Canada’s CBC has officially announced its 2025/26 programming lineup, headlined by a new adaptation of the unique interview format “The Assembly.” Originally created in France in 2022 under the name Les Rencontres du Papotin, the Canadian version will feature six episodes produced by Small Army Entertainment.
Each episode will showcase a prominent Canadian celebrity or public figure being interviewed by a group of 30 individuals on the autism spectrum. Confirmed guests include Jann Arden, Allan Hawco, Howie Mandel, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, with more names expected to follow. The show is executive produced by Sean De Vries and Stephen Sawchuk.
French-Language Adaptation and Additional Content
CBC’s French-language counterpart, Radio-Canada, has also greenlit a local adaptation titled Factueur A, set to premiere during the same broadcast year.
Among other notable unscripted series is Locals Welcome, produced by Artifactual Media. The 10-episode series is hosted and executive produced by food expert Suresh Doss and focuses on Canada’s hidden culinary gems that reflect diverse local cultures.
Another standout series, Must Love Dogs, follows the heartfelt journey of CFL All-Star Brady Oliveira and realtor and rescue advocate Alex Blumberg, as they work with K9 Advocacy to rescue and rehome dogs across Manitoba. The show is produced by Omnifilm Entertainment, with executive producers including Brian Hamilton, Gabriela Schonbach, and Cathy Schoch.
Returning Favorites and International Acquisitions
CBC also confirmed the return of fan-favorite shows such as Dragon’s Den, Family Feud Canada, The Great Canadian Baking Show, and Still Standing.
New international acquisitions for CBC and its digital platform CBC Gem include:
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Rise of the Ravens (Beta Film): A historical drama centered on the Battle of Belgrade.
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Colin From Accounts (Season 2).
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The Gold (BBC): A gripping series based on the infamous Brink’s-Mat robbery, now entering its second season.
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Drama and Comedy Highlights
CBC’s drama renewals include Allegiance, Saint-Pierre, Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, Wild Cards, and Plan B. Filming is already underway for Saint-Pierre Season 2.
On the comedy front, the lineup includes returning series like North of North, Small Achievable Goals, Son of a Critch, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Just For Laughs.
Documentary Features
New documentaries include:
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Diamonds & Plastics (Pixcom).
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Cirque Life (Cineflix Productions).
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Running Smoke (Muse Entertainment & Campside Media).
CBC’s Commitment to Inclusive Storytelling
Barbara Williams, Executive Vice-President of CBC, emphasized the broadcaster’s mission to represent the diversity of Canadian life:
“Our new slate of storytelling across news and entertainment showcases an incredible range of people and perspectives from communities across Canada, as we deepen our commitment to connect with audiences who have not always been reflected by traditional media.”
