05 July 2026
Eleven years after the European Broadcasting Union stated that “the Eurovision Song Contest has the potential to evolve organically into a truly global event” and that Australia’s participation in 2016 following their special “one off” appearance in 2015 is “an exciting step in that direction”, finally a new country will debut in the contest. It’s not another associate member like Kazakhstan, who has petitioned for years for an invitation only to be rejected because the rules about the ineligibility of associate members are vigorous enforced against them. It’s Canada! It was expected too. Just a week prior to the announcement, CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the EBU. With that membership, they are entitled to participate at Eurovision.
Ordinarily, for EBU full membership, the country of the broadcaster must reside within the European Broadcasting Area or be a member state of the Council of Europe. The EBA extends as far south as north Africa, which is why the likes of Israel can compete, as can a myriad of countries in that region like Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco, if they choose. While Kazakhstan is partially in Europe, the EBA doesn’t quite reach it. Of course, Australia is no where near it, which is why the EBU created the concept of special invitations to sneak Australia in through the back door as a permanent participant. Canada does not qualify on those grounds either.
The obvious question is how did Canada become a full member of the EBU? A revision in EBU Statutes allowed Canada’s membership. To quote the press release:
“The revised framework opens extra-European Membership to broadcasting organizations from countries with a public service media system aligned with core Council of Europe standards and formal observer status with the Council of Europe. Canada meets both criteria.”
The revision to the statues was approved on the same day as CBC was promoted as a full member. Previously, they were associate members. If the promotion to full membership was solely about Eurovision participation, one could speculate that the EBU revised the statues to avoid the messy route of special invitations they used to get Australia into Eurovision while also avoiding the likes of Kazakhstan screaming hypocrisy and bias at their continued exclusion.
Anyone reading this blog over the years knows that I’ve been disgusted at the way the EBU snuck Australia into Eurovision and obviously made them a permanent participant despite their unequivocal ineligibility. For two years I actually boycotted Australia at Eurovision over this farce. The issue was always about the eligibility rules too. If the EBU want Australia as a permanent participant, change the rules regarding full membership. Or, begin inviting other associate members to make it look like Eurovision is trying to expand globally.
There’s zero controversy about Canada’s participation at Eurovision 2027. The are a full member of the EBU, so get automatic access to Eurovision events. Also, if they win Eurovision, as full members, they have the right to host the event. Canada, notably the eastern part, are in a friendly time zone for Eurovision too. Broadcasts would start at 3pm in Toronto. On the west coast, in Vancouver, it would be midday.
As a broadcaster, CBC seem like a great fit for Eurovision. French is widely spoken in Canada, so chances are we will get some cultural diversity into the contest instead of a generic song in English that Australia typically send. Welcome to the Eurovision family, Canada!
Is my boycott of Australia at Eurovision over now that Delta Goodrem is the participant for 2026?
Why I am boycotting Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest
Mr Eurovision Australia 