Will Canada compete in Eurovision? We want to know

Eurovision director Martin Green told the BBC Wednesday that the door is open for Canada to join the popular song contest, but said no formal request or decision has been made.

Green, speaking about speculation that Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed interest in seeing Canada take part in Eurovision, said he was aware of the rumours.

“We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe,” Green said. 

“Nothing’s particularly come over my desk. But what I would say is we are an open place. For 70 years, our doors have been open, and we will welcome anyone through those doors who wants to share the values of this wonderful occasion and stand on our stage with friends.” 

WATCH | Door is open for Canada to compete in Eurovision, director says:

Eurovision director says the door is open for Canada

Eurovision director Martin Green told the BBC he’s aware of rumours that Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed interest in Canada joining the annual singing contest, but emphasized that no decision has been made.

The Eurovision Song Contest, which features countries performing original songs, is run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Full participation in the annual singing contest has traditionally been reserved for broadcasters that are full members of the EBU, but the contest has allowed a handful of non-European or associate-member participants in recent years — most notably Australia, which was invited to compete first as a one-off in 2015 and has taken part in subsequent contests under special arrangements. 

CBC/Radio-Canada is an associate member of the EBU, a status it has held since 1950. In an email to CBC/Radio-Canada’s public affairs office following earlier reporting, Leon Mar, the broadcaster’s senior director of public affairs, reiterated that associate membership does not equal eligibility to compete in Eurovision. 

“Participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is for public broadcasters who are full members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU),” he said. “As an associate member, CBC/Radio-Canada is not eligible to participate in the ESC,” he wrote. 

Mar confirmed, however, that CBC/Radio-Canada is engaging with the EBU and maintaining a presence at the contest. “I can confirm that we have three staff attending the ESC as observers and that we are talking with the EBU about how we can collaborate more closely and exchange more content, namely through the Eurovision News Exchange and the Euroradio Music Exchange,” he said. 

Mar also emphasised CBC/Radio-Canada’s editorial independence, noting the broadcaster is a “federal Crown corporation that operates at arm’s length from government,” and that its independence is protected under the Broadcasting Act. 

The idea of Canada joining Eurovision briefly surfaced in last year’s federal budget, when the government said it was working with CBC/Radio-Canada to explore possible participation in the annual contest. 

Two government sources told CBC News at the time that Carney was personally involved in pushing the initiative. When asked about Australia’s special status — competing at Eurovision despite being outside of the EBU’s geographic area — Mar recommended contacting the EBU directly for details. 

He added that CBC/Radio-Canada has neither pursued an arrangement like Australia’s nor been approached to do so. 

For now, Green’s comments leave open the possibility of Canada’s future involvement while underscoring that any path to participation would require EBU agreement and likely a formal proposal. No official application or timeline has been announced.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 continues Thursday with the second round of semi-finals, with the final being held Saturday.