Australia announces national selection show for Eurovision 2019

14 October 2018 at 03:01 CEST

Australia Decides 2019 announcement SBS

Australia is back at Eurovision and for the first time ever broadcaster SBS is leaving it up to the Australian public to pick their representative. A grand national selection will take place at the Gold Coast on 9th of February.

Australian broadcaster SBS is partnering up with production company Blink TV to host Eurovision - Australia Decides, which will determine both the artist and song for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The live show will be broadcast exclusively on SBS on Saturday, 9th of February. Myf Warhust and Joel Creasy, known to the Australian audience as their commentators for the Eurovision Song Contest, will host the spectacle.

Calling upon songwriters

At a launch event at the Gold Coast, SBS called upon songwriters across Australia to submit an original composition as part of the selection process via sbs.com.au/eurovision. The song portal is now open, accepting submissions until Sunday, 4th of November.

There are no restrictions to the number of songs composers and songwriters can submit. Songs will be shortlisted later this year and paired with some of Australia’s most recognised artists.

It will be up to the Australian public and a jury to decide which artist will represent the country at the 64th Eurovision Song Contest.