Australia refuses Eurovision boycott over ‘Israel’ participation amid European protests

Australia's Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has confirmed it will not join a growing number of European public broadcasters threatening to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if ‘Israel’ is allowed to participate.

The decision places SBS at odds with a mounting protest movement.

An SBS spokesperson stated the network's intention to participate in the contest, citing its tradition of broadcasting the event for over 40 years as a "global celebration of diversity and inclusion".

The broadcaster's continued presence in the contest, for which it was originally invited to commemorate the 60th anniversary, is contingent upon the EBU's "goodwill".

Broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain have publicly announced their intention to withdraw from the competition if ‘Israel’ takes part.

The calls for a boycott are over the ‘Israeli’ aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Ireland's RTÉ described participation as "unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives," while the Netherlands' AVROTROS cited "severe human suffering".

Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, also pointed to reports of "war crimes, including genocide," stating that it is inaccurate to claim the contest is an apolitical festival.

This stance from European broadcasters follows a precedent set in 2022 when the EBU banned Russia from the contest following the war in Ukraine.

Critics, including the Australian Greens' foreign affairs spokesperson, Senator David Shoebridge, have accused the EBU of "gross double standards" for banning Russia while "rolling out the red carpet for Israel".

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has also called for a boycott, arguing that such events should be reserved for countries that "play by the internationally agreed rules and aren’t committing genocide".

The EBU has not taken a definitive position on ‘Israel's’ participation and has said it is still consulting with its members.

Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm their participation, and the EBU has stated it will "respect any decision broadcasters make".