Canada will take part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2027, organisers have announced, making it the first new country to join since Australia in 2015. The milestone comes less than a week after the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, the prerequisite for entry. Canada had been an ‘associate member’ since 1950 but never competed until now.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made Eurovision participation a stated goal, and in 2025 his government allocated C$150m to the national broadcaster to ‘explore participation’. ‘Our participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, starting next year in Bulgaria, will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world,’ said CBC chief Marie-Philippe Bouchard. ‘It will also allow fans in Canada to continue watching and voting … with the added thrill of seeing their own country represented on the Eurovision stage.’
“Canada will debut at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia, becoming the first new country since Australia in 2015.”
Canada is not the first non-European country to join. Israel first competed in 1973, Morocco in 1980, and Australia began in 2015. But the country can already claim a winner: Quebec-born Céline Dion represented Switzerland in 1988 and won with ‘Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi’. Other Canadians have since competed while representing other nations – Natasha St-Pier for France in 2001 and La Zarra for France in 2023.
Canada’s entry comes after a turbulent year in which Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel’s participation. The EBU’s decision to allow Israel to compete prompted their withdrawal. ‘Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger,’ said Noel Curran, director general of the EBU. It remained uncertain whether the five boycotting broadcasters would return for 2027. Eurovision director Martin Green, speaking ahead of the 2026 contest in Vienna, kept the door open: ‘We’ve got 35 members of our family here, and that’s enough to have a big party. But, you know, five [are absent] and we miss them. When this show is over, I know we’ll pick up the dialogue and we’ll see what comes.’
Bulgaria won the 2026 contest with Dara’s ‘Bangaranga’, so the 2027 event will be held in Sofia, where Canada will make its debut. CBC will unveil details of how the Canadian entry will be selected later this year.