Canada becomes eligible for Eurovision after CBC joins EBU as full member

Canada becomes eligible for Eurovision after CBC joins EBU as full member

Canada will make its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Bulgaria. The move follows a vote at the 96th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Prague on Thursday, June 25, where CBC/Radio-Canada was admitted as a full member.

The Canadian public broadcaster, which has served as an associate member of the EBU since 1950, is now eligible to submit an entry. Canada becomes the first new country to join the competition since Australia in 2015.

The transition to full membership provides CBC/Radio-Canada with access to the Eurovision News Exchange and Euroradio Music Exchange services, alongside networks for data, digital news, verification, and investigative journalism. These tools allow members to share edited and live news coverage.

Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, described the development as an important milestone that will support cultural expression and help combat disinformation. She stated that the participation starting next year in Bulgaria will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on a storied music stage while enabling fans in Canada to continue voting and watching with the added thrill of national representation.

The initiative saw backing from the federal government. In the 2025 budget, the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney stated it was working with the CBC to explore participation. Two government sources told CBC News that the prime minister was personally involved in pushing the initiative. The budget included C$150m in funding for the broadcaster. Prime Minister Carney has sought closer economic and political ties with Europe since taking office last year.

While the country is a new official competitor, Canadian artists have a long history with the contest, often representing other nations. Céline Dion is the only Canadian to date to win the contest, securing victory for Switzerland in Dublin 1988 with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.

Other Canadian representatives include:

• Sherisse Laurence: Represented Luxembourg in 1986, placing third.
• Lara Fabian: Represented Luxembourg in 1988, placing fourth.
• Debbie Scerri: Represented Malta in 1997.
• Natasha St-Pier: Represented France in 2001, placing fourth.
• Annie Cotton: Represented Switzerland in 1993, placing third.
• Gary Lux: Represented Austria in 1983, 1985, and 1987.
• Rykka: Represented Switzerland in 2016.
• Katerine Duska: Represented Greece in 2019.
• La Zarra: Represented France in 2023.

Canada is not the only non-European participant. Israel, Morocco, and Australia have all competed. Morocco participated in 1980, and Australia began competing in 2015 via the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), which was granted special permission to enter despite not being a full EBU member.

The EBU currently consists of 115 member organizations across 57 countries and 28 associates. Noel Curran, director general of the EBU, stated that Canada's voice makes the community stronger and noted that the broadcaster has already helped uphold standards of public service journalism.

Canadian interest in the event has been high. During the 2026 event in Vienna, Canada ranked in the top three nations for the Rest of the World vote. Canadians were also among the largest ticket-buyers from outside Europe for that event. Within the last decade, the contest has aired on Canadian television twice, in 2019 and 2021.

Martin Green, Eurovision director at the EBU, said the addition of CBC/Radio-Canada is a sign that the contest continues to welcome the world. He noted that Canada's creativity and energy are welcome additions for the 2027 stage in Bulgaria.

Canada will compete in the semi-finals upon its entry in 2027.