Members of the Canadian broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada are attending as observers at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
The Canadian public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada is attending the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, as speculation remains regarding whether Canada could be making a debut in the contest in the coming years. The Senior Director of Public Affairs at CBC/Radio-Canada confirmed that:
“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”
Martin Green the Director of the Eurovision Song Contest also confirmed to BBC that currently no official application has been received by the European Broadcasting Union from the Canadian broadcaster. he added:
“We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe…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.”
CBC/Radio-Canada has been an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union since 1950, but is currently ineligible to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster would either need to obtain full membership in the European Broadcasting Union, or be a member state of the Council of Europe located outside the European Broadcasting Area. Or Canada would need to be officially invited like Australia to compete in the contest by the European Broadcasting Union.
Canada is one of three countries with a broadcaster with associate EBU membership that are currently trying to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. RTK of Kosovo and Khabar of Kazakhstan have also stated their wish to compete in the contest. Canada has past interest in the Eurovision Song Contest, several Canadian artists have performed at the Eurovision Song Contest, and the nation twice participated in a Eurovision contest. Learn more below:
Source: CBC
