CBC/Radio-Canada announced that it’s now a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), following a recent vote at the union’s general assembly in Prague.
Since 1950, the national broadcaster has been an associate member of the EBU, but now, as full member, CBC/Radio-Canada has complete access to multiple services, including the Euroradio Music Exchange.
“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, says Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. “It's an important milestone that will benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic by helping to combat disinformation and support cultural expression."
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Bouchard shares that the decision will deepen the long-standing relationship between the Canadian broadcaster and Europe.
“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,” says Noel Curran, director general of the EBU.
The vote to promote CBC/Radio-Canada follows a revision to the EBU's policies that permits a country’s major broadcaster aligned with “core Council of Europe standards and formal observer status with the Council of Europe” to participate in the song contest. Canada meets both criteria.
A CBC/Radio-Canada spokesperson told CBC that the broadcaster “will have more to say later” about Canada’s inclusion in the contest. Meanwhile, speculation online claims that the country will be included as early as 2027.
Canada's Eurovision eligibility isn't out of nowhere. While discussing the 2025 budget, the federal government shared that it was working with the CBC “to explore Canada’s participation in Eurovision.” Earlier this year, Eurovision director Martin Green said that the contest would welcome Canadian participation.
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While Canada hasn’t been an official member of Eurovision, some of the country’s biggest acts have participated in the contest, representing other countries. In 1988, Celine Dion represented Switzerland and won with her performance of “Ne partez pas sans moi.”
In 2025, Celine made a virtual surprise appearance during the contest’s semi-final round to cheer on the performers.
Other Canadian artists who have taken the Eurovision stage include: Francophone singers Sherisse Laurence in 1986 and Annie Cotton in 1993, New Brunswick act Natasha St-Pier in 2001, singer-songwriter Rykka in 2016, and, most recently, disco-pop singer La Zarra in 2023.
Cotton and Rykka represented Switzerland, while La Zarra and St-Pier represented France. Laurence represented Luxembourg.
