The Eurovision Song Contest is expanding its reach in a historic move, with Canada now set to hitch 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 change into the primary latest participant to hitch the competition since Australia in 2015, with the country slated to send an act to the subsequent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.
Since its launch in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has grown into one in all 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 hitch the competition after CBC/Radio-Canada became the newest full member of the EBU following greater than seven a long time as an associate member.
The choice to grant the broadcaster full membership was approved last Thursday during a vote on 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 Yr’s Eurovision
Since this yr’s Eurovision Song Contest already took place in Vienna, Austria, in May, CBC/Radio-Canada will only have the option to submit an entry for the subsequent edition, which shall be hosted by Bulgaria.
The submission process for the competition varies from yr to yr, however the deadline is usually set several months before the competition begins in May.
For now, Canada is about to hitch countries comparable to 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 shall be chosen to be announced later this yr.
CBC president Marie-Philippe Bouchard said participation “will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the storied music stages on the earth.”
CBC Membership Opens Wider Media Access
Beyond becoming eligible to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, CBC/Radio-Canada also stands to enjoy several additional advantages as a newly admitted full member of the EBU.
In line with a joint release, the general public broadcaster will now have access to “networks for investigative journalism, verification, digital news and data, in addition to the Eurovision News Exchange and Euroradio Music Exchange services.”
The exchange also allows members to share live and edited news coverage, enabling CBC to offer much more coverage for its viewers at home.
“This latest 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 crucial,” Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, shared in a press release.
“It’s a crucial milestone that can profit people on each side 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 in all 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 straight away,” Curran said of the general public broadcaster.
“Full membership means we will now do much more together…. Canada’s voice on this community makes us stronger,” he added in his statement.
Director Martin Green also described Canada’s accession as a signal that, no matter its European origins, the competition “continues to welcome the world.”
Why Canada Pushed For A Eurovision Spot
Interest in Canada joining the Eurovision Song Contest first surfaced last yr, when Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned the likelihood within 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 feel it’s a platform for Canada to shine,” Champagne said, per The Guardian. “That is about protecting our identity – yes, we wish to guard our sovereignty, but you furthermore may wish to help people in the humanities sector and within the film industry to be sure that they will shine around the globe. And we’ve got rather a lot to supply as Canadians.”