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Canada to Compete at Eurovision: How It's Possible and Reactions
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Culture & Society

Canada to Compete at Eurovision: How It's Possible and Reactions

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Canada will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest starting in 2027, becoming the first new member country in over a decade.
  • The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cited Canada's high voting numbers from outside Europe and ticket purchases as evidence of significant fan interest.
  • Canada's public broadcaster, CBC, recently became a full EBU member, enabling its participation in the prestigious music competition.

In a surprising move for many fans, Canada is set to join the Eurovision Song Contest, marking the first time a non-European nation has been invited to compete since Australia's inclusion in 2015. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that Canada will debut in the 2027 contest, to be held in Bulgaria.

The EBU explained that Canada's invitation stems from substantial fan engagement. The country ranked among the top three non-European nations for voting in the recent contest and consistently sees high ticket sales from Canadian residents. This demonstrated interest, coupled with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) achieving full EBU membership, paved the way for their participation.

Our participation in Eurovision will allow Canadian talent to be showcased on one of the world's most famous music stages. It will also allow fans in Canada to continue watching and voting in Eurovision, as they have done for years โ€“ with the added excitement of watching their own country.

โ€” Marie-Philippe BouchardPresident and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada on the significance of Canada's Eurovision debut.

Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, expressed excitement about showcasing Canadian culture on the global stage. She stated that Eurovision offers a platform for Canadian artists to shine and allows fans in Canada to engage more deeply with the competition, which they have followed for years.

Eurovision's Director, Martin Green, welcomed Canada, emphasizing that the contest, while European in origin, embraces worldwide participation. He noted Canada's historical connection to Eurovision, referencing pop icon Celine Dion's win in 1988. The announcement has generated considerable buzz on social media, with fans reacting with a mix of amusement and anticipation.

It is an additional sign that, although founded in Europe, the competition continues to welcome viewership from all over the world.

โ€” Martin GreenEurovision Director Martin Green on Canada's inclusion and the contest's global reach.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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