Canada has officially confirmed its participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first nation to join the competition since Australia entered in 2015.
The North American country will make its debut at the 2027 event in Bulgaria, where it will compete in the semi-final rounds.
CBC/Radio-Canada, the national broadcaster, announced the news on Wednesday following its admission as a full member of the European Broadcasting Union last week.
The EBU granted membership during its 96th general assembly in Prague, after revising its statutes to permit extra-European broadcasters from nations with public service media systems aligned with Council of Europe standards.
Eurovision Song Contest | GETTY
Bulgaria secured hosting rights after Dara triumphed at this year’s contest in Vienna with her track Bangaranga.
Martin Green, the EBU’s director, expressed his delight at the development, stating: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome CBC/Radio-Canada to the Eurovision Son g Contest family – a further sign that, while born in Europe, the contest continues to welcome the world.”
He added: “Canada has a proud and memorable connection to the contest, with Canadian artists, not least 1988 winner Celine Dion, having taken to our stage many times – leaving a lasting mark on audiences around the world.”
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and chief executive of CBC/Radio-Canada, marked the Canada Day announcement by saying: “We’re so excited to confirm that we’re bringing the world’s largest live music event to Canadians.”
She noted that participation would “allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world.”
Although Canada has never previously entered the contest under its own flag, Canadian performers have graced the Eurovision stage on numerous occasions representing other nations.
Most notably, Céline Dion claimed victory for Switzerland in 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, securing one of the closest finishes in the competition’s history by defeating the United Kingdom by just a single point.
Two years earlier, Sherisse Laurence became the first Canadian to appear at Eurovision when she finished third for Luxembourg with L’Amour de ma vie.
Eurovision took place in England in 2023
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EUROVISION/TWITTEROther Canadian artists who have competed include Annie Cotton for Switzerland in 1993, Natasha St-Pier representing France in 2001, Rykka for Switzerland in 2016, Katerine Duska for Greece in 2019, and La Zarra for France in 2023.
Canadian enthusiasm for the contest has been evident despite the country’s previous ineligibility to compete.
At this year’s event in Vienna, Canadians ranked among the top three nations in the “rest of the world” voting category and represented one of the largest groups of ticket purchasers from outside Europe.
CBC/Radio-Canada had held associate membership of the EBU since the organisation’s founding in 1950 before securing full membership last week.
The broadcaster will reveal its selection process for choosing Canada’s inaugural entry later this year.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who lived in Britain during his tenure as Bank of England governor, reportedly proposed Eurovision membership in his 2025 budget as part of efforts to strengthen economic and political ties with Europe.
Meanwhile, five countries officially boycotted Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s inclusion in this year’s contest, marking the largest coordinated withdrawal from the competition in more than five decades.
Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland all pulled out of the competition, with some broadcasters also refusing to air the event entirely.