If Australia’s joining Eurovision sparked uproar, the newest addition to the Song Contest will certainly ruffle some feathers.
Canada is now eligible to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest after its public broadcaster became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The major development comes following a vote earlier today at the EBU’s 96th General Assembly in Prague.
Canada’s entry comes months after the 2026 competition saw the least number of countries – 35 – compete since the semi-final format was introduced in 2003.
Last year, five countries – Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia – announced they were boycotting the event due to Israel’s ongoing inclusion.
Belgium – one of Eurovision’s founding countries – later said it was unlikely to participate next year, too, if Israel remains.
It’s not a huge surprise that the home of maple syrup has joined, given its public broadcaster’s relationship with the EBU as an associate member since 1950.
This move means the broadcaster is now a full member, CBC/Radio-Canada, and has access to the entire breadth of EBU collaboration.
Other non-European countries – Israel, Australia and Morocco – have participated as well as transcontinental countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.
Israel’s inclusion remains contentious, given the genocide in Gaza and accusations that the country aggressively campaigns for votes, which is against the rules.
Organisers were said to be watching the votes ‘very very carefully’, with director Martin Green telling the BBC he agreed that ‘some of the promotion by some of the broadcasters was a little disproportionate’.
‘If there is a problem, we start a conversation and we try and resolve it amicably, without reaching for sanctions,’ he said at the time.
Canada’s inclusion, and the return of North Macedonia next year, could go some way to balancing out the several countries boycotting the competition.
Noel Curran, director general of the EBU, said: ‘CBC/Radio-Canada has been part of the EBU family since our foundation in 1950.
‘As one of the world’s leading public broadcasters, it has already contributed hugely to our Union — helping us set and uphold the standards of public service journalism that matter most right now.
‘Full Membership means we can now do even more together: on platform accountability, on trusted news, on the resilience that public broadcasters need to build for the years ahead. Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger.’
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, also added: ‘Thank you to the European Broadcasting Union for welcoming CBC/Radio-Canada as a full Member.
‘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.
‘As a full Member, we are hitting the ground running by announcing our full participation in the Eurovision News Exchange. This will allow more Canadian news and perspectives to reach audiences in Europe, and bring more international coverage to Canadians.’
Founded in 1936 as a radio broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada today is a multiplatform public service media company serving Canadians across six time zones in English, French and eight Indigenous languages.
The EBU’s membership now spans 115 organisations across 57 countries, with 52 countries having competed in at least one Song Contest since 1956.