"Canada Wants to Embrace Europe": Eurovision Opens Doors to New Nations as Australia Soars and Boy George Joins the Party

15 May 2026 | Vienna, Austria

VIENNA, Austria – The land of maple leaves and moose may soon be trading hockey sticks for glitter cannons. Canada is welcome to join Eurovision, its director has confirmed, as the song contest prepares for its most politically charged – and musically diverse – edition in years.

Eurovision director Martin Green told the BBC on Wednesday that Canada hadn't yet applied, but would be welcome to join. "We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe," he said. "We will welcome anyone through those doors who wants to share the values of this wonderful occasion and stand on our stage with friends."

The announcement comes as Australia's Delta Goodrem dramatically increased her odds of winning after a stunning semi-final performance, becoming second favourite to take the trophy.

Eurovision 2026 hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski perform during semi-final 2 in Vienna, Austria on Thursday. Canada is welcome to join the song contest, its director Martin Green has confirmed.

Canada's Eurovision Dream: A Strategic Realignment

Canada's push to join Eurovision is more than just a cultural curiosity – it's a political statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney first raised the idea in November in his 2025 federal budget, a single line tucked in the nearly 500-page document revealing that the government was working with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to "explore participation in the Eurovision."

Two government sources told the CBC that Carney – who spent years studying and living in the UK, most recently as the governor of the Bank of England – was personally involved in Canada's push.

"I think it's a platform for Canada to shine," the country's finance minister, François-Philippe 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."

The CBC has confirmed it has sent staff to this year's contest as "observers." If Canada joins, it would become only the second non-European country to participate, following Australia – which was granted permission to enter in 2015 due to the contest being hugely popular there.

Australia Soars: Delta Goodrem's "Eclipse" Stuns Vienna

Speaking of Australia, Delta Goodrem has become the country's best hope for victory since joining the contest. Her power ballad, Eclipse, delivered a stunning performance at Thursday's semi-final, dramatically increasing Australia's odds of winning.

If she succeeds on Saturday, it would be a first for Australia – who joined the contest as a one-off wild card entry in 2015 but quickly became a permanent fixture. Eurovision is phenomenally successful in the country, despite its distance from Europe, with more than a million people regularly tuning in to watch the show.

Goodrem, known to UK TV fans for her role in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, is one of the biggest-selling female artists in her home country. She signed her first recording contract at the age of 15 and has scored four number one albums.

Speaking to the BBC, she called her Eurovision experience "surprisingly beautiful." "To see people flying the flags for music and being with us has been an awesome thing to see."

Semi-Final 2: Who Qualified, Who Went Home

As well as Goodrem, nine other acts survived the cull at Thursday's semi-final and will perform again in Vienna on Saturday night.

Qualifiers from Semi-Final 2:

• Albania: Alis - Nân
• Australia: Delta Goodrem - Eclipse
• Bulgaria: Dara - Bangaranga
• Cyprus: Antigoni - Jalla
• Czechia: Daniel Zizka - Crossroads
• Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund - Før Vi Går Hjem
• Malta: Aidan - Bella
• Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu - Choke Me
• Ukraine: Leléka - Ridnym
• Norway: Jonas Lovv - Ya Ya Ya

Five countries were eliminated and will have to wait for 2027 before they can compete again: Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia, Switzerland and Latvia.

Jonas Lovv's Ya Ya Ya is already a hit on streaming services, with more than four million streams across YouTube and Spotify.

The Norwegian Sensation: Jonas Lovv's "Ya Ya Ya"

Norway's Jonas Lovv rounded off the show with Ya Ya Ya – a big, dumb rock song that echoed the sound of 2021 Eurovision champions Måneskin. The track is already a hit on streaming services, with more than four million streams across YouTube and Spotify.

Lovv got into trouble during rehearsals, with organisers telling him to tone down the "sexualised movements" in his choreography. "I don't know what they are talking about! I'm the least sexual person in the delegation," he laughed, revelling in the scolding. For the semi-final, at least, he swapped out his hip thrusts for a little waggle of his bum.

On stage, he re-enacted the storyline, starting at an office desk, before escaping into a colourful and surreal vista of circuitboards and robotic dancers. His performance met a mixed reception on social media, but the streaming numbers don't lie – this song has found an audience.

Boy George Joins San Marino: Senhit's Star-Studded Comeback

San Marino's entrant Senhit – a three-time Eurovision entrant who made headlines in 2021 when she snared Flo Rida to perform on her 22nd-place track Adrenalina – has enlisted Boy George for her 2026 performance. The Culture Club frontman turns up to sing about "all the boys at the bar sipping cool champagne" on the transcontinental disco groove of Superstar.

It's a bold move for the microstate, which has a history of recruiting big names to boost its chances. Whether Boy George can replicate Flo Rida's magic – or if the song has enough fizz – remains to be seen.

San Marino's entrant Senhit will be joined by Boy George for her Eurovision performance.

Lyrical Controversies: Romania's "Choke Me" Sparks Debate

Romania's Eurovision entry, Choke Me, has been labelled "dangerous" and "reckless" for lyrics that appear to reference sexual strangulation – an unsafe practice that can lead to brain injury and death. But Alexandra Căpitănescu, a Master's student at the Faculty of Physics in Bucharest, says campaigners have got it all wrong.

"Choke Me is a metaphor for the pressure we sometimes place on ourselves," she says. "It speaks about inner fears, self-doubt, and the feeling of being emotionally suffocated by our own expectations. It was never intended to represent anything sexual."

What's not in doubt is that the song is powerful. Demonic guitar riffs churn under Căpitănescu's raspy vocals, giving the track a thrilling urgency. Romania qualified for the final – but the controversy is unlikely to die down before Saturday.

The Favourites: Finland, Australia, and the Rise of the Underdogs

Finland's Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen remain the favourites to win with their song Liekinheitin (flamethrower). The track does a brilliant rug pull – transforming from impassioned ballad to demonic electro-pop, complete with a frenetic violin solo. Already a number one hit at home, it's built around a disturbing metaphor for red-hot love: "Every time we're skin to skin / You give me third-degree burns."

Australia's Delta Goodrem is rapidly closing in on Finland, with bookmakers shortening her odds after Thursday's performance. Greece, with Akylas's innovative blend of traditional Greek instruments and Super Mario-style sound effects, is also in contention.

Other notable entries include:

• France: Monroe (17-year-old prodigy) – Regarde! – combines frenetic string sections with Queen of the Night vocals
• Bulgaria: Dara – Bangaranga – "I'm an angel, I'm a demon, I'm a psycho for no reason"
• Serbia: Lavina – Kraj Mene – nu-metal with a genuinely frightening scream
• Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova! – Chumbawamba meets pan flute

The Final Line-Up: Who Performs on Saturday?

The 10 countries who qualified on Thursday night now compete for the Eurovision trophy alongside the qualifiers from Monday's first semi-final: Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia and Sweden.

They'll be joined by the UK, Italy, Germany, France and Austria – who receive automatic places in the final. Austria gets a free pass because it won last year and is hosting this year's festivities. The others are members of the "Big Four" who make the largest financial contributions to the song contest.

The UK's entry, performed by the fantastically monikered Look Mum No Computer, has received mixed reviews. His song, Ein, Zwei, Drei, is a rambunctious synth-driven stomper that's equal parts Kraftwerk and The Kaiser Chiefs. It's a shameless attempt to court the EU voting bloc – and God knows the UK needs it.

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