Add Category
“We have friends sleep over every year before the final. Others arrive at around four in the morning the day of,” Cafe says. “We always have a theme and get dressed up. Australia’s involvement has just increased our love for Eurovision. It was always there, but now it has a beating heart.”
Fans also travel to Europe to see the song contest in person – no expense spared. Cafe says she spent between $1500 and $1800 on tickets alone to see the full week of shows (six in total) in Portugal in 2018 and again in Sweden this year. Meanwhile, Davey says he has paid about $2500 for just three shows in the past.
Angela Cafe (right) and wife Lisa Gilbert host a Eurovision watch-party every year. This year, they dressed as “Nemo” in honour of the Swiss winner.Credit: James Brickwood
Eurovision may have begun as a distinctly European competition in 1956; however, Robyn Cartwright, a 59-year-old Brisbane-based fan, says it has always resonated with Australian audiences.
“Australians have always been a bit irreverent, we love a good party and things that are slightly off-centre. To me, that describes Eurovision,” Cartwright, who saw the contest live in Sweden this year, says.
“We relate to the quirkiness of it, the sheer exuberance, the unusual outfits. And, of course, we’ve always loved a big event, the spectacle of it all.”
Davey agrees, noting that Eurovision is more attitude than geography. “Those on Eurovision aren’t afraid to take the piss out of themselves sometimes, which Australians are known for. So, it just works.”
Robyn Cartwright represented Australia with pride at Eurovision in Sweden this year.
The fact that Australia has performed so well helps build the fandom, adds 42-year-old Matt Merlino. Seven of the nine Australian contestants, including Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jessica Mauboy, have progressed to the final.
“Many Australians feel connected to Europe because of their cultural heritage,” Merlino says. “Eurovision also has such a strong queer community vibe, which links to Australia’s focus on diversity and acceptance. It’s just hard not to love.”
In fact, Eurovision is so popular among Australians that SBS created a spin-off, Australia Decides, to determine the country’s representative. It ran between 2019 and 2022 and was the reason many followers became “hardcore” fans.
Loading
“We’re so far removed from Europe, so it was the closest many of us could get to going to the contest,” Merlino says. “Supporting our local acts, it was such a special thing to be involved in.”
Australian fans are now planning outfits and deciding whether they’ll travel to Switzerland for Eurovision 2025 in May. If they can’t, Merlino says, there’ll be plenty of celebrations down under to suffice.
Eurovision On Tour plays in Brisbane (The Tivoli) on November 13, Melbourne (The Palais) on November 15, and Sydney (The Enmore) on November 17.