Vivid Sydney ends Airbnb sponsorship after protest over ties to illegal Israeli settlements

Vivid Sydney has quietly dropped Airbnb from its sponsors in 2026, despite successive sponsorship agreements in 2024–2025.

Last year, Stop the War on Palestine protested Vivid and 24 artists and writers withdrew in protest, creating chaos for the festival. 36 acts signed an open letter to Vivid opposing Airbnb’s involvement, and over 1000 members of the general public signed a petition.

Stop the War on Palestine (SWOP) spokesperson Adam Adelpour says:

“The end of this partnership is a victory for all those who took a principled stand on the 2025 boycott, with many forgoing a major income source.

“Airbnb continues to operate in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a clear violation of international law. Airbnb and other complicit companies have no place in our cultural events or our public institutions.”

Adelpour added, “Together we made it impossible for Airbnb to use Vivid to art-wash its reputation. We have put the NSW government on notice about collaborating with companies that aid Israel’s genocide.”

“Every time we successfully cut a tie between our institutions and Israel, we undermine the legitimacy of the occupation: brick by brick, wall by wall.”

“There have been relentless attempts to exploit the Bondi attack to silence solidarity with Palestine; from Chris Minns anti-democratic laws to the Royal Commission platforming smears against legitimate criticism of Israel. This win against apartheid profiteers Airbnb shows that community opposition to Israel's crimes is stronger than the repression,” he said.

Stop the War on Palestine is now supporting the convergence on Pine Gap from 18-20 July to demand that federal Labor ends its alliance with the US and its complicity with genocide in Gaza and the war in Iran.

For media contact Adam Adelpour, Stop the War on Palestine spokesperson: 0400 351 694.