SBS and production partner Blink TV have announced Eurovision – Australia Decides will return to the Gold Coast in February 2022, giving Australians another chance to choose who will represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Italy.
In association with the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland, Major Events Gold Coast, and Screen Queensland, Eurovision – Australia Decides will be presented at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February.
Hosted by comedian Joel Creasey and music buff Myf Warhurst, Eurovision – Australia Decides will showcase the best of Australian music and talent. Australians are encouraged to vote for their favourite artist and song to represent the nation on the world’s biggest stage. The winner will be revealed during the Live TV Final which will be broadcast exclusively on SBS on Saturday 26 February.
SBS director of television and online content, Marshall Heald said:
“Australia is home to so many talented artists and songwriters, and SBS is proud to provide this international platform for our nation’s incredibly diverse music community. Eurovision – Australia Decides is a unique opportunity for established and undiscovered songwriters to show us what they’ve got and for a suite of Australian artists to bring these songs to life on stage in February. It’s over to you Australia – let’s give Europe our best!”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said:
“Hosting Eurovision – Australia Decides on the Gold Coast is a wonderful opportunity to show Australia and the world our world-class event hosting capabilities in one of our most spectacular tourism destinations. We’ve previously seen avid Eurovision fans flock to the Gold Coast for this event and we look forward to welcoming them again in February 2022.”
Creative director of Eurovision – Australia Decides, Paul Clarke said:
“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. So huge props to SBS, the Queensland Government and Major Events Gold Coast for backing #AusDecides again. We’ve got some very exciting artists to announce shortly, but first we need songs! It’s an opportunity for all our songwriters to showcase their best and boldest – please send your songs to the SBS song portal. Before you know it, you could be in the next announcement, when we reveal some very exciting artists and songwriters!”
SBS is calling on a range of songs and songwriters to submit an original composition as part of the national selection process via sbs.com.au/eurovision. The song portal, supported by APRA AMCOS, which represents over 100,000 Australasian songwriters, composers and music publishers, is now open for submissions until 26 September 2021. There are no restrictions on the number of songs composers and songwriters, both published and unpublished can submit.
Songs will be shortlisted and announced later this year, along with the ten Australian artists set to compete for their shot to represent Australia on the world’s biggest stage.
To submit a song or for more information on Eurovision – Australia Decides: sbs.com.au/Eurovision
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022 airs live and exclusively on SBS on Saturday 26 February.
Broadcast times across Australia:
NSW/VIC/TAS/ACT 8:30pm – 11:00pm AEDT
QLD 7:30pm – 10:00pm AEST
SA 8:00pm – 10:30pm ACDT
WA 5:30pm – 8:00pm AWST
NT 7:00pm – 9:30pm ACST