Canada is one step closer to making Eurovision history. On Tuesday, October 27, CBC/Radio-Canada announced the five finalists competing for the chance to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Bulgaria: William Cloutier, Josiane (Josiane Comeau), Rêve (Briannah Donolo), Talk (Nicholas Durocher) and Tyler Shaw. The five artists were selected by a jury of music industry professionals, but the final decision is now in the hands of Canadian music fans.
Starting today, Canadians can visit CBC.ca/eurovision to watch performances by the five finalists and vote for their favourite. Fans can cast up to 10 votes during the voting period, which closes on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The winning artist, who will make history as Canada's first-ever Eurovision representative, will be announced by December.
"It's very important that Canada got a say in who went to Eurovