CBC/Radio-Canada has revealed how Canada will choose its first-ever Eurovision representative — and the country is taking a notably different approach from a traditional national selection.
Instead of asking artists to submit finished Eurovision songs, Canada will first select the artist who will represent the country. The song will be created afterwards, in collaboration with leading Canadian music industry professionals.
Canada will make its historic Eurovision debut at the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May 2027. The Semi-Finals will take place on 11 and 13 May, followed by the Grand Final on 15 May.
How will Canada’s Eurovision selection work?
CBC/Radio-Canada will launch a national search for the artist who will become Canada’s first Eurovision representative.
The process will take place in several stages.
1. Applications open on 31 August
Canadian artists and their representatives will be able to register through the CBC/Radio-Canada Eurovision portal from:
31 August – 9 September 2026
The application window will therefore remain open for just ten days.
The dedicated portal will provide the full eligibility and participation requirements when registration opens. (Centre de presse de Radio-Canada)
Who can apply?
At the time of the announcement, CBC/Radio-Canada confirmed that applicants must:
- be 18 years of age or older;
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- submit their application during the official registration period.
Artists can apply themselves or through their representatives. (Centre de presse de Radio-Canada)
Importantly, applicants do not need to have a Eurovision song already prepared.
This is one of the most unusual aspects of Canada’s selection.
2. CBC/Radio-Canada will choose a shortlist
Once applications close, CBC/Radio-Canada will select a shortlist of finalists representing the diversity of Canada’s music scene.
The finalists will be announced in autumn 2026. No exact date for the announcement has yet been published.
The broadcaster says it is looking for more than simply a strong singer.
CBC Executive Vice-President Doug Smith described the ideal candidate as a “magnetic Canadian performer” with a genuine desire to represent Canada and a proven ability to captivate very large live audiences.
The broadcaster specifically mentions qualities such as:
- exceptional vocal ability;
- electrifying stage presence;
- or genuinely original artistry.
This suggests that CBC/Radio-Canada is looking for an established live performer capable of handling the scale of Eurovision, rather than simply an unknown vocalist with a good demo.
3. The Canadian public will vote
Once the finalists have been announced, Canadians will have the opportunity to choose their preferred representative through an online public vote.
Videos featuring the shortlisted artists will be published on the official Eurovision Song Contest Canada website, allowing the public to get to know the candidates before voting.
The public vote will not be the only factor, however.
4. A professional music industry jury will also evaluate the finalists
The public vote will be combined with an assessment from a music industry jury.
The combined result will determine which finalist becomes Canada’s first-ever Eurovision representative.
The exact weighting between the public vote and the professional jury has not yet been announced.
5. The song will be created after the artist is selected
This is perhaps the most interesting part of the entire Canadian strategy.
Once the representative has been selected, the artist will collaborate with leading Canadian music industry talent to create Canada’s Eurovision song and performance.
In other words:
Artist first → Song second.
This is different from many traditional Eurovision selections, where broadcasters choose between a series of completed songs and performances.
Canada is effectively building its Eurovision project around the performer first, then developing the musical and visual concept around that artist.
The approach could also allow CBC/Radio-Canada to pair the selected performer with experienced Canadian songwriters, producers and creative professionals specifically for Eurovision.
Canada’s road to Eurovision
Canada’s participation was confirmed in July 2026 after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union.
The decision made Canada eligible to participate in Eurovision for the first time.
Canada is the first new country to join the Eurovision Song Contest since Australia debuted in 2015. It will enter the competition directly in the Semi-Finals rather than receiving an automatic place in the Grand Final.
The country already has a strong connection with Eurovision despite never having competed under its own flag.
The most famous example is, of course, Céline Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988 and won the Contest with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. Other Canadian artists have also appeared on the Eurovision stage representing other countries, including Natasha St-Pier for France and La Zarra for France.
Canadian Eurovision interest is also already remarkably strong.
At Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Canada ranked among the top three countries in the Rest of the World vote, while Canadian fans were among the largest groups of ticket buyers from outside Europe.
What happens next?
The immediate next date to watch is:
31 August 2026 — applications open
Then:
9 September 2026 — applications close
Autumn 2026 — finalists announced
After the shortlist — online public vote + music industry jury
After the artist is selected — Eurovision song and performance created
11 May 2027 — First Semi-Final
13 May 2027 — Second Semi-Final
15 May 2027 — Grand Final
The full eligibility and participation rules will be published on the CBC/Radio-Canada Eurovision portal when applications open on 31 August.
For now, one thing is already clear: Canada is not looking for a Eurovision song. It is looking for a Eurovision artist.
And whoever wins this selection will have the unique opportunity to become the first artist ever to represent Canada at the Eurovision Song Contest. 🇨🇦
Official and supporting sources
- CBC/Radio-Canada — official announcement and application information
- Eurovision Song Contest — CBC/Radio-Canada launches search for Canada’s first Eurovision act
- EBU — Canada confirmed for Eurovision 2027
- Eurovision Song Contest — Canada will debut at Eurovision 2027
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