Canada to Join Eurovision in 2027 as European Festival Expands with Another New Participant

Organizers have announced that Canada will take part in Eurovision in 2027, becoming the first new country to join the competition since Australia entered in 2015.

In May, the 70th edition of Eurovision was held with the participation of 35 countries, while Bulgarian singer Dara emerged as the winner. For this reason, the next contest will be held in Bulgaria.

The EBU and Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC, announced on Wednesday that Canada will present a performance in the 2027 edition, which will take place in Bulgaria in May. The announcement was published on Canada Day, which is a national holiday.

Participation in Eurovision is not determined solely by geographic belonging to Europe, as the contest is open to all members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Canada joined the union last week, while Australia holds associate member status.

CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard said that this participation “will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the world’s most famous music stages.”

CBC said it will later this year provide details on how Canada’s representative will be selected. In some Eurovision countries, candidates are chosen through nationally televised selection shows, while in other countries the decision is made directly by the national broadcaster.

According to Eurovision Director Martin Green, Canada’s admission is “a further sign that, although born in Europe, the contest continues to welcome the world.”

Canadian artists have also previously been part of Eurovision under other flags. The best-known case remains that of Céline Dion, who triumphed in the 1988 contest while representing Switzerland.

In recent years, Eurovision has been accompanied by protests because of Israel’s participation, as it has competed since 1973. This year, five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotted the contest after organizers refused to exclude Israel because of its conduct in the war against Hamas in Gaza and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Organizers said the 2026 Eurovision final was watched by 130 million viewers worldwide, compared with 160 million in 2025.

Although the boycott has dealt a blow to Eurovision’s finances and audience, the contest is preparing to expand further, as a new competition, Eurovision Asia, will be held in November in Bangkok.