Eurovision’s global brand could be about to grow to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. It was revealed this week that Canada is in early discussions to possibly join the song contest.
Indications of a potential Canadian appearance at Eurovision came from the federal government’s latest budget.
One section of the document was titled “Protecting Our National Broadcaster: CBC/Radio-Canada.” Part of this laid out plans for the government to work with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to explore the possibility of participating at Eurovision:
“CBC/Radio-Canada is part of our Canadian identity. Canada’s new government is protecting our national broadcaster by ensuring it has the resources needed to modernise and better deliver for Canadians, and to continue providing vital programming in both French and English.
“Budget 2025 proposes to provide $150 million in 2025-26 for CBC/Radio-Canada to strengthen its mandate to serve the public and to better reflect the needs of Canadians. The government will explore modernising CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate to strengthen independence, and is working with CBC/Radio Canada to explore participation in Eurovision.”
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Two government sources have told CBC’s news department that Prime Minister Mark Carney is personally involved in the push for Canada to appear at Eurovision.
Carney previously worked as the Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020. During his time in the UK, he would have likely been well acquainted with the Eurovision Song Contest. It seems the Liberal politician and economist became such a fan that he now wishes to see his own country take to the stage — and possibly position Canada closer to its European allies rather than Donald Trump’s USA.
Eurovision organisers at the European Broadcasting Union have confirmed that discussions with Canadian broadcaster CBC have been taking place. In a statement sent to The Euro Trip Podcast, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, noted:
“The Canadian conversation with CBC is in its very early stages and we look forward to continuing our discussions with them.”
As an associate member of the EBU, Canada does not have automatic right to participate at Eurovision, but must be specifically invited.
This was the case for Australia in 2015, who were given the opportunity to appear at the contest’s 60th anniversary — and have been invited back ever since.
With the 70th edition of Eurovision set to take place in 2026, the EBU may be interested in bringing another new name to the party.
Canadian singers have in fact appeared at Eurovision before, but waving the flags of European countries. The most famous is of course Céline Dion, who lifted the trophy for Switzerland in 1988. That same year, Belgian-Canadian star Lara Fabian represented Luxembourg.
France has also not been a stranger to selecting Canadian performers — Natasha St-Pier, born in New Brunswick, sang in 2001; Montreal’s La Zarra waved the tricolour in 2023.
Any sign of ‘Eurovision Canada’?
This isn’t the first time a push has been made for Canada to embrace the world’s largest music competition.
The EBU previously announced spin-off competition Eurovision Canada in cooperation with Toronto-based production company Insight Productions. Set to feature artists from each of the ten provinces and three territories, it was supposed to premiere in 2023 as a potential national final for the North American nation… but two years later it has never seen the light of day.
Lindsay Cox, co-chief content officer at Insight Productions, told The Canadian Press earlier this year that, following the announcement, they had realised “the complexity of a Canadian going to Europe and competing.”
CBC would also have to get onboard with any possible national final. Spokesperson Chuck Thompson told CBC News the broadcaster had met with Insight Productions at the time. However, they eventually decided it would be “prohibitively expensive.”
Nevertheless, Cox still hopes to get the event off the ground. She said work would be done together with Quebec-based company Groupe Fair-Play to pitch a revamped version to broadcasters.
Should a national final still be deemed too costly, CBC has the option of internally selecting an artist to send to Europe.
Do you want to see Canada at Eurovision? Who do you think should represent the nation if they do participate? Let us know in the comments below.
