Canadians who wish to participate in the next Eurovision competition will be able to apply starting next week, CBC/Radio-Canada announced this morning.
Earlier this summer, the Crown corporation announced that Canada would be joining the Eurovision Song Contest next year, after it joined the European Broadcasting Union. The 71st edition of the world's biggest song competition, watched by hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe, will take place in May 2027 in Bulgaria.
Submissions for participants open on August 31 and will close on September 9. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents to be eligible. Further details will be announced next week on CBC's Eurovision platform.
After the submission period ends, a shortlist will be selected internally by the broadcaster. Then, a public vote will be open to all Canadians to select who will represent the country at the prestigious competition. Finalists will then be reviewed by a panel of music industry experts, where a single artist will be selected and paired with some of the Canada's top musical talent to craft the song that will enter the competition in May 2027.
“We are seeking a magnetic Canadian performer with a genuine passion for representing Canada and a proven track record of captivating very large live audiences, whether through exceptional vocal power, electrifying stage presence, or truly original artistry,” said CBC's Executive vice-president Doug Smith.
This will be the very first time Canada will be officially represented at Eurovision. However, several Canadian artists have competed on behalf of other countries in the past. Notably, a 20-year-old Céline Dion wowed the world and became a global sensation when she represented Switzerland in 1988. More recently, Québec singer La Zarra represented France in 2023.
