Cultural Commentary: Should Canada join Eurovision?

When the 2025 federal budget mentioned that Canada is exploring participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, many Canadians did a double take. Eurovision? The dazzling, chaotic, glitter-fueled European pop spectacle where sequins are as essential as microphones? The one where Australia somehow shows up every year?

Yes, that one. And honestly, I think it’s about time we join the party.

Eurovision isn’t technically limited to Europe. The contest is run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and participation depends on a broadcaster’s membership status, not geography. That’s how countries like Israel, Azerbaijan, and Australia got in. If the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) applied for associate membership — similar to Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) — it could, in theory, send an artist to compete (although there may be lots of constraints and history surrounding that). The precedent already exists, and Eurovision has shown it’s happy to embrace far-flung nations that bring strong creative energy to the stage. 

At its heart, Eurovision is about more than just music. It’s about celebrating culture with unapologetic flair, where sincerity and absurdity co-exist beautifully. One night you’ll see a heartfelt piano ballad about peace, and the next, a man in a neon wolf mask performing an interpretive dance about the joys of bananas. Sounds ridiculous? Perfect. That’s the point.

And if we’re being honest, Canada already has the range to fit right in. We’ve given the world Céline Dion (who, fun fact, actually won Eurovision in 1988 — for Switzerland!), Peaches, Grimes, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Arcade Fire. From the heartfelt to the bizarre, from indie introspection to arena-scale drama, Canadian music has every flavour Eurovision adores. Moreover, Canada’s bilingual and multicultural nature mirrors Eurovision’s own mix of languages, styles, and traditions. 

We could send a song that blends English and French lyrics, Indigenous artistry, or international pop sensibility, all under one red and white maple leaf flag. Plus, we’re already experts in earnest camp — a style Eurovision thrives on. Imagine a Mountie-themed drag act with a dubstep fiddle solo or a synthpop anthem about long winters and longer goodbyes. It’s effortless to picture the confetti, the key changes, and the European audience shouting “Douze points, Canada!”

Canada often gets pegged as polite, mild-mannered, and safe. Eurovision would be the perfect opportunity to shatter that stereotype. It’s a stage where boldness is rewarded, and where joy, creativity, and chaos take centre stage. By joining Eurovision, Canada could showcase its artistic diversity and embrace a bit of national weirdness on a global platform. It’s not just about winning, it’s about celebrating music, identity, and the ability to laugh at ourselves while doing something completely delightful.

And I get it, this is all just looking at the glittery artistic side of things. Participating in Eurovision is a big financial decision since it does include a $150 million allocation to CBC specifically. But it is also crucial to note that the budget plan also includes about $400 million to fund cultural organisations across the country. As reported by Global News, this funding is meant to “grow Canada’s creative industries and help Canadian talent succeed in an increasingly digital and global marketplace.”

So to conclude, should we do it? Absolutely. Eurovision is campy, chaotic, and culturally rich — just like Canadians when we let loose. If Australia can send a power ballad from 15,000 kilometers away, there’s no reason Canada can’t do the same from across the Atlantic.

The only real question is: what kind of song should we send first? A bilingual pop anthem? A folk-dance hybrid from the Prairies? Or a hyperpop fever dream from Montreal?