to interested songwriters.
We’ve had a year on the bench due to COVID, now we’re going to produce an event that blows people’s minds and touches their hearts. We want to get the passion going for Eurovision and our incredible musicians… We’ve got some very exciting artists to announce shortly, but first we need songs… Before you know it, you could be in the next announcement, when we reveal some very exciting artists and songwriters!
– Paul Clarke, Creative Director of Eurovision – Australia Decides
Submissions will remain open until 26 September 2021. Composers and songwriters can enter an unlimited amount of songs for consideration. Interested songwriters can submit their entries via the ‘song portal’ here. Songs must follow all usual Eurovision rules and all songs must be between 2 and 3 minutes in length.
Dami Im had previously said that she would be taking part in the 2021 edition, however added that she was ‘unsure’ whether she would extend her interest to 2022. Speaking to Eurovoix’s The Euro Trip earlier this year, she said that she “might do it, [or] might not”. Dami still holds Australia’s best result at the contest – finishing 2nd in 2016.
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022 will be broadcast live on SBS on 26 February 2021 at 20:30 AEDT (10:30 CET).
Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Although many Australians have performed on the Eurovision stage, it wasn’t until 2015 the nation took part ‘as a guest’. Guy Sebastian flew the flag with the uptempo ‘Tonight Again’, coming 5th. Due to the resounding success and positive response, Australia have competed in the contest since. In 2019, the EBU guaranteed Australia’s ability to participate until 2023.
Last year, Montaigne was selected as Australia’s representative after winning Eurovision: Australia Decides with her song, “Don’t Break Me”. After the contest was cancelled, SBS invited Montaigne back to compete at the 2021 contest. Her entry “Technicolour” placed 14th in semi-final one with 28 points.
Are you excited for Australia’s 2022 entry? Will you be watching ‘Australia Decides’ over a breakfast or brunch next year?
Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA.
