Eurovision 2026: Delta Goodrem Finishes Fourth Amidst Boycotts and Protests
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 concluded in Vienna, Austria, with Australian entrant Delta Goodrem finishing in fourth place. The contest, held at the Wiener Stadthalle, was marked by the participation of 35 countries—the lowest number since 2003—and boycotts by five nations protesting Israel's participation amid the war in Gaza.
Contest Results
Bulgaria won the competition for the first time with the song "Bangaranga" performed by Dara. Israel placed second, and Romania placed third. Goodrem, representing Australia with her song "Eclipse," finished fourth.
- After the jury vote, Australia was tied for second place with Denmark, behind Bulgaria.
- Following the public televote, Goodrem dropped to fourth place overall.
- This marks Australia's second-best result in Eurovision history, behind Dami Im's second-place finish in 2016.
- Bookmakers had listed Australia as the second-favorite to win prior to the final.
Australia's Performance
Goodrem performed "Eclipse," a pop ballad she co-wrote with Jonas Myrin, Ferras Alqaisi, and Michael Fatkin. The performance featured:
- A gold gown by Sydney label Velani, containing approximately 7,000 Swarovski crystals and requiring over 500 hours of hand-sewing.
- A Versa Ribbon Lift stage technology, previously used by Beyoncé.
- A piano intermezzo and a raised platform.
Goodrem qualified for the grand final via the second semi-final, advancing through public vote. She competed against 19 other countries in the final. This was Australia's first qualification for the grand final since 2023.
Goodrem announced her seventh studio album, "Pure," scheduled for release on November 6.
Boycotts and Controversy
Five national broadcasters boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel's participation:
- Ireland (RTÉ)
- Iceland (RÚV)
- Spain (RTVE)
- The Netherlands (AVROTROS)
- Slovenia (RTV SLO)
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) issued a formal warning to Israeli broadcaster KAN after videos urged viewers to vote multiple times for Israel. Russia was expelled from Eurovision in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
Protests have occurred in Vienna, including a planned demonstration called "No Stage For Genocide." Vienna police described the event as one of the largest security operations they have overseen.
Goodrem's Statements
Goodrem stated that she felt honored to represent Australia, carrying the country "in every note and every moment." She described "Eclipse" as being about "alignment" and "connection." Goodrem noted that Australian icon Olivia Newton-John would be "watching over" the proceedings.
Broadcast and Viewership
The grand final aired on SBS, with streaming available on SBS On Demand. The event was watched by an estimated audience of up to 150 million viewers globally. The scoring system allocated 50% of points from audience televotes and 50% from national juries. Australian viewers could not vote for Australia's entry.
Australia's Eurovision History
Australia first participated in Eurovision as an interval act in 2014, and officially as a competitor in 2015 after being invited by the EBU as a wildcard entry for the contest's 60th anniversary. SBS has broadcast the contest since 1983.
Australia's results since 2015 include:
- 2015: Guy Sebastian, 5th place
- 2016: Dami Im, 2nd place (best result)
- 2023: Voyager, qualified for grand final
- 2024: Electric Fields, did not qualify for grand final
- 2025: Go-Jo, did not qualify for grand final
- 2026: Delta Goodrem, 4th place