Canada Set to Join Eurovision After Joining European Broadcasting Union

Canada is poised to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time after its public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), was granted full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) last weekend. This membership is a prerequisite for competing in Eurovision. The move follows efforts by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who since taking office last year has worked to strengthen political and economic ties with Europe. Carney first proposed including Canada in Eurovision as part of the 2025 government budget.

If Canada joins, it will follow Israel and Australia as non-European countries regularly competing in the contest. Morocco also participated once in 1980. The Canadian government announced in November that it was collaborating with CBC to explore joining Eurovision, allocating approximately $105 million to the broadcaster in the budget. According to Eurovision rules, only countries with public broadcasters that are EBU members can participate.

Noel Curran, CEO of the EBU, praised Canada’s inclusion, saying it strengthens the community. He recently warned the Israeli Finance Committee chairman about potential consequences if Israel’s broadcaster "Kan" were harmed, which could jeopardize Israel’s Eurovision participation. Although Canada has never competed, Canadian artists have performed and won Eurovision representing other countries, most notably Celine Dion, who won for Switzerland in 1988 and launched her international career. More recently, Montreal singer La Zarra represented France in Eurovision 2023.