Australia tops Eurovision Semi‑Final 2 poll

ESCXTRA’s May 14 press poll from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi-Final 2 dress rehearsal in Vienna put Australia at the top, adding to attention around Delta Goodrem’s entry “Eclipse.” The outlet said its annual poll of accredited press at the rehearsal ranked Australia first ahead of Thursday night’s live semi-final. Other Eurovision fan outlets reported the same rehearsal cycle also drew notice for Goodrem’s staging, including a crystal-heavy gown and celestial imagery. Eurovision’s official site lists Australia 11th in the running order for the second semi-final in Vienna. ### What exactly was this poll measuring in Vienna? ESCXTRA said on May 14 that its result came from the dress rehearsal for Semi-Final 2, not from the televised vote that will decide who qualifies. The poll was conducted among members of the press centre after the rehearsal in Vienna, according to the site’s homepage listing for its “Press Poll Results: Semi-Final 2” and “Audience Poll results: Semi-Final 2” coverage. (escxtra.com) ESC Insight, which is part of the separate Eurovision Audience Poll project, published a different snapshot from the same day. That outlet said Bulgaria finished first in its audience poll with 17% of the vote, while Australia placed second with 16% and Denmark third with 12%, underscoring that different unofficial polls were circulating before the live show. (escxtra.com) ### Who is representing Australia, and what is “Eclipse”? Eurovision’s official website said on March 1 that SBS selected Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The same announcement said “Eclipse” is Australia’s entry and identified the songwriters as Goodrem, Ferras Alqaisi, Jonas Myrin and Michael Fatkin, with Fatkin also producing the track. (escinsight.com) Eurovision World’s participant page for Australia lists “Eclipse” as Goodrem’s 2026 contest song. The official Eurovision site said Goodrem would perform the song in the second half of the second semi-final. ### What are reports saying about the staging? Aussievision, which attended the full dress rehearsal in Vienna, said Goodrem begins the performance inside a moon prop before moving down the catwalk to a golden piano surrounded by smoke. (eurovision.com) The outlet said the closing sequence features Goodrem rising above the stage as the sun appears from behind the eclipse image. (eurovisionworld.com) Eurovision fan coverage on May 14 also focused on the costume. Eurovision Central described the look as a “celestial” gown tied to the song’s visual concept, while other reports said the dress was built around thousands of crystals. Those descriptions match the broader visual framing around “Eclipse” that has been used in rehearsal and preview coverage this week. (aussievision.net) ### Where does Australia perform in the semi-final lineup? The official Eurovision running order, published on April 2, places Australia 11th in Semi-Final 2. Australia follows Denmark and performs before Ukraine in the Thursday lineup. The same official running-order release said Semi-Final 2 includes 15 competing entries, alongside appearances from automatic finalists France and the United Kingdom and host country Austria. (eurovisioncentral.com) Eurovision said professional juries returned to the semi-finals in 2026, joining audiences at home in deciding which acts advance. ### What happens next after the rehearsal polls? (eurovision.com) SBS said Eurovision 2026 is being held in Vienna on Tuesday, May 12, Thursday, May 14, and Saturday, May 16. The second semi-final takes place on May 14, and the Grand Final is scheduled for May 16. Thursday’s live show, not the press poll, will determine which 10 acts from Semi-Final 2 move on to the Grand Final in Vienna. (eurovision.com) Australia’s next test is its May 14 live performance slot, with Goodrem appearing 11th on the night. (sbs.com.au)