Canada invited to 2027 Eurovision Song Contest

Donald Trump is serious about making Canada part of the United States, but our neighbor to the north would rather join the Eurovision. The Eurovision Song Contest announced on Wednesday (July 1) that Canada has been officially invited to take part in next year’s competition, despite being an ocean away.

The announcement, of course, came on Canada Day, and the lovable and predictably outrageous event revealed the news in an Instagram post, explaining how Canada was first welcomed to the continent of Europe, despite not fully belonging to it.

“Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦Canada will make its Eurovision Song Contest debut in Bulgaria next year🎤 With CBC/Radio-Canada now a full member of the EBU, Canada becomes the first country to join the lineup since Australia in 2015,” the Instagram post reads. This exciting news comes after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, which coordinates the competition, following a vote at its 96th General Assembly held in Prague on June 25.

“In addition to providing many benefits and opportunities for Canada’s national public broadcaster, which has been an associate member of the EBU since 1950, full membership means that CBC/Radio-Canada is now eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest,” a statement on the Eurovision site explained.

Canada will qualify for the semi-finals of the competition if it joins next year, but Canadians are encouraged to join Eurofans to follow their country’s journey to Bulgaria and track its progress. “We are thrilled to confirm that we can offer Canadians the world’s largest live music event,” Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said in a statement. “Our participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, which begins next year in Bulgaria, will showcase Canadian talent on one of the world’s most prestigious music stages.” “This will allow Canadian fans to continue to watch and vote on the Song Contest as they have done for many years, with the added thrill of seeing their country represented on the Eurovision stage.”

This annual singing spectacle is known for its sometimes outlandish production and costumes, soaring ballads, crazy metal acts, and Canadian icon Celine Dion. Celine Dion is, unsurprisingly, the only Canadian to win Eurovision. A year before his international breakthrough in 1989, Quebec-born Dion won Switzerland’s second Eurovision win with an unforgettable performance of “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” in Dublin.

Adding to the long list of Canadian-bred artists who have represented other countries on the Eurovision stage over the past 70 years, including Lara Fabian, Cherisse Lawrence, Annie Cotton, Natasha Sampier, La Zara, Katerine Daska and Ricca, the announcement also noted that Canada was among the top three countries in the “rest of the world” voting for their favorites at this year’s competition in Vienna. According to reports, the country was one of the top ticket-buying countries outside of Europe this year, with many Canadians traveling to Austria to watch the event.

“We are very pleased to welcome CBC/Radio-Canada to the Eurovision Song Contest family. This is yet another sign that although this contest was born in Europe, it continues to welcome the world,” said Martin Green, Eurovision Director. “Canada has a proud and memorable connection to the competition, and Canadian artists, especially 1988 winner Celine Dion, have taken to our stages many times and left a lasting mark on audiences around the world. CBC/ With Radio Canada now able to participate in the contest as a full member of the EBU, we look forward to Canada bringing its unique voice, creativity and energy to the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria in 2027.”

The 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be held at a yet-to-be-announced venue in Bulgaria, after homegrown singer Dara won this year’s contest with her beat-bonkers disco anthem ‘Bangaranga’.