SBS Census 2026 resources are helping Australians understand why the national count matters and how to participate with confidence on Tuesday 11 August.
The broadcaster is publishing trusted news, explainers and practical information in more than 60 languages across SBS News, SBS Audio, Australia Explained, SBS Examines, SBS Learn English and NITV Radio.
For Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities, access to clear information can directly affect participation. Therefore, SBS’s multilingual campaign gives viewers and listeners a central source for questions about privacy, visa status, language requirements and the use of Census data.
What is new in the 2026 Census?
This year’s Census will build a more detailed picture of contemporary Australia. For the first time, respondents can report up to four ancestries, while new questions will cover sexual orientation and gender.
In addition, the Census is expected to provide the most comprehensive picture yet of the number of Australians who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
The information collected will help governments, organisations and communities understand how Australia is changing. It will also inform decisions about services, planning and representation.
Why the Census matters to SBS
SBS Managing Director Jane Palfreyman said every Census highlights the way Australia continues to evolve. She said the findings help SBS ensure Australians are “seen, heard and reflected” through the broadcaster’s multilingual journalism and storytelling.
Following each Census, SBS conducts its five-yearly Language Services Review. The process considers Census findings and other data to assess whether SBS language services continue to reflect Australia’s changing population.
Public consultation for the next review will run from 5 October to 13 November 2026. Details will be published through the public SBS website.
Meanwhile, SBS Director of Audio and Language Content David Hua said accurate multilingual information helps people take part in the Census and strengthens participation in Australian life.
The Census data also provides SBS with important evidence about Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity. Consequently, the Language Services Review can consider whether services ranging from Amharic and Arabic to Urdu, Vietnamese and NITV Radio continue to meet community needs.
SBS Census resources in more than 60 languages
SBS is distributing Census information across several services, with each platform serving a different audience or information need.
- Australia Explained: Information for new migrants about how the Census works and why participation matters, available in more than 60 languages through the Australia Explained Census guide.
- SBS Examines: Fact-checking and explainers addressing common misconceptions about privacy, visa status and English language requirements through the SBS Census misinformation podcast.
- SBS Learn English: Accessible resources covering data security and the English proficiency question, including the SBS Learn English Census episode.
- NITV Radio: Census information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians through NITV Radio.
- SBS Audio: Community voices, expert interviews, explainers, talkback radio and case studies in more than 60 languages through SBS Audio.
- SBS News: News, analysis, fact checks and a practical guide to key dates and common questions in the SBS News 2026 Census guide.
Watch: SBS Examines Census misinformation
An Australian Bureau of Statistics spokesperson answers common questions about the 2026 Census, including privacy, visa status and English language requirements.
When is the 2026 Census?
The 2026 Census takes place on Tuesday 11 August. Australians can find the complete collection of multilingual information through SBS’s Census 2026 in your language hub.
Read more about Jane Palfreyman’s appointment as SBS Managing Director. For more SBS stories, visit TV Central’s SBS section.
