Australia has opted for experience in 2026, sending Delta Goodrem with ‘Eclipse’ after an internal selection by SBS. That alone gives the entry a different feel from some of Australia’s more recent choices. Goodrem isn’t tipping up as an intriguing newcomer or a novelty act with a song about blow jobs. She’s an established name, and ‘Eclipse’ sounds like a song written with the contest firmly in mind. That’s not a criticism. Eurovision has, after all, been built on songwriters aiming directly at the back wall for decades.
‘Eclipse’ is a builder: polished, dramatic and carefully structured around Goodrem’s assured vocal delivery. There’s piano, swelling crescendos, and a classic sense of escalation throughout, right down to the sort of gear-shift/key-change that older Eurovision watchers will recognise with a small nod of approval. And I have to admit, the song does feel slightly dated in places, but dated in a professional, intentional way rather than by accident. More importantly, it sounds built for a large room. This isn’t really a quirky streaming-first pop artefact.
Australia has been internally selecting its entries for some time. This year the ABC appears to have decided a known quantity with vocal credibility might be the wiser route. Goodrem’s involvement also signals renewed ambition after two consecutive (thoroughly deserved) non-qualifications. Australia has been drawn into the big-song-heavy second half of the second semi-final.
History
Dami Im’s runner-up finish in 2016 still stands as the Australian high-water mark, while 2024’s Electric Fields and 2025’s Go-Jo both missed the final, each finishing 11th in their semi-final.
‘Eclipse’ feels like a plausible qualifier and a credible jury proposition. Goodrem can sell a big vocal moment, and juries tend to respond well when a performer looks in control of their own machinery. The televote is slightly harder to call. Australia still occasionally suffers from a curious air of “yes, but why are you here?” among parts of the audience. Polished mid-tempo drama isn’t always enough to bulldoze through that on charm alone. Even so, this looks like Australia’s strongest package in a few years, and one that should at least put them properly back in the conversation.
10 Points
