Canada to compete in Eurovision for 1st time as Carney steers nation toward Europe

Canada is set to make its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, coming amid Canada’s push to deepen its ties with Europe and strained ties with the US.

A press release from CBC stated, “In 2027, Canada will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. The Eurovision Song Contest is the largest live music competition in the world. A phenomenon among younger generations, it brings together hundreds of millions of people on television and digital platforms every year. Beyond music, it is also a powerful driver of cultural influence.”

CBC/Radio-Canada is launching a search for the artist who will represent Canada at the European music competition. Prospective candidates must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and 18 years of age as of May 1, 2027, with the ability to travel internationally. CBC/Radio-Canada said that a shortlist of finalists “representing the rich diversity of Canada's musical talent” will be announced in the fall. 

Per Eurovision’s website, it states that in the wake of World War II, “the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was founded with the aim of bringing together public service broadcasters across Europe, strengthening ties between nations, and fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise. To support this mission, the EBU established the Euroradio and Eurovision networks, enabling the sharing of programmes, news, and sports content among its member broadcasters. The Eurovision Song Contest itself emerged from this broader vision as a bold experiment in television broadcasting - a live, simultaneous, transnational spectacle that, while familiar today, was a remarkable technological achievement at the time of its inception.”

Canada’s decision to join the European song contest comes as its ties with the US have become strained amid an increasing trade war, and as Canada looks to strengthen its ties with Europe. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to attend the State of the EU speech in Strasbourg, France on September 16, accepting an invitation from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, per Politico. 

"Before the summer break, the European Commission President invited Prime Minister Carney for [the State of the Union] both as a strong sign of the closeness of the EU and Canada, and to clearly signal the intention and ambition on both sides to upgrade our partnership," a European Commission official close to von der Leyen said. "In these challenging times, strengthening our relationships across the world is vital."

Carney will meet with members of the European Parliament while there to “strengthen Canada’s ties with the European Union to the benefit of both our peoples,” and will give a speech to the European Parliament.