Time to grab your maple leaf-shaped sequins and best glittery hockey jerseys: Canada is one step closer to participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the annual music competition, announced Thursday that Canada’s national public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada was now a full member of the group, paving the way for the country’s participation in Eurovision.
Entering Europe’s glitziest song contest has been one of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goals since taking office in 2025, His government’s budget included 150 million Canadian dollars in funding for CBC and proposed “working with CBC/Radio Canada to explore participation in Eurovision.”
“Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger,” said Noel Curran, director general of the EBU.
Not since Céline Dion won Eurovision in 1988, representing Switzerland, has Canada been this close to claiming a spot in the iconic song contest — though it is still unclear whether or when the country will participate. A spokesperson for CBC/Radio-Canada confirmed “we will have more information … at a later date.”
Canada would not be the first non-European country to walk the glittery stage. Israel joined in 1973, Morocco competed once in 1980, and Australia joined in 2015.
Escalating controversy over Israel’s participation in recent years poses questions about the competition’s future, with five countries boycotting the 2026 show over Israel’s military actions in Gaza. This year’s winner, Bulgaria, narrowly beat Israel in the final and will host the 2027 contest, avoiding a nightmare scenario for the EBU.