SBS Launches Multilingual Festivals of Lights Content

The national broadcaster is highlighting traditions and rituals across Australia through a new multilingual programme series.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Cultural

SBS Launches Multilingual Festivals of Lights Content

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Should national media outlets prioritize content that promotes understanding of diverse cultural festivals?

SBS has released a content series covering Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas, and Tihar to engage the more than one million Australians who observe the festivals. The initiative features a range of dramas, documentaries, recipes, and podcasts to help audiences discover these cultural traditions.

Why it matters

The programming aims to foster cultural understanding by providing educational resources and community coverage in multiple languages. By highlighting shared rituals, the series connects diverse communities across every Australian state.

SBS provides educational resources in 28 languages regarding the festivals. These programmes support the more than one million Australians who celebrate Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas, and Tihar.

The players

SBS

SBS is an Australian public service broadcaster that provides multilingual and multicultural radio, television, and digital media services.

The details

SBS has partnered with various local councils and organisations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia to support festivities. The broadcaster is providing content in languages including Bangla, Hindi, Punjabi, and Tamil to ensure accessibility for diverse audiences.

The first Sikh temple in a northern New South Wales coastal town was inaugurated in 1968.
Key festival traditions and rituals are scheduled to begin on 6 November 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This broad digital engagement follows a long-term trend of increasing cultural integration, marked by the 1968 inauguration of Australia's first Sikh temple. SBS is capitalising on the growing demand for multilingual programming in an increasingly diverse national media landscape.

Viewers can access recipes, documentaries, and podcasts through the SBS digital platform and multilingual broadcasts. Local residents can also consult the broadcaster's online guide to find specific festivities happening across their state.

The takeaway

These festivals serve as a significant moment for cultural connection for over one million people across the nation. Readers can engage with the series to learn more about the specific rituals and culinary traditions associated with these holidays.