Canada has confirmed its plans to enter the Eurovision Song Contest, after becoming a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Though the country isn't part of Europe, CBC/Radio-Canada has been an associate member of the EBU since 1950.
Last week, the EBU (who organise the contest) held a vote at its 96th General Assembly in Prague. Canada's full membership was announced as part of the meeting, allowing them to participate in all EBU events.
Now, the country is set to become the first new Eurovision participant since Australia joined in 2015. According to The Guardian, Canada will be sending an act to the 2027 contest, which will be held in Bulgaria following Dara's victory.
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CBC president Marie-Philippe Bouchard said the move would "allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the most storied music stages in the world", while Eurovision director Martin Green said it was proof that the "contest continues to welcome the world".
Details regarding Canada's entry will be announced later this year, including how the act will be selected. Some countries choose their competitors through televised national selections, while other counties have a committee that choose the act.
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Despite Canada's new membership, this won't be the first time a Canadian has taken to the Eurovision stage. Musical icon Céline Dion took the crown back in 1988, representing Switzerland with the song 'Ne partez pas sans moi'.
Meanwhile, Canadian nationals Natasha St-Pier and La Zarra both represented France in 2001 and 2023, respectively. They weren't quite as successful as Dion, however, as they came fourth and 16th in their respective years.
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Canada's inclusion comes after five countries withdrew from this year's event, which took place in Austria. The no-shows from The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia came as a response to Israel's ongoing participation in the contest, and saw a huge drop in viewership.
Sharing a statement about the drop in views, Green said: "While some of our figures are naturally lower without those of our five members who chose not to participate this year, we remain committed to doing everything possible to find pathways back for them in 2027."
The Eurovision Song Contest airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
