The Canadian Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, has advocated for the country’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, stating that Canadians have “much to offer” and that it is about “protecting identity”.
The possibility of Canada joining Eurovision as early as 2026 emerged last week after the government presented the federal budget, which includes a plan to increase funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and “explore participation in the Eurovision Song Contest”.
When asked about possible participation in the European competition, the minister stated that the proposal came “from the people who participate,” without specifying whether he was referring to countries or the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) itself, which organizes the festival.
“I think it is a platform for Canada to shine,” added François-Philippe Champagne, speaking to Global News last week.
“It is about protecting our identity – yes, we want to protect our sovereignty, but we also want to help people in the artistic and film industry to shine worldwide. And we, Canadians, have much to offer,” he emphasized.
According to government sources cited by CBC, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has been personally involved in the possibility of the country participating in Eurovision. The leader lived for several years in the United Kingdom, having served as the Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020.
When asked about a possible Canadian participation, the Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, stated that the discussions are “at an early stage”.
“We are always excited to know that broadcasters want to be part of the world’s largest live music show. The discussions with CBC, Canada, are at an early stage, and we hope to continue discussions with them,” he said to the website ESCNews.
Canada has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, but the European competition has featured several Canadian artists representing other countries.
The most well-known example is Céline Dion, who won the competition in 1988 with ‘Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi’, representing Switzerland.
Can Canada participate in Eurovision?
According to festival rules, all active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – meaning those who are part of the European Broadcasting Area and belong to the Council of Europe – can participate. It was for this reason that Israel joined in 1973, Armenia in 2006, and Azerbaijan in 2008.
Another requirement is having broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest in the previous year and paying the corresponding EBU fees. This is where Australia fits in, for example.
In the case of Canada, being an “associate member” of the EBU, it may participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, but it needs to be invited by the organization.
Canada’s debut in Eurovision in a controversial year?
The next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria, with the semifinals scheduled for May 12 and 14. The grand final will take place on May 16, 2026.
However, this edition is already marked by controversy regarding Israel’s participation. In recent months, several countries have joined calls to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for the expulsion of the Middle Eastern country due to the offensive in the Gaza Strip.
State broadcasters from countries like Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland have even threatened not to participate in the European contest if Israel were part of it.
In contrast, countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova have announced their return in 2026 after years away from the European contest.
