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By Simrin Purhar
My mom’s reply to my Instagram story was quick and crystal clear: “Absolutely not”. I’d posted a picture of our former prime minister making out with Katy Perry on a yacht, J.Lo style. Shortly after my mom voiced her disapproval, a friend replied, “Obsessed”.

As I continued to swipe through Instagram, I noticed my girl crush, The New Yorker staff writer Naomi Fry, published a piece about the cross-border couple. The article featured a tasteful homage to Canada, featuring a Harlequin romance-inspired illustration of Justin and Katy bordered by maple leaves.

The volume of discourse struck me. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Is Canada, like, hot again?

The last time I was proud of Canada was when Schitt’s Creek went viral. Since then, Canada has fallen to the wayside as our neighbours to the south have dominated the entertainment news cycle across film, music, and good old-fashioned celebrity gossip. Think Cowboy Carter, Blake Lively versus Justin Baldoni, the Jacob Elordi cinematic universe, and everything/anything Taylor Swift.

That is, until last year.

In 2025, Canada finally reclaimed its rightful space in the water cooler conversation. With must-consume content (Heated Rivalry), polarizing collabs (Justin x Katy), and music excellence (Justin Bieber’s Grammy-nominated Swag), Canadians defined 2025 by permeating popular culture and subsequently bridging demographics globally through shared experience and discourse.

I spent 37 minutes discussing Heated Rivalry at my grandma’s 96th birthday party, and debated Kendrick versus Drake with my friend’s boyfriend.

Despite being on a work trip the day Swag dropped, I woke up two hours early to stream it (twice), ensuring Justin got his flowers and that I was prepared to tell the group chat which songs hit.

The Real Housewives of Vancouver finally had its U.S. premiere 13 years after its original airing, sparking discussion across the Real Housewives fandom (which yes, I’m proudly part of).

And my 50-something Boston-born colleague asked, “Who’s that Canadian singer who’s dating the NHL player? My daughters love her.” Answer: Calgary’s Tate McRae.

So, yes, Canada most definitely is hot again. But why is our entertainment dominating the zeitgeist?

Potentially, it’s a result of economic nationalism and a need for community.

When Donald Trump’s tariff announcement prompted a “Buy Canadian” movement in January of 2025, many Canadians pledged to consume domestic over American. For some, this may include prioritizing Canadian media and platforms like Crave.

The cultural shift was likely accelerated by the viral success of homegrown content. From KPop Demon Hunters to McRae’s multiple trending TikTok hits, domestic media became global trends thanks to the reach of social media and global streamers. And while investing in our own stories may have stemmed from patriotism, it collaterally offers comfort through escapism and a sense of belonging through shared moments. Even if that point of connection is as lighthearted as a text from a friend saying, “Are you caught up on The Traitors Canada?”

Just a month into the new year, we’ve seen the momentum continue. Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie and (Kamloops’ own) Hudson Williams presented at the Golden Globes, and Céline Dion went viral for her “What’s in my bag?” TikTok.

As 2026 rumbles forward, I’m excited to see what else Canadians bring to the entertainment space. Will we see new music from Abel Tesfaye as he retires his “the Weeknd” persona? How about a much-speculated indie-inspired album from Carly Rae Jepsen? Will Simu Liu get married and have the wedding of the year?

The possibilities are endless with our Canadian talent.