Canada Joins Eurovision Song Contest
Canada will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, organisers have confirmed. This marks the first new country to join the competition since Australia entered in 2015. The announcement comes after a challenging year in which established participants such as Ireland and Spain withdrew due to Israel's involvement in the contest.
The opportunity for Canada to compete was secured last week when the Canadian public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada attained full membership status in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation responsible for staging the annual event.
Canada can already claim a Eurovision winner: Quebec-born Céline Dion represented Switzerland in the 1988 contest and won with the song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi." Other Canadian artists have also competed under different countries' flags, including Natasha St-Pier, an Acadian from New Brunswick who represented France in 2001, and La Zarra, a Montreal singer who represented France in 2023.
According to Eurovision organisers, Canada will make its debut at the 2027 semi-finals, which will be held in Bulgaria. CBC/Radio-Canada plans to announce the selection process for Canada’s entry later this year.
Dara, a Bulgarian pop star, won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Bangarang!" As a result, the 2027 contest will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Canada’s Eurovision History and EBU Membership
Canada is not the first non-European country to join Eurovision; Israel and Australia regularly participate, and Morocco competed once in 1980. The Canadian government announced in November that it was collaborating with CBC to explore Eurovision participation. The government’s budget included C$150 million (£80 million) in funding for the broadcaster.
Eurovision rules state that participation is open to countries with broadcasting organisations that are members of the EBU. Prior to this week, CBC held only associate membership.
"Canada's voice in this community makes us stronger," said Noel Curran, director general of the EBU.
Ongoing Uncertainty Over Withdrawn Countries
It remains unclear whether countries that boycotted the 2026 contest will return in 2027. Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain withdrew due to the EBU's decision to allow Israel to participate.
Eurovision director Martin Green commented ahead of the 2026 contest in Vienna that the door remains open for broadcasters to rejoin.
"We've got 35 members of our family here, and that's enough to have a big party," Green told . "But, you know, five [are absent] and we miss them. When this show is over, I know we'll pick up the dialogue and we'll see what comes."
Recent Eurovision Highlights
This year’s Eurovision event was won by Bulgarian pop star Dara with her song "Bangarang!" The victory secures Bulgaria as the host country for the 2027 contest in Sofia.
