Australia makes it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest

The 25 countries taking part in Sunday morning’s Eurovision Song Contest grand final (NZ time) are now known, with guest nation Australia making the final cut.

Ten countries went through from Tuesday’s first semi-final, while five were eliminated after votes cast by viewers and professional juries.

The final line-up was completed after yesterday’s second semi-final, when 10 more countries progressed and another five were knocked out.

Eurovision’s main financial backers, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, have guaranteed spots in the final, as do hosts Austria.

Israel and Ukraine are also in the final.

Australia was a hot tip to make it through, with singer and songwriter Delta Goodrem lending her star power to the competition.

Eurovision is the world’s biggest live televised music event, typically reaching more than 150 million viewers.

Austria won the right to host this year’s contest after operatic singer JJ won last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, with Wasted Love. Vienna 2026 is the 70th edition of the show.

Australia has appeared at Eurovision by invitation since 2015, finishing runner-up in 2016.

It could go one better this time, thanks to Goodrem. The 41-year-old had a string of international hits in the early 2000s and is singing Eclipse, evoking a romantic alignment of the planets.

The full line-up for the final, starting at 7am on Sunday (NZT), is Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

- AFP