CBC has pulled the curtain back on its 2025/26 programming lineup, with a mix of buzzy new commissions, key franchise renewals, and a strategic format import built to resonate with Canadian audiences.
The biggest swing on the factual side is a local take on French format Les Rencontres du Papotin, rebranded for English Canada as The Assembly. The 6×30’ unscripted series brings together a panel of autistic interviewers to pose unfiltered questions to high-profile Canadian personalities. First-season guests include Jann Arden, Allan Hawco, Howie Mandel, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. A French-language version, Facteur A, has also been greenlit by Radio-Canada.
Among the headline renewals, North of North returns for a second run as a co-commission with Netflix, joined by Season 2 of Small Achievable Goals, Season 5 of Son of a Critch, and Season 33 of long-running political satire This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Earlier drama renewals, announced last month, are also part of the 2025/26 package. That includes back-to-backs for breakout procedural Wild Cards (Seasons 3 and 4), along with new seasons for Saint-Pierre (Season 2), Allegiance (Season 3), Murdoch Mysteries and Heartland (both heading into their 19th seasons), and Plan B (Season 3).
Unscripted additions also include Must Love Dogs, a 10-episode lifestyle series fronted by CFL star Brady Oliveira and real-estate influencer Alex Blumberg, which puts rescue pets at the center of matchmaking. Food writer Suresh Doss is set to host Locals Welcome, a new series highlighting the mom-and-pop eateries shaping regional communities across the country.
Factual franchises are holding steady: Dragons’ Den is back for Season 20, Family Feud Canada for Season 7, The Great Canadian Baking Show for Season 9, and Still Standing for Season 11.
New premium docuseries in the mix include Diamonds & Plastic (4×60’), Cirque Life (5×60’), and Running Smoke (3×60’), continuing CBC’s effort to scale up its non-fiction storytelling.
On the kids and family front, the 2025/26 slate adds fresh IP and spin-offs, including Hey Joojo!, The Adventures of Toopy & Binoo (39×7’), The Unstoppable Jenny Garcia (8×12’), Island Adventures—a Dino Ranch offshoot (26×22’), and Andrew the Big Big Unicorn (40×7’), co-commissioned with ABC Australia.
Returning kids fare includes Mini-Jon and Mini-Maple (36×4’), Jeremy & Jazzy (22×2’), Playing with Stu (11×1’), and Go Togo (31×5’).
CBC exec VP Barbara Williams framed the slate as a deliberate play to “reflect the full spectrum of Canadian communities”—with talent, tone, and access at the center of the strategy.
