I really hate this part of myself…I don’t think Canada should compete at the Eurovision Song Contest.
I don’t want to come across as an older male who cannot accept change. I can by the way, and I’m still in my 20s. I just don’t think Canada in the Song Contest is a good idea, because I believe it would fundamentally change what the contest and what it has always stood for.
The Born Identity
As we all know, the Eurovision Song Contest is more than just a music competition. It is a cultural event built around the histories, identities, languages, traditions, and shared experiences of Europe and the countries that have become part of the Eurovision community over decades.
I’m convinced that the strength of the Contest lies in the fact that every participating country brings something unique that reflects its own cultural and emotional world: all from part of one beautiful continent. The contest creates a meaningful space where different European identities meet, celebrate one another, and sometimes even overcome historical crossroads through music.
Expanding participation to countries that have no historical, geographical, or institutional connection to this community risks weakening that identity and feeling. It fundamentally shifts the Eurovision Song Contest away from being a celebration of a specific cultural sphere and towards becoming just another global television format.
Brave New World
Some people argue that countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia or Australia already prove that geography does not matter. However, these cases are different from my point of view.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are transcontinental countries with longstanding historical, political, and cultural connections to Europe. They are members of the EBU through broadcasters that fall within the membership area, and they have participated in many European institutions and sporting events (like the European Football Championships) for decades. Whether people consider them fully European or not, they have developed genuine and lasting ties to the Eurovision community.
Australia is the obvious exception. However, Down Under’s participation was originally introduced as a special one-time invitation (remember that?) because Eurovision had built a notably large and loyal audience there over decades. The country has broadcast the Contest since the 80s and developed a unique and lovely relationship with Eurovision that tremendously few non-European countries share.
Even then, Australia’s participation remains a bit weird and continues to be debated among Eurovision fans. Myself included by the way: I always thought their invite should have stayed a one-time offer.
Canada is different, folks. The way I see it, Canada has no comparable historical relationship with Eurovision, no geographical connection to Europe, and more importantly: no direct long-standing role within the Song Contest or its institutions.
Allowing Canada to participate makes it much harder to explain why other countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Oman or New Zealand should not also be invited, right?! At that point, Eurovision could, step-by-step, lose the boundaries that have given it its one-of-a-kind character.
I can see the moose in the hallway: I’m already tired of explaining to everyone and their mum why Australia is also in Eurovision.
A Bridge Too Far
It’s not about excluding countries or judging their culture. It’s not that I think the European identity is superior to the Canadian identity. No!
It’s the optics. It’s a feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I love Canada, but I don’t see a place for Canada in the contest. I feel a bit ashamed I feel this way, but I also do not want to drench myself in the maple syrup of silence.
I do see the reason why Canada is an excellent member of the EBU. Because Canada and their national broadcaster have a rich and diverse cultural identity that has huge similarities to the European way of living, and it absolutely deserves recognition in its own right.
The question is whether every successful international music market should become part of Eurovision. I believe the answer is no.
In my view, Eurovision is meaningful precisely because it reflects a particular cultural and historical community. Once participation is no longer connected to that very community, the contest really risks becoming detached from the unique identities it was created to celebrate.
I believe, in five years time I will write on this site: “…with Canada’s participation in 2027, Eurovision became an international X-Factor live show with flags.”