Canadians now have the opportunity to vie for a spot to represent Canada at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The application portal will open on August 31. This comes after CBC/Radio-Canada joined the European Broadcasting Union in June, making Canada eligible for the prestigious music competition that has propelled the careers of renowned acts such as ABBA, Céline Dion, France Gall, and Maneskin.

Canada’s participation in Eurovision was confirmed on July 1, marking the country’s debut in the event. The Eurovision Song Contest, with over 130 million viewers last year, attracts a global audience, with Canadians ranking in the top three in the “rest of the world” category for voting.

The 71st Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, next May. Before that, Canada needs to select its representative. Submissions for potential contestants will commence on August 31 and are open to individuals from all corners of the country.

CBC’s Executive Vice President, Doug Smith, expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, “The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest music stage in the world, and we invite artists from across Canada to be part of this remarkable adventure with us.”

Interested Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 and above can apply between August 31 and September 9. Those considering participation can find detailed eligibility information on the CBC/Radio-Canada portal. Following the registration period, CBC/Radio-Canada will shortlist musicians, with finalists set to be revealed in the fall.

The Canadian public will play a crucial role in selecting the ultimate representative through a digital voting process on the Eurovision Song Contest Canada website. The public vote results will be combined with feedback from an independent jury of music experts to determine the finalist who will compete for Canada in May.

The selected finalist will collaborate with industry professionals to create Canada’s official Eurovision song and performance. Eurovision, which began in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland, has grown over the years, with last year’s contest featuring 35 countries. Notable past winners like ABBA and Céline Dion have seen their careers soar after their Eurovision victories.

Céline Dion, who competed for Switzerland in 1988 and won with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi,” is among the Canadians who have participated in Eurovision. Other Canadian contestants include Gary Lux, who competed numerous times for various countries, Annie Cotton for Switzerland in 1993, and Rykka for Switzerland in 2016.