Canada has gained eligibility to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest as a result of CBC/Radio-Canada becoming a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The decision came after a vote at the EBU’s general assembly in Prague, upgrading the Canadian public broadcaster from its previous status as an associate member since 1950.
While Canada can now submit an entry to Eurovision, CBC has not confirmed its participation yet. Leon Mar, a spokesperson for CBC/Radio-Canada, mentioned that further details regarding the Eurovision Song Contest will be disclosed later.
In the 2025 budget, the government expressed its collaboration with CBC to explore Canada’s involvement in Eurovision. This initiative was reportedly championed by the prime minister personally, as confirmed by government sources at the time. However, the federal government has not responded to requests for comments on the matter.
Eurovision director Martin Green had previously stated that Canadian participation would be welcomed during the competition. Notably, other non-European countries like Israel, Morocco, and Australia have also taken part in the contest. Australia, for instance, joined in 2015 despite its broadcaster, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), not being a full EBU member but receiving special permission to participate.
The 2026 Eurovision competition saw Bulgarian singer Dara clinching victory with her song “Bangaranga.” The move for CBC to become a full EBU member is expected to enhance cooperation between the two entities, offering access to various services including networks for investigative journalism, digital news, and data sharing, among others.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, emphasized the potential benefits of this new relationship with EBU, aiming to combat disinformation and promote cultural expression through strengthened cooperation. Noel Curran, director general of EBU, highlighted Canada’s significant contributions to the union, emphasizing the strengthening effect of Canada’s voice within the EBU community.