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Aussievision recently conducted a survey with Australian fans about the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.<\/p>\n
This covered general information on how they watched the show, how many times they voted and if they’ve been to the Contest.<\/p>\n
However, this also asked some tough questions about Israel’s participation, voting, and how they rated the show and EBU overall.<\/p>\n
Additionally, fans were asked about SBS’s coverage, Australia’s performance and future in the Contest and how we should choose our artist.<\/p>\n
In our second article in a series looking at the results, we’re looking at their views on Australia’s Eurovision 2026 campaign and our future with the Contest.<\/p>\n
Firstly, who did we hear from?<\/p>\n
We received 304 respondents with 269 residing in Australia.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, because many international fans took the survey we will present the results of fans living in Australia only. But we do acknowledge many Aussie fans live overseas.<\/p>\n
Attendance, watching and voting<\/p>\n
70% have never been to the Contest, 18% have been once and 4% have been five times or more.<\/p>\n
81% watched the Grand Final live on SBS or SBS On Demand (up from 72% last year), 4% live in the stadium, 5% on YouTube, while 21% watched it delayed either On Demand or in the Prime Time replay.<\/p>\n
40% voted the full 10 times,\u00a0while 43% didn’t vote at all and 4% found a way to vote more than 10 times.<\/p>\n
57% watched with family and friends,\u00a043% on their own and 3% in the stadium or at an event (multiple options could be checked)<\/p>\n
2026 performance and result<\/p>\n
Delta Goodrem with Eclipse placed 4th for Australia in the Grand Final.<\/p>\n
It was Australia\u2019s best result since Dami Im finished second in 2016.<\/p>\n
We asked fans to rate Australia’s placing and entry as either: Very good, good, neutral\/average, poor or very poor.<\/p>\n
Very good – 77%<\/p>\n
Good – 16%<\/p>\n
Neutral\/Average – 4%<\/p>\n
Poor – 3%<\/p>\n
Very poor – 0.4%<\/p>\n
Overall, 93% rated it positively, 4% neutral, and 3% negatively.<\/p>\n
This is a significant increase on 2025, when Go-Jo with Milkshake Man was rated 41% positively, 37% neutral, and 23% negatively.<\/p>\n
Should Australia return to Eurovision 2027?<\/p>\n
We asked fans: Should Australia return to Eurovision next year?<\/p>\n
(Difference from last year in brackets)<\/p>\n
Yes, definitely regardless – 67% (-2)<\/p>\n
Yes, but only if changes happen within the Contest – 26% (-)<\/p>\n
A clear majority of 93% want Australia to return, with just 3% opposed.<\/p>\n
This is slightly down from the 95% who wanted Australia to return in the 2025 survey.<\/p>\n
The number wanting to return regardless also dropped slightly from 69% to 67%.<\/p>\n
How should Australia select its entry?<\/p>\n
If Australia did compete, we asked fans how they would like the entry selected.<\/p>\n
Fans still want a return to a national selection show like Australia Decides, but support dropped from 75% in the 2025 survey.<\/p>\n
There was a significant rise for an internal selection, up from 10% to 20%, likely helped by the success of Delta Goodrem\u2019s internally selected campaign.<\/p>\n
Australia Decides was used to select Australia’s entries in 2019, 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n
What form could a national selection take?<\/p>\n
Fans were able to select multiple options with live shows in a stadium or studio getting the majority of votes.<\/p>\n
Live show in the stadium – 70% (-4)<\/p>\n
Live show in a TV studio – 61% (-3)<\/p>\n
Online with live performances – 21% (+1)<\/p>\n
Online with live studio tracks – 6% (+2)<\/p>\n
Support for a live stadium show dropped from 74% last year to 70%, while a live TV studio show dropped from 64% to 61%.<\/p>\n
Online options remained much less popular, with live online performances at 21% and studio tracks at 6%.<\/p>\n
How did they rate SBS’s 2026 approach?<\/p>\n
Respondents were asked to rate SBS’s coverage and other items on a five-star scale.<\/p>\n
How would you rate the SBS broadcast of Eurovision 2026: 4.32 stars<\/p>\n
(This was up from 4.11 last year)<\/p>\n
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How would you rate the promotion of Eurovision 2026 by SBS:- 3.58 stars<\/p>\n
(This was up from 3.29 in 2025)<\/p>\n
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How would you rate the SBS commentators Courtney Act and Danny Estrin: 4.21 stars<\/p>\n
(This was up from 3.80 for Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong last year)<\/p>\n
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How much confidence do you have in SBS as a broadcaster of Eurovision: 4.41 stars<\/p>\n
(This was up from 4.12 in the 2025 survey)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
We asked fans for comments on what Australia did this year and how it could improve in the future.<\/p>\n
Please note these are the views of fans and not Aussievision.<\/p>\n
Praise for Delta Goodrem<\/p>\n
There was overwhelming praise for Delta Goodrem\u2019s performance and campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta was fantastic and did us amazingly proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta Goodrem was truly spectacular- did us so proud!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta was incredible this year – an absolutely seasoned and talented performer, amazing live, very media-friendly. The whole package!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta was perfect, I can’t fault anything. From her performance to her interviews and professionalism….she was the perfect ambassador.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta\u2019s performance was STUNNING \ud83e\udd29 The staging was epic. Australia couldn\u2019t have done more. Delta is so charismatic, Europe loves her, there was no better choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Send established, quality artists<\/p>\n
