TVTV NewsEurovision Song ContestCanada is the first new country to join Eurovision since Australia in 2015, and will compete in the semi-finals when they join the competition next year13:12, 01 Jul 2026Updated 13:32, 01 Jul 2026Canada is to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria. It makes them the first new country to join Eurovision since Australia in 2015.‌Entry to the annual song contest was granted after the country’s national broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) last week.‌Canada will compete in next year's semi-finals with the country’s entry selection process to be announced in due course. Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and chief executive of CBC/Radio-Canada, said: “On this Canada Day, as we celebrate with Canadians across the country and around the world the richness and diversity of Canadian culture, we’re so excited to confirm that we’re bringing the world’s largest live music event to Canadians.” Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome CBC/Radio-Canada to the Eurovision Song Contest family – a further sign that, while born in Europe, the Contest continues to welcome the world.”‌Canada has previously had several connections to Eurovision. The most famous is Céline Dion, who won Eurovision 1988 for Switzerland with “Ne partez pas sans moi”.‌Before Canada was granted entry as a non non-European entrant, Australia has competed since 2015 despite only being an associate member of the EBU. While Israel have competed since 1973, having been a member of the EBU since 1957.Israel’s participation in Eurovision has faced scrutiny, with human rights group Amnesty International criticising the EBU for its failure to suspend it due to its actions in Gaza, as it did with Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, calling it an act of “cowardice” and a “blatant double standard”.There were a number of protests over Israel’s inclusion in the song contest at this year’s edition in Austria while Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia boycotted the event.Article continues belowThis year’s Eurovision Song Contest was won by Bulgaria’s entrant Dara, who won with her song Bangaranga, meaning the 2027 contest will take place in the country for the first time.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Eurovision Song ContestEuropean Broadcasting UnionCanadian Broadcasting Corporation