The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has welcomed Canada as its newest full member, paving the way for the country's participation in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest.
The major development follows a vote at the EBU's 96th General Assembly in Prague, where Canada's public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada, was promoted to full membership.
This upgrade marks an expansion of a long-standing relationship between Canada's national public broadcaster and the EBU, which dates back to 1950 when CBC/Radio-Canada became an Associate Member.
As an Associate Member, CBC/Radio-Canada collaborated with European public broadcasters on journalism, standards, and technology, but full membership provides access to the entire breadth of EBU collaboration.
Canada joins a list of non-European countries that have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, including Israel, Australia, and Morocco.
Transcontinental countries with territory spanning across Europe and Asia, such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, also have the opportunity to participate in the contest.
Noel Curran, Director General of the EBU, highlighted the importance of CBC/Radio-Canada's membership, saying that it would enable the two organizations to work together more closely on key issues such as platform accountability and trusted news.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, expressed gratitude for the EBU's decision, stating that the new chapter in their relationship would deepen cooperation and benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic.
The revised framework for EBU membership, approved by the General Assembly, opens up extra-European membership to broadcasting organizations from countries with a public service media system aligned with core Council of Europe standards.
The EBU now has 115 member organizations across 57 countries, and CBC/Radio-Canada is set to participate fully in the Eurovision News Exchange, bringing more Canadian news and perspectives to European audiences and vice versa.
The development marks an important milestone in the relationship between CBC/Radio-Canada and the EBU, and underscores the importance of public service media in promoting cultural expression and combating disinformation.
