Canada has become eligible to join the Eurovision Song Contest, following the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) acceptance of CBC/Radio-Canada as a full member. This development means Canadian artists could soon compete on the international stage.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously suggested exploring Canada's participation in the contest, a notion included in his government's 2025 budget. The government announced in November that it was working with CBC, Canada's public broadcaster, to assess potential involvement, allocating C$150 million (approximately £80 million) in funding for the broadcaster. Eurovision rules stipulate that participation is open to countries whose broadcasting organizations are members of the EBU. Prior to this announcement, CBC held an "associate member" status with the EBU.
Noel Curran, director general of the EBU, stated that "Canada's voice in this community makes us stronger." The inclusion of Canada as a potential competitor follows precedents set by other non-European nations, such as Israel and Australia, which regularly participate, and Morocco, which competed in 1980.
While Canada has not formally entered the contest as a nation, Canadian artists have previously appeared in Eurovision, with some achieving success. Notably, Céline Dion, originally from Quebec, won the contest in 1988 representing Switzerland, a victory that significantly boosted her career. Other Canadians who have competed include Natasha St-Pier, who represented France in 2001, and La Zarra, a Montreal-based singer who performed for France in 2023.