Canada's culture and sport sectors recorded modest economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, while employment continued to decline, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
Real gross domestic product for the combined culture and sport sectors rose 0.4 per cent in the first quarter, easing from growth of 0.6 per cent in the final three months of 2025. On a nominal basis, GDP increased 0.9 per cent following a 1.8 per cent gain in the previous quarter.
The figures point to continued expansion in economic output despite ongoing job losses across the sectors. Employment declined by 2,616 jobs, or 0.3 per cent, in the first quarter after falling by 2,460 jobs, also 0.3 per cent, in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The culture sector accounted for the overall growth in nominal GDP.
Nominal GDP for the culture sector increased 1.3 per cent to $17.8 billion in the first quarter after rising 1.6 per cent in the previous quarter. Statistics Canada said broadcasting, part of the audio-visual and interactive media domain, was a significant contributor to growth over both quarters.
The agency said the increase in broadcasting activity coincided with two major sporting events: the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series run in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the 2026 Winter Olympics in the first quarter of 2026.
Nominal GDP for broadcasting rose 4.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 before increasing another 2.0 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
The sport sector moved in the opposite direction.
Nominal GDP for sport fell 2.0 per cent in the first quarter after growing 4.0 per cent in the previous quarter. Statistics Canada attributed the change to organized sport, which had posted a 12.4 per cent increase in the fourth quarter during the Blue Jays' Major League Baseball playoff run.
Although organized sport GDP declined 8.6 per cent in the first quarter, it remained above the level recorded in the third quarter of 2025.
The agency said the movement in real GDP was less pronounced because higher ticket prices affected the nominal measure. Real GDP growth in organized sport measured 5.8 per cent in the fourth quarter before declining 5.0 per cent in the first quarter.
Employment trends also differed across the sectors.
The culture sector lost jobs in both quarters, shedding 2,649 positions, or 0.4 per cent, in the fourth quarter of 2025 and another 2,283 positions, or 0.3 per cent, in the first quarter of 2026.
Statistics Canada said the declines were largely driven by the film and video subdomain, which lost 3,837 jobs over the two-quarter period. The broadcasting subdomain also contributed to the employment decline despite recording higher real GDP in the first quarter.
Employment in the sport sector was comparatively more stable.
Jobs attributable to sport fell by 333 positions, or 0.3 per cent, in the first quarter after increasing by 189 positions, or 0.2 per cent, in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Organized sport was the main contributor to that shift, with employment declining 1.4 per cent in the first quarter after increasing 0.8 per cent in the previous quarter.