The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on Wednesday that Canada will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, marking the first time the competition expands to the Americas. The decision follows CBC/Radio-Canada's upgrade from associate to full EBU member last week.
Canada's Eurovision Debut
"The European Broadcasting Union and its newest member CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's national public broadcaster, are excited to announce that Canada will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria," the EBU said in a statement. Canada becomes the first new country to join Eurovision since Australia in 2015. Eurovision director Martin Green stated, "While born in Europe, the contest continues to welcome the world."
Host Country and Previous Contest
Bulgaria earned the right to host the 2027 edition after winning Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with Dara's song "Bangaranga," which captivated audiences at the 70th anniversary event. The 2026 contest drew 131 million viewers, a drop of 35 million from the previous year, attributed to a political boycott by five countries—Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia—over Israel's participation amid the Gaza war. Only 35 countries competed in 2026, the lowest since the expansion of entries in 2004.
EBU and CBC Partnership
The EBU, the world's largest public-service media alliance with over 100 member organizations in more than 50 countries, welcomed CBC as a full member after a vote at its 96th general assembly in Prague. CBC had been an associate member since 1950. CBC/Radio-Canada president Marie-Philippe Bouchard said, "Our participation will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world." The method for selecting Canada's entry will be announced later this year.
