Australia's Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has announced it will not join a growing boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. The decision on Israel's participation will be made by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in December, but SBS confirmed to the Guardian on Tuesday that it intends to participate in the Vienna event regardless.
Several European countries, including Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Iceland, have signalled they will withdraw if Israel competes, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The EBU excluded Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and critics accuse the organisation of double standards.
The Australian Greens and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (Apan) have urged SBS to boycott. Greens senator David Shoebridge said Eurovision should not be used to 'whitewash a genocide,' while Apan president Nasser Mashni argued Israel should be barred from international events.
SBS, which has broadcast Eurovision for over 40 years, stated it intends to continue its participation. The EBU has denied Israeli media reports that it proposed Israel compete under a neutral symbol, saying no formal proposals have been made.
