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When countries around the world take the stage to participate in Eurovision next year, they may see a new competitor.
CBC/Radio-Canada became eligible to participate in the Canadian Song Contest after becoming a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
When Prime Minister Mark Carney sought greater political and economic ties with Europe after coming to power last year, he proposed that Canada join the singing competition in his 2025 budget.
Canada will not be the first non-European country to join the competition; Israel and Australia compete regularly, and Morocco competed in 1980.
The Carney government said in November it was working with Canada’s public broadcaster CBC to “explore participation in Eurovision”. His government’s budget included C$150m (£80m) in funding for the broadcaster.
Eurovision rules state that participation in the contest is open to countries with broadcasting organizations that are members of the EBU.
Before Thursday, the CBC was an “associate member.”
“Canadian voices make us stronger in this community,” said EBU Director General Noel Curran.
Although Canada did not officially compete in Eurovision, Canadians did participate, and even won.
In the year In 1988, Canadian Celine Dion from the province of Quebec won the competition for Switzerland. The win helped make Dion’s career history.
Other Canadians competed, including Natasha St-Pierre, who represented France in 2001, Acadian New Brunswicker, who represented France, and Montreal singer La Zara, who represented France in 2023.
