Guy Sebastian of Australia performs on stage during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 on May 23, 2015 in Vienna, Austria
Australia has been invited to submit an entry to next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.
The European Broadcasting Union said in a statement that the contest "has the potential to evolve organically into a truly global event", adding that Australian attendance "is an exciting step in that direction".
Australia competed in the 60th edition in Vienna in May as a one-off celebration because of its "long tradition of broadcasting the show".
For the 2016 event, Australian broadcaster SBS will not be guaranteed a finals place as it was in Vienna. Instead, Australia's entry will have to earn a spot via the semifinals.
The event is known for its eclectic line-up of techno beats, love songs and pop tunes.
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