Canada is welcome to join Eurovision, says song contest director | Eurovision
Months after Canada said it wanted to “explore” entering the song contest in its federal budget, Canada’s director has said it could enter Eurovision if it wanted to.
Eurovision Director Martin Green he told the BBC He said Wednesday that Canada had not yet applied but would be welcomed.
“We know Mark Carney wants to embrace Europe,” he said.
“We will welcome everyone who wants to share the values of this wonderful day and take part in our stage with their friends through these doors,” he said.
As the name suggests, Eurovision is primarily a showcase for European talent but is also open to countries with broadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Canada’s national broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), is not a full member but has the right to become an “associate member”.
The only associate member confirmed to participate in Eurovision is Australia, which was granted permission to participate in 2015 due to the huge popularity of the competition.
CBC confirmed it is sending staff as “observers” to this year’s competition.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney first floated the idea of Canada joining the singing contest in his 2025 federal budget in November; This is another sign of his government’s strategic orientation away from the United States and towards Europe.
A single line in the nearly 500-page document reveals that the government is working with the CBC to “investigate participation in Eurovision.”
Two government sources told CBC that Carney, who studied and lived in England for years and most recently was governor of the Bank of England, said: was personally involved In Canada’s edition.
“I think this is a platform where Canada will shine,” said the country’s finance minister, François-Philippe Champagne. said in november. “It’s about protecting our identity; yes, we want to protect our sovereignty, but you also want to help people in the arts sector and the film industry to make sure they can shine around the world. And we have a lot to offer as Canadians.”
Canada thought previously participated in a singing competition; In 2022, the CBC rejected the idea after deciding it was “prohibitively expensive.”
Although Canada has never officially participated in Eurovision, the contest has hosted a number of Canadian artists. The most famous was Céline Dion, who won the contest for Switzerland in 1988 with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. In 2001 Natasha St-Pier represented France. as he did La Zarra in 2023.
Competitors are not required to be citizens of the country they represent, although some participating countries require this.
