Canada will make Eurovision Song Contest debut in 2027, Mark Carney says

'Most gloriously over-the-top celebration of music ... about to get even better,' PM says on Canada Day

Published Jul 01, 2026  •  Last updated 4 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Prime Minister Mark Carney during the National Canada Day event at Lebreton Flats in Ottawa July 1, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia Network

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OTTAWA — Forget the policy charts and economic graphs, Ottawa’s latest plan to salvage national pride is a ticket to the glitter-soaked Eurovision stage.

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A rumour that’s spent the past few months swirling around Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada would join the annual competition during the national noon-hour Canada Day ceremony at LeBreton Flats Park in downtown Ottawa.

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“Canada is already the third-largest exporter of music on the planet and you can see from what we’ve already heard this morning, we’re about to get bigger,” the PM said during his remarks.

“And there’s another reason we’re about to get bigger because I’m pleased to announce that Canada will be joining the next Eurovision Song Competition.”

Hints of the news came down during the 2025 federal budget, which set aside $150 million for CBC/Radio Canada to “strengthen its mandate to serve the public and to better reflect the needs of Canadians,” later expressing the government’s intentions to work with the national broadcaster to “explore Canada’s participation in Eurovision.”

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Latest move toward Europe, away from U.S.

Last week, CBC/Radio Canada’s associate membership in the European Broadcasting Union — held since the 1950 — was promoted to “full member,” a move that required the EBU to change its rules to allow for non-European nations to be full members in the organization.

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The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual production of the EBU.

Wednesday’s announcement is the latest move in Carney’s ongoing efforts to sweep Canada’s economic and foreign policy away from the United States and toward Europe.

During his most recent trip to Europe last month, Carney — a former governor of the Bank of England — declared the “next world order will likely be built out of Europe,” later calling Canada “the most European of non-European countries.”

In May, Carney became the first non-European leader to join the European Political Community Summit, using the forum to advocate for greater collaboration with the EU ahead of shifting U.S. political dynamics.

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Few details about process

That came three months after Canada became the first non-European nation to join the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, opening European markets for Canada’s defense industry. 

Canada joins Israel and Australia to become the third non-European nation to join the Eurovision Song Contest.

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That, however, depends on one’s interpretation of “Europe” — as Cyprus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia also participate.

“The most gloriously over-the-top celebration of music on Earth, dozens of countries, hundreds of millions of viewers, one unforgettable show — it’s about to get even better, even wilder because the world needs more Canada,” Carney said, adding that the decision on who to send to the contest will be decided by Canadians.

No further details were released on how the selection process will work.

The next Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Bulgaria in May 2027.

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