The door to the Eurovision Song Contest remains open for Canada, if the North American nation chooses to formally pursue a spot, according to the event’s senior leadership. In an interview with the BBC this week, Eurovision director Martin Green confirmed on Wednesday that no official application for Canadian entry has yet landed on his desk, but the competition stands ready to welcome a new participant that aligns with the event’s core values. “We will welcome anyone through those doors who wants to share the values of this wonderful occasion and stand on our stage with friends,” Green stated.
The push for Canadian participation originates from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which has prioritized deepening political and economic integration with Europe since taking office in 2024. The idea of joining Eurovision was first formally introduced in Carney’s 2025 federal budget, with the government’s November fiscal plan noting it is partnering with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada’s national public broadcaster, to explore the feasibility of entering the competition. Green confirmed he is aware of Canada’s growing interest in the contest, noting that the Carney administration is actively seeking stronger ties with European partners.
Unlike most past and current participants that are geographically located within Europe, Eurovision’s entry rules do not bar non-European nations from joining. Eligibility is instead tied to membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization that produces the annual contest. While the CBC is not a full EBU member, it holds the status of associate member — a qualification that has already been accepted for past non-European entries. Under official contest regulations, associate member broadcasters can be considered for participation on a case-by-case basis, a precedent set by Australia, which has competed as a formal entry since 2015. Australia was approved for entry despite its associate member status, in large part because it has a long history of broadcasting the contest to its highly engaged domestic audience.
So far, Canada’s exploratory process has led the CBC to deploy three staff members to the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest as observers, senior director of public affairs Leon Mar confirmed in a public statement. “We are talking with the EBU about how we can collaborate more closely and exchange more content,” Mar added, signaling that ongoing discussions are progressing behind the scenes.
While Canada has never competed as an official entry, Canadian talent has already left a major mark on the contest’s history. In 1988, Quebec-born global superstar Céline Dion won the contest representing Switzerland with her performance of *Ne partez pas sans moi* — a victory that launched her decades-long international career and remains the last win for a French-language song in the competition. Other Canadian artists have also competed for European nations in the years since: Acadian singer Natasha St-Pier represented France in 2001, and Montreal-based performer La Zarra represented France in the 2023 contest. Contest rules do not require singers to hold citizenship of the country they represent, leaving the requirement open to individual participating nations to set their own policies.