Canada to compete in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest

Canada to compete in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest

Canada will join the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2027, organizers have announced. The move makes Canada the first new country to enter the competition since Australia joined in 2015.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, coinciding with the Canada Day national holiday. The path for participation was cleared last week when the Canadian public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). While the contest was founded in 1956 to unite countries through music after the Second World War, participation is determined by EBU membership rather than geographic location. This has previously allowed countries such as Israel, which first competed in 1973, and Australia to participate.

The EBU and CBC confirmed that Canada will send an act to the contest in May 2027. The event will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, after Bulgarian pop star Dara won the 70th Eurovision contest in May with the song Bangaranga. Canada will make its debut in the semi-finals.

Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president of CBC/Radio-Canada, said the competition

"will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world."

Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president of CBC/Radio-Canada, via yahoo.com

Though this is Canada's official debut, Canadian singers have previously appeared under other flags. Most notably, Quebec-born Céline Dion won the 1988 contest in Dublin while representing Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. Other Canadians include Montreal-born La Zarra, who represented France in 2023, and Natasha St-Pier, a New Brunswick-born Acadian singer who represented France in 2001.

The EBU addressed the possibility of a Canadian victory, stating that if Canada wins, the following year’s contest would be hosted by CBC/Radio-Canada in Canada. This differs from the protocol for Australia, which would be co-hosted in a European city due to time zone differences.

Canada's entry comes as the contest navigates a period of instability. The 2026 final in Vienna saw viewership drop to 130 million, down from 160 million in 2025. The event has been roiled by controversy regarding Israel's participation following its 2023 military campaign in Gaza. This year, five longtime participants — Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain — boycotted the competition after organizers refused to exclude Israel.

Martin Green, Eurovision director, stated that Canada's accession is a further sign that, while born in Europe, the Contest continues to welcome the world. Regarding the absent countries, Green said

"When this show is over, I know we'll pick up the dialogue and we'll see what comes."

Martin Green, Eurovision Director, via BBC

External pressures have also led to alternative formats. In 2025, Vladimir Putin signed a decree in Russia to revive Intervision, a Soviet-era rival that promises a celebration of traditional values with performers from 23 mostly allied countries. In the US, NBC launched the American Song Contest in 2022 with hosts Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, featuring entries from 50 states and five territories, but the series was not renewed after poor ratings.

The move follows diplomatic shifts under Prime Minister Mark Carney. In November, the Carney government worked with the CBC to explore Eurovision participation, with the national budget including C$150m in funding for the broadcaster. Carney has also aligned closely with the EU, voicing support for the government of Greenland earlier this year in response to threats from Donald Trump.

Despite financial and viewership blows, the EBU is pursuing expansion. A spinoff, the Eurovision Song Contest Asia, is scheduled to take place in Bangkok in November. As for the 2027 main event, the CBC has stated it will announce details regarding how Canada's entry will be selected later this year.