Canada debuts at Eurovision in 2027, Bulgarians to host
After joining the European Broadcasting Union, CBC will select an artist to represent the country at the song contest for the first time.
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Canada will make its first-ever appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, when the event takes place in Bulgaria. The announcement came Wednesday after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, opening the country's eligibility to participate.
Canada becomes the first country to join Eurovision since Australia in 2015. The feat carries symbolic weight for the federal government: Prime Minister Mark Carney has made strengthening ties with Europe a cornerstone of his foreign policy, and Ottawa explicitly mentioned Eurovision participation in its fall budget.
CBC/Radio-Canada will announce later this year how Canada's representative will be selected — either through a national televised competition or an internal selection process chosen by the broadcaster. Canada will compete in one of the contest's semi-finals, with a chance to advance to the grand final.
Eurovisión reaches over 130 million viewers across 35 markets. Director Martin Green noted that the contest's international scope continues to expand beyond its European roots. The addition of Canada reflects broader momentum: the song contest has catapulted artists including Sweden's ABBA and Italy's Maneskin to international stardom.
Canadian connections to Eurovision run deeper than most realize. Céline Dion won the contest representing Switzerland in 1988 with "Ne partez pas sans moi," launching her international career. Montrealer La Zarra competed for France in 2023, while Natasha St-Pier, raised in New Brunswick, placed fourth representing France in 2001.
