The 39th edition of the Téléthon Enfant Soleil began Saturday at 12:30 p. m.
on the TVA network, mobilizing support for sick children and their families.
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Organizers stressed that the broadcast tradition remains vital despite a general decline in live television viewership.
Last year, the event raised a record-breaking $25.3 million, showing that shifts in broadcasting have had minimal impact on the organization's reach.
According to organizers, the vast majority of funds come from corporate partners who announce their year-long fundraising results during the broadcast.
Enfant Soleil President and CEO Jonathan Gendron affirmed the continuing importance of television for the charity's core awareness campaign.
"Television remains a very unifying medium.
It is still the best way to make our mission known and mobilize for the cause," Gendron said.
Corporate involvement remains heavily tied to the televised nature of the event, ensuring sustained engagement from major sponsors.
"One of the main motivations for our partners is to come to the telethon.
There would probably not be such mobilization if we were not on television," Gendron noted.
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Public donations during the telethon week reached $2.6 million last year, matching the five-year average.
Direct public contributions fluctuate annually based on external factors such as weather and competing television programming.
"One year, the telethon fell on the same day as Father's Day. I remember it was difficult for public donations.
This year, we hung rosaries on the clothesline to avoid being at the same time as a Canadiens game," Gendron said.
While TVA declined to release official ratings, Enfant Soleil reported that viewership consistently peaks between 300,000 and 400,000 during the day.
To adapt to modern viewing habits, the foundation eliminated the 24-hour overnight broadcast format, shifting the schedule to run from midday until 10:00 p.
m.
The organization has also expanded its digital presence to engage non-traditional audiences. Last November, a weekend fundraising initiative featuring internet influencers on Twitch raised $200,000.
The live broadcast featured musical performances by artists including Cœur de pirate, Ariane Moffatt, Isabelle Boulay, Roxane Bruneau, and 2Frères.
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Hosting duties for the 2026 event were shared among personalities including Annie Brocoli, Maxime Landry, Mélissa Bédard, Alain Dumas, Josée Lavigueur, and Ève-Marie Lortie.
