Canada is set to make its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, having made its first Eurovision contest appearance in 1987.
Canada and the Eurovision Song Contest
On July 1, 2026, Canada was announced as competing in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. This came after CBC/Radio-Canada was granted full EBU Membership during the 96th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union in Prague. Canada will compete in the semi-finals in next year’s contest.
The most famous Canadian artist to have performed at the contest is Céline Dion, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 for Switzerland with the song “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi”.
Other Canadian artists to have competed in Eurovision;
- 1986 – Sherisse Laurence – Luxembourg – L’Amour De Ma Vie – 3rd – 117 points
- 1993 – Annie Cotton – Switzerland – Moi, Tout Simplement – 3rd – 148 points
- 2001 – Natasha St-Pier – France – Je N’Ai Que Mon Âme – 4th – 142 points
- 2016 – Rykka – Switzerland – The Last Of Our Kind – 18th (SF2) – 28 points
The Eurovision Song Contest is first reported to have been broadcast in Canada in 1977 by the CBC. The contest returned to Canadian television screens in the 1980s on CBC before moving to TV5 Québec Canada in 1989. They would air four editions of the contest up until 2002.
It took over 10 years before the competition was aired by another Canadian broadcaster. The Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast on delay by OuTtv between 2014 and 2015. This marked the first time that the contest had been broadcast in decades. The contest was then broadcast by OMNI Television in 2019 and 2021.
History in the European Broadcasting Union
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Societé Radio Canada currently holds associate membership in the European Broadcasting Union. For Canada to be able to compete in a Eurovision event, CBC would need to be invited by the Steering Group of the respective contest to compete.
On November 4, 2025, the Canadian government stated in its 2025 budget document that they are “working with CBC/Radio Canada to explore participation in Eurovision”. On November 5, the EBU confirmed discussions were at an early stage. Members of the Canadian broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada attended the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 as observers.
On June 25, 2026, CBC/Radio-Canada, the Canadian national broadcaster, was granted full membership of the European Broadcasting Union. The decision to grant CBC/Radio-Canada full EBU membership followed a revision to the EBU’s Statutes, which were also approved by the General Assembly. The revised framework opens extra-European Membership to broadcasting organizations from countries with a public service media system aligned with core Council of Europe standards and formal observer status with the Council of Europe. Canada was deemed to meet both criteria.
Other Eurovision Family Contests
Eurovision Young Dancers
Canada has competed at a Eurovision event twice, the nation competed in two editions of Eurovision Young Dancers early in the event’s history. In 1987 and 1989 Canada participated in Eurovision Young Dancers. Stephen Legate took part for Canada in 1987 but did not place in the top three, while Cherice Barton participated in the 1989 contest but did not qualify from the Semi-Final.
Canada’s 1987 participation in Eurovision Young Dancers marks the first time an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union competed in a Eurovision event. The nation’s 1987 and 1989 participations are the only time a North American country has competed.
Eurovision Young Musicians
Eurovision Young Musicians was first aired in Canada in 1992, when TV5 broadcast the contest on delay from Brussels, Belgium. The 1998 contest was also aired by TV5 on delay. Young Musicians returned to Canadian screens for the 2004 contest.
Canada & Other European Broadcasting Union Competitions
Let the Peoples Sing
The contest was first held in 1961 by the BBC as an annual choral contest for choirs in the United Kingdom, since 1966 it has been a choral competition for choirs across Europe. Since the late 1970s, the European Broadcasting Union has organised the event with choirs allowed to compete from across the globe.
Canada’s history in the contest is:
- 1976 – Ontario Youth Choir – Winner
- 1989 – Phoenix Chamber Choir – Winner
- 1993 (Host – Vancouver) – Toronto Children’s Chorus – Finalist
- 1995 – UBC University Singers – Finalist
- 1997 – Participant unknown
- 2001 – Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir – Youth Category Finalist
- 2001 – Exultate Chamber Singers – Adult Category Finalist
- 2003 – Chor Leoni Men’s Choir – Adult Category Finalist
- 2007 – Cantilon Chamber choir – Children’s Choir Finalist
- 2007 – Phoenix Chor Vancouver – Adult Category Finalist
- 2009 – Hamilton Children’s Choir – Children’s Choir Winner
- 2019 – Radio Canada aired the contest without a Canadian finalist
Eurovision Canada
Find out more about plans for a Canadian spin-off of the Eurovision Song Contest at Eurovoix World, and read more about earlier plans in the 00’s below:
During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.