Canada Reads

Canada Reads is an annual battle-of-the-books competition broadcast by CBC, Canada's public broadcaster. Each year, five celebrity panelists champion their chosen novels in heated debates, competing to determine which book deserves the title of Canada's best. The English-language edition airs on CBC Radio One, while the French-language version, Le Combat des livres, runs on Première Chaîne. Over the course of a week, panelists defend their selections against elimination rounds, with listeners voting to decide the ultimate winner. The competition celebrates Canadian literature and reading culture, drawing millions of viewers annually. Canada Reads has become a cultural phenomenon, often boosting sales for shortlisted titles and sparking nationwide conversations about books and storytelling.