Many respondents said Delta\u2019s success showed Australia should continue sending experienced performers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta was the best entry we have had so far. We need to be sending our best and most seasoned performers to even have a shot at the title.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue to send quality acts. Our best results come from great songs from fantastic vocalists (Delta, Dami, Guy, Kate).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLoved Delta. I think if Australia continues to send artists then they need to be on Delta\u2019s level. We definitely get marked down a notch just for being Australia so we really need strong performers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a good solid established singer like Delta, Dami, Guy is definitely the path to go with in future competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSending Delta was brilliant! It was very exciting and the whole country got on board. Australians who would usually ignore Eurovision paid attention because Delta is so well known.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staging and campaign<\/p>\n
Fans also praised Australia\u2019s staging, while calling for SBS to maintain the same level of investment in future years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoever was behind the staging of Delta\u2019s number needs to be kept on a retainer and SBS needs to treat every year like they are sending Delta and have a chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStaging was great this year and very memorable. Best since 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta was a great choice finally and her performance including lighting staging costume were very classy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to keep the momentum with sending people over who can showcase the best of Australia and deliver on that stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe contest is no longer just about the vocals, an act really needs to be a performance with staging and dancers, more than one person on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia Decides \/ Public Input<\/p>\n
Despite the success of Delta\u2019s internal selection, many respondents still want the public to have a say.<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing back a national selection competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I want is for public selection to return in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReturning to a national final would be great – take inspiration from UMK, tap some of the great talent we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBring back Australia Decides! So many Aussie ESC fans will probably never make it over to Eurovision in person so the stadium show meant so much to Aussie fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss Australia Decides- we didn\u2019t necessarily make the best decisions though. It was just such a lovely space for us weirdos to connect over the contest that didn\u2019t involve a trip to Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Could Australia ever win?<\/p>\n
A strong result also left some fans questioning whether Australia could ever win Eurovision.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, if we can\u2019t win with Delta and that epic performance, I honestly don\u2019t think we can ever win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cN\/A, we sent a perfect entry and didnt win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta nailed it \ud83d\ude2d I honestly don\u2019t think we will ever win if she couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was amazing but we will never win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will always struggle with the public vote, so all things considered we\u2019re doing great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Promotion and SBS presentation<\/p>\n
There was strong praise for SBS and the commentary team, though some respondents wanted more promotion and lead-up content.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanny and Courtney were fantastic, keep both of them!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSBS\u2019 coverage of the event itself is excellent but more promotion in the buildup would be excellent – local shows surrounding Eurovision (like SBS used to have) would be welcome to return too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta did a brilliant job connecting with the media, fans and other contestants. Feels like the best lead up Australia has had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat decision from the SBS to keep Courtney and to choose Danny as our commentators for this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell done to not only Delta and her crew, but also to Courtney Act and Estrin for their fantastic and informative and entertaining commentary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Summary<\/p>\n
As a collective Aussie fans strongly backed Australia\u2019s Eurovision 2026 campaign, with 93% rating Delta Goodrem\u2019s result and entry positively.<\/p>\n
They also remain strongly supportive of Australia returning to Eurovision in 2027, with 93% wanting the nation back in the Contest in some form.<\/p>\n
A national selection show like Australia Decides remains the most popular option, though support fell from 75% to 68%.<\/p>\n
Support for an internal SBS selection doubled from 10% to 20%, likely reflecting the success of Delta\u2019s internally selected campaign.<\/p>\n
Fans rated SBS highly, with confidence in the broadcaster rising to 4.4 stars and the broadcast itself rated 4.3 stars.<\/p>\n
The big message from fans was clear: Delta set a new benchmark for Australia at Eurovision, and SBS now has a job to do to maintain that level of artist, staging, promotion and ambition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Aussievision recently conducted a survey with Australian fans about the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. This covered general information…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":675090,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[64,63,44],"class_list":["post-696597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696597\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/675090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}