Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Green revealed that no official application has yet been submitted by Canada, but stressed that the door remains open.
“We will welcome anyone through those doors who wants to share the values of this wonderful occasion and stand on our stage with friends,” Green said.
The remarks come months after the Canadian government quietly included Eurovision ambitions in its 2025 federal budget — an unexpected cultural note tucked deep inside a nearly 500-page economic document.
The proposal, first championed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, directed the government to work alongside the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to “explore participation in the Eurovision”.
For many observers, the move represents more than just entertainment policy. It is being interpreted as another signal of Canada’s growing political and cultural alignment with Europe at a time when Ottawa appears increasingly eager to strengthen transatlantic ties.
Green even alluded to that broader shift during his BBC interview.
“We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe,” he said.
How Eurovision Could Work for Canada
Despite its name, the Eurovision Song Contest is not exclusively limited to European nations. Participation is open to broadcasters affiliated with the European Broadcasting Union, the alliance that oversees the competition.
Canada’s public broadcaster, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is currently classified as an “associate member” rather than a full member. That distinction matters because only one associate member has ever successfully entered Eurovision: Australia.
Australia’s inclusion in 2015 was largely driven by the contest’s massive popularity there and years of relationship-building with Eurovision organisers. Since then, the country has become one of the competition’s most enthusiastic participants.
The CBC has already confirmed that staff members attended this year’s Eurovision contest as official observers, further fuelling speculation that discussions are progressing behind the scenes.
Cultural Ambition Meets Political Strategy
Sources within the Canadian government previously told CBC News that Carney — who spent years living and working in Britain, including a stint as governor of the Bank of England — has taken a personal interest in the Eurovision project.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne framed the idea as both a cultural and economic opportunity for Canada’s creative industries.
“I think it’s a platform for Canada to shine,” Champagne said in November.
“This is about protecting our identity – yes, we want to protect our sovereignty, but you also want to help people in the arts sector and in the film industry to make sure they can shine around the world. And we have a lot to offer as Canadians.”
Supporters argue that Eurovision would provide Canadian artists with a rare global stage, exposing the country’s music industry to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
Experts Say Joining Won’t Be Easy
Still, Eurovision experts caution that enthusiasm alone will not secure Canada a spot in the competition.
Jess Carniel, an associate professor at the University of Southern Queensland, explained that the EBU would likely require Canada to prove that its inclusion would strengthen the contest commercially and strategically.
“Canada has got a lot of work to do if they want to join,” Carniel told The Guardian.
“Australia joined after years of building a relationship with the EBU and building a business case.”
She added that Australia’s successful bid was tied to hopes of expanding Eurovision’s influence across the Asia-Pacific region.
“You don’t get to join just because you want to join,” Carniel said.
Financial considerations could also become a major obstacle. In 2022, the CBC reportedly dismissed the idea of entering Eurovision after concluding that participation would be “prohibitively expensive”.
Canada’s Quiet Eurovision Legacy
Although Canada has never officially competed, the country already holds a unique place in Eurovision history.
Global music icon Céline Dion famously won the 1988 contest representing Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, long before she became an international superstar.
Other Canadian performers have also appeared on the Eurovision stage over the years. Natasha St-Pier represented France in 2001, while La Zarra competed for France in 2023.
Eurovision rules do not require contestants to be citizens of the nations they represent, allowing countries to select artists from abroad if they choose.
For now, Canada’s Eurovision ambitions remain in the exploratory stage. But with growing political backing, public curiosity, and encouragement from contest organisers, the possibility of seeing Canada perform under the Eurovision spotlight no longer feels far-fetched.