Protesters demand SBS boycott Eurovision broadcast
Protesters gathered outside SBS’s office in Melbourne to call for the broadcaster to boycott Eurovision, after Israel was cleared to participate in next year’s competition. The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed Israel will be allowed to participate in Eurovision 2026. In response, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia have announced their withdrawal.
Some broadcasters also threatened to boycott the event, citing the number of people killed in Gaza and accusing Israel of flouting rules meant to guard the contest’s neutrality.
Israel accuses its critics of mounting a global smear campaign against it.
A Free Palestine Melbourne organiser said SBS should not broadcasting the event due to Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza, saying “we can’t entertain genocide”.
Israel has been accused of committing genocide in Gaza during the war with Hamas following the October 7 attacks in 2023. The UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israeli authorities and forces had committed “four of the five genocidal acts” listed in the 1948 Genocide Convention. Israel has said it “categorically rejects” the findings of the UN probe.
SBS said it will continue to cover Eurovision in 2026.
An SBS spokesperson said: “We respect the right for people to express their views peacefully and respectfully. SBS’s participation in and coverage of Eurovision will continue in 2026. Eurovision was created to bring people and cultures together through music, a purpose that continues to guide the contest and has shaped SBS’s broadcast for more than 40 years. Our position remains that, as a public broadcaster, making a decision to be involved based on the inclusion or exclusion of any country would undermine SBS’s editorial independence and impartiality. SBS recognises and respects the deeply held views and concerns about the war in the Middle East and its impact, both locally among our audiences and internationally as reflected by other broadcasters. Our responsibility is to provide comprehensive, trusted and impartial coverage for Australians across our network, and we will continue to do so.”
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