Canada will compete in Eurovision for the first time in 2027 after CBC/Radio-Canada joined the EBU as a full member. The Canada To Make Historic Eurovision Debut first appeared on The Blast

The Eurovision Song Contest is expanding its reach in a historic move, with Canada now set to join the competition from 2027.

The change comes after CBC/Radio-Canada was admitted as a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) last week.

Canada will become the first new participant to join the contest since Australia in 2015, with the country slated to send an act to the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.

Canada’s Eurovision Door Opens Through CBC

Since its launch in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has grown into one of the world’s biggest live televised music competitions. Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the annual contest features public broadcasters from Europe and other eligible participating countries.

Canada is now set to join the competition after CBC/Radio-Canada became the latest full member of the EBU following more than seven decades as an associate member.

The decision to grant the broadcaster full membership was approved last Thursday during a vote at the EBU’s General Assembly in Prague, per CBC.

With the addition of CBC/Radio-Canada, the EBU’s membership has expanded to 115 organizations representing 57 countries.

Canada Too Late For This Year’s Eurovision

Since this year’s Eurovision Song Contest already took place in Vienna, Austria, in May, CBC/Radio-Canada will only be able to submit an entry for the next edition, which will be hosted by Bulgaria.

The submission process for the competition varies from year to year, but the deadline is typically set several months before the competition begins in May.

For now, Canada is set to join countries such as Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, and Luxembourg, whose broadcasters have already expressed interest in participating. CBC/Radio-Canada has confirmed that Canada will send an act to the 2027 contest, with details on how the country’s entry will be selected to be announced later this year.

CBC president Marie-Philippe Bouchard said participation “will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world.”

CBC Membership Opens Wider Media Access

Beyond becoming eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, CBC/Radio-Canada also stands to enjoy several additional benefits as a newly admitted full member of the EBU.

According to a joint release, the public broadcaster will now have access to “networks for investigative journalism, verification, digital news and data, as well as the Eurovision News Exchange and Euroradio Music Exchange services.”

The exchange also allows members to share live and edited news coverage, enabling CBC to provide even more coverage for its viewers at home.

“This new chapter in our relationship with the EBU and its members will deepen our cooperation at a time when the collective impact of public service media is essential,” Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, shared in a statement.

“It’s an important milestone that will benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic by helping to combat disinformation and support cultural expression,” added the exec.

EBU Says Canada Makes Eurovision ‘Stronger’

Bouchard’s remarks were echoed by EBU Director General Noel Curran, who also praised CBC/Radio-Canada for its contributions to journalism and public service broadcasting.

“As one of the world’s leading public broadcasters, it has already contributed hugely to our union — helping us set and uphold the standards of public service journalism that matter most right now,” Curran said of the public broadcaster.

“Full membership means we can now do even more together…. Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger,” he added in his statement.

Director Martin Green also described Canada’s accession as a signal that, regardless of its European origins, the contest “continues to welcome the world.”

Why Canada Pushed For A Eurovision Spot

Interest in Canada joining the Eurovision Song Contest first surfaced last year, when Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned the possibility in the federal government’s 2025 budget, presented in November.

Canadians have also competed in Eurovision before under different flags, most famously Céline Dion, who won the 1988 contest while representing Switzerland.

Later that month, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne explained the reasoning behind the move.

“I think it’s a platform for Canada to shine,” Champagne said, per The Guardian. “This is about protecting our identity – yes, we want to protect our sovereignty, but you also want to help people in the arts sector and in the film industry to make sure they can shine around the world. And we have a lot to offer as Canadians.”

The Canada To Make Historic Eurovision Debut first appeared on The Blast