After Canadian singing superstar Celine Dion won the Eurovision song contest while competing for Switzerland 38 years ago, fellow Canadian artists are now eligible in to compete in a popular music contest threatened by politics and a loss of sponsors.
That follows the European Broadcasting Union, the Eurovision organizer, on Thursday announcing Canada’s full membership after a vote held at its 96th General Assembly in Prague. CBC/Radio-Canada had been an associate member of the EBU since 1950, and now as a full member can fully participate in all European broadcasting organization events and initiatives.
“Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger,” Noel Curran, director general of the EBU, said in a statement. His comments came after the 2026 Eurovision contest ultimately won by Bulgaria was rocked by a boycott by Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands to protest Israeli singer Noam Bettan being allowed to participate in the annual singing competition amid his country’s Gaza conflict.
Besides lost broadcaster license fees from boycotting countries, a host of sponsors also withdrew their key financial support over Israel‘s inclusion. The EBU also faced pushback from member countries over its televoting rules for the competition.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, thanked the EBU for allowing the Canadian pubcaster full membership, which includes among other initiatives participating in Eurovision and broadcasting the competition.
“This new chapter in our relationship with the EBU and its members will deepen our cooperation at a time when the collective impact of public service media is essential. It’s an important milestone that will benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic by helping to combat disinformation and support cultural expression,” Bouchard said.
Canada’s federal government in its 2025 budget gave CBC/Radio Canada an extra $150 million in operating funds, in part “to explore Canada’s participation in Eurovision.” That coincided with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney looking to forge closer ties with Europe after U.S. president Donald Trump made taunts about Canada becoming a 51st U.S. state and launched a cross-border tariff war.
“We’ll have more to say about the Eurovision Song Contest later,” a spokeperson for CBC/Radio Canada told The Hollywood Reporter when asked about plans for Canada to possibly participate in Eurovision 2027. The EBU’s membership now spans 115 organizations in 57 countries.
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