While Donald Trump has his heart set on making Canada part of the United States, our neighbors to the North would rather join Euro(Vision). The Eurovision Song Contest announced on Wednesday (July 1) that, despite being an ocean away, Canada has officially been invited to join next year’s competition.
The announcement came on Canada Day, of course, with the beloved, predictably bonkers event revealing the news in an Instagram post that explained how, despite fully not being on the European continent, Canada has been welcomed into the fold for the first time.
“Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦 Canada will make its Eurovision Song Contest debut in Bulgaria next year 🎤 Now that CBC/Radio-Canada has become a full EBU Member, Canada will be the first new country to join our lineup since Australia in 2015,” read an Instagram post. The joyous news comes after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, which coordinates the contest, following a vote at the 96th general assembly in Prague on June 25.
“On top of the many benefits and opportunities this offers 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,” explained a statement on the Eurovision site.
Canada will compete in the semifinals of the contest when they join next year, with Canadians encouraged to follow their country’s journey to Bulgaria by joining Eurofan to track their progress. “We’re so excited to confirm that we’re bringing the world’s largest live music event to Canadians. 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,” said CBC/Radio-Canada president/CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard in a statement. “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.”
The annual song spectacle is known for its sometimes outrageous staging and costuming, soaring ballads, bonkers metal acts and Canadian icon Celine Dion, who, not for nothing, is the only Canadian to ever win Eurovision. A year before her global breakthrough in 1989, Quebec native Dion gave Switzerland its second Eurovision victory in Dublin with her unforgettable performance of “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.”
In addition to noting the long list of Canadian-bred artists who’ve taken the stage at Eurovision over the past 70 years while representing other countries — including Lara Fabian, Sherisse Laurence, Annie Cotton, Natasha St-Pier, La Zarra, Katerine Duska and Rykka — the announcement noted that at this year’s contest in Vienna Canada was in the top 3 nations choosing their favorites in the Rest of the World vote. The country was also reportedly among the top ticket-buyers outside of Europe this year, with a number of Canadians making the trek to Austria to take in the event.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome CBC/Radio-Canada to the Eurovision Song Contest family – a further sign that, while born in Europe, the Contest continues to welcome the world,” said Eurovision director Martin Green. “Canada has a proud and memorable connection to the Contest, with Canadian artists, not least 1988 winner Céline Dion, having taken to our stage many times leaving a lasting mark on audiences around the world. With CBC/Radio-Canada now able to participate in the Contest as a full EBU Member, we look forward to seeing Canada bring its own voice, creativity, and energy to the Eurovision Song Contest stage in Bulgaria in 2027.”
The 71st Eurovision Song Contest will take place at an as-yet-unannounced venue in Bulgaria after native singer Dara won this year’s contest with her beat-bonkers disco anthem “Bangaranga.”
