Eurovision competition director Martin Green shared the view that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was inclined to embrace Europe. As such, Canada was welcome to participate in Eurovision if it so wished. This view was shared months after Canada initially revealed that it was inclined to ‘explore’ joining this song contest in its ’25 federal budget.
Eurovision director Martin Green shared with the BBC on Wednesday, 13 May ’26, that Canada hadn’t yet applied, although it would be welcome to do so.
Green asserted that they were aware that Canadian premier Mark Carney preferred to embrace Europe.
Green added that they would welcome anyone through the competition’s access doors who desires to share the values of this wonderful occasion, besides standing on the stage with their friends.
As the name suggests, Eurovision is mainly a showcase targeting European talent. It remains open to countries that move with broadcasting organisations that are also members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Canada’s national broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), isn’t a full member as yet but is eligible as an ‘associate member’.
The only associate member so far ever approved to join Eurovision is Australia. It was granted permission to enter this contest over a decade ago, in 2015. This decision was due to this contest being popular ‘down under’.
In the meantime, the CBC has confirmed that it has sent staff to this year’s Eurovision contest as ‘observers’.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, initially raised the idea of Canada joining the song contest in November last year. This was during his ’25 federal budget. It was considered then as yet another sign of his government’s strategic realignment away from the U.S. & towards Europe.
A single line tucked in the approximately 500-page document revealed that the government was working with CBC to explore participation in the Eurovision contest’.
2 government sources shared with the CBC that Carney had initially spent years as an academic resident in the UK. Furthermore, he was more recently the governor of the Bank of England. So likely his personal involvement in Canada’s push.
