Australia locked in for Eurovision 2017 as the line-up is revealed

A total of 43 countries will take part in the event, equalling the record high last seen in 2011 reported Eurovision TV.

“Dami Im’s magnificent Grand Final performance in Stockholm earlier this year secured Australia the runner up position on the world’s largest stage, a testament not only to her amazing singing prowess but the humbling way the European community has embraced our entry into the competition,” SBS managing director Michael Ebeid said in a statement.

“Australia has celebrated Eurovision for over 30 years on SBS; this joyous event is the perfect example of the SBS charter in action with its celebration of diversity, culture, and inclusion and we are honoured to have been invited to compete once again.”

The competition, which is in its 62nd year, will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, which previously hosted the competition in 2005, as well as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2013.

Im finished second with her song The Sound of Silence and in 2015 Guy Sebastian came fifth in Vienna. No one has yet been chosen to represent Australia for our third appearance.

“Dami Im’s performance in Stockholm felt like a truly historic moment for Australian music, a moment when Europe really opened its arms to us. We are thrilled to be back, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year,” Australian Head of Delegation, Director of Blink TV, SBS’s Eurovision production partner, Paul Clarke. said:

MORE: Why does Australia bother with Eurovision?

Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said they are delighted with the participation.

“We have not had this many countries in one contest since 2011 in Düsseldorf. The Eurovision Song Contest still unites audiences like no other show, reaching over 200 million people in 2016. We’re looking forward to three fantastic shows in Kyiv next May,” Ola Sand said.

The 2017 Eurovision countries

Albania

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Georgia

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

F.Y.R. Macedonia

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

The Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

San Marino

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

The Semi-Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will take place on Tuesday the 9th and Thursday the 11th of May, with the Grand Final on Saturday 13th May.

Originally published as Australia’s Eurovision 2017 rivals