Canada will compete in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, the CBC/Radio Canada and the European Broadcasting Union announced on Wednesday.
The move follows the European Broadcasting Union, the Eurovision organizer, earlier announcing Canada’s full membership after a vote held at its 96th General Assembly in Prague. CBC/Radio-Canada, the country’s public broadcaster, had been an associate member of the EBU since 1950, and as a full member gains entry into the Eurovision competition and other EBU initiatives.
Canadian artists have performed on the Eurovision stage for other member countries before, including superstar Celine Dion in 1988 winning the singing contest while competing for Switzerland in Dublin.
“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. It will also allow fans in Canada to continue watching and voting in the Song Contest, as they have done for years — with the added thrill of seeing their own country represented on the Eurovision stage,” Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Canada’s participation will also come amid political controversy. The 2026 Eurovision contest ultimately won by Bulgaria was rocked by a boycott by Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands to protest Israeli singer Noam Bettan being allowed to participate in the annual singing competition amid his country’s Gaza conflict.
Besides lost broadcaster license fees from boycotting countries, a host of sponsors also withdrew their key financial support over Israel‘s inclusion. The EBU also faced pushback from member countries over its televoting rules for the competition.
Canada’s entry into the 71st Eurovision competition follows Australia competing since 2015. The 2026 singing contest in Vienna drew a global audience of 132 million people across 35 TV markets, and the Grand Final was livestreamed on YouTube.
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter