Canada will make its official debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, joining as a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), as the announcement was made on Canada Day by the Canadian public broadcaster, CBC, and the EBU. Canada’s entry will compete in the semi-finals of the contest, which will be held in Bulgaria in May 2027.

Participation and Selection

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) announced that details regarding the selection process for its Eurovision entry will be revealed later this year. In other Eurovision countries, such as Sweden and Italy, the process is often a televised event. In others, like the UK, the national broadcaster selects the contestant. The CBC has not yet outlined whether it will use a national selection or an internal process for its debut.

Canada is not the first non-European country to compete in the contest. Australia has participated regularly since 2015, and Israel and Morocco have also competed in the past. Canada’s public broadcaster became a full EBU member last week after being an associate member.

Canadian Artists in Eurovision History

While Canada will be a new official participant, Canadian artists have previously competed under other flags. The most famous example is Céline Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988 and won with the song “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.” Dion, born in Quebec, was still relatively unknown at the time.

Other Canadian artists have also taken part in the contest. Natasha St-Pier, who was raised in New Brunswick, represented France in 2001, and La Zarra, from Montreal, represented France in 2023. In 2023, La Zarra finished in 16th place with her song “Sauvage.”

Canada’s involvement in the Eurovision audience has also grown. According to EBU, Canadian viewers cast the third-highest number of votes in the “Rest of the World” category in 2026, and many Canadian fans traveled to Vienna to attend the live shows.

Broader Implications and Diplomatic Context

Canada’s participation in the contest is seen as part of a broader cultural and diplomatic alignment with the European Union. The Carney government announced in November that it was exploring Eurovision participation as part of its cultural outreach. The government’s 2024 budget included C$150 million in funding for the CBC.

EBU Director General Noel Curran said Canada’s full membership “makes us stronger,” while Eurovision director Martin Green added that the contest “continues to welcome the world.” Green emphasized that the contest, though born in Europe, has expanded its reach to include countries like Canada and Australia.

Canada’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest comes as the event deals with a partial boycott. Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain withdrew from the 2026 contest over EBU’s decision to allow Israel to participate. Green has said the door remains open for those countries to return in 2027.

Canada’s debut adds a new dimension to the competition, which has seen participation grow to 35 members in 2027. The contest is expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide, with 130 million watching the 2026 event in Vienna.