It's official! Canada will participate in Eurovision as early as 2027

YEAH officer! Canada is the most recent country to join the Eurovision Song Contest and will be participating in the next edition in 2027 in Bulgaria. The announcement was made this Wednesday, days after Canadian television and public radio (CBC/Radio-Canada) became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

“Canada will make its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Bulgaria, becoming the first new country to participate in the competition since Australia in 2015”, read in official website eurovision. 

By being part of the EBU, the decision was adopted by vote during the 96th General AssemblyIn Prague, Czech Republic, CBC/Radio-Canada “is now able to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest”.

“Canada will compete in the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest when participating in the competition in Bulgaria next year,” reads the note.

Cited in a statement, Canadian station’s executive director Marie-Philippe Bouchard said she was “very excited to confirm” that CBC/Radio-Canada will take the “world’s largest live music event to Canadians.”. 

“Our participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, which will begin next year in Bulgaria, will allow Canadian talent to be presented on one of the most emblematic musical stages in the world. It will also allow fans in Canada to continue to watch and vote at the Song Festival, as they have done for years — with the added thrill of seeing their own country represented on the stage of Eurovision,” he added.

Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said he was “absolutely delighted to welcome CBC/Radio-Canada to the family of the Eurovision Song Contest,” stressing that it is “another sign that, although born in Europe, the Festival continues to welcome the world”.

“Canada has a proud and memorable connection with the Festival, with Canadian artists, namely the 1988 winner, Céline Dion, who have come to our stage many times, leaving an indelible mark on the public all over the world. With CBC/Radio-Canada now being able to participate in the Festival as a full member of the UER, we look forward to seeing Canada bring its own voice, creativity and energy to the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria in 2027,” he said. 

Several Canadian artists have participated in Eurovision

Canada has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, but the European competition has already featured several Canadian artists representing other countries.

The best known example is Céline Dion, who won the competition in 1988 with “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” by Switzerland. The most recent was in 2016, when singer Rykka also represented Switzerland with "The Last Of Our Kind".

But why can countries outside Europe participate in Eurovision?

According to festival rules, all active members of the EBU – i.e. who are part of the European Broadcasting Area and who belong to the Council of Europe – can participate. That is why Israel was able to enter the competition in 1973, Armenia in 2006 and Azerbaijan in 2008. 

Another requirement is to have broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest the previous year and pay the fees corresponding to the EBU. This is where Australia fits in, for example.

In the case of Canada, founded in 1936, CBC/Radio-Canada is the country's national public operator, producing content in English, French and eight indigenous languages, as well as providing international programming in several other languages through Radio Canada International.

With the new status, in addition to being able to participate in Eurovision, the Canadian station has access to the exclusive networks of the UER for research journalism, information verification, digital innovation, technological sharing, as well as Eurovision News Exchange and Euroradio Music Exchange services.

The European Broadcasting Union currently represents 115 public service media organizations in 57 countries, as well as 28 associated members distributed across other regions of the world.