Canada Reads goes live

Canada Reads returned live on Monday, April 13, with the 2026 debates starting at 10:05 a.m. Eastern on CBC’s platforms and YouTube. (cbc.ca) The program runs for four days, from April 13 through April 16, with five celebrity advocates defending five Canadian books and one title eliminated after each day’s vote. (cbc.ca) This year’s champions are Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers for *A Minor Chorus*, Steve “Dangle” Glynn for *Searching for Terry Punchout*, Tegan Quin for *The Cure for Drowning*, Josh Dela Cruz for *Foe*, and Morgann Book for *It’s Different This Time*. (cbc.ca) CBC says the 2026 edition is the 25th for Canada Reads, a format that began in 2002 and asks panellists to argue for the one book “all Canadians should read.” (cbc.ca) The 2026 theme is “one book to build bridges,” and CBC’s live story format turns the debate into a running feed of arguments, schedule updates and elimination spoilers as the show unfolds. (cbc.ca) CBC has expanded the event into a multi-platform broadcast: livestreams on CBC Books, CBC Gem and YouTube, radio on CBC Radio, television replays on CBC TV, and daily podcast recaps on CBC Listen. (cbc.ca) The broadcaster says the 10:05 a.m. Eastern start reflects the logistics of airing across several services at once, while the YouTube livestream is also available outside Canada. (cbc.ca) Canada Reads has long mixed books with celebrity advocacy, but CBC says producers also shape the panel by looking for avid readers “you’d be surprised to find at a dinner party together.” (cbc.ca) Ali Hassan is back as host for a 10th year, leading a contest that CBC says has grown from a taped radio program into a live national event spread across radio, television, streaming and podcasts. (cbc.ca; cbc.ca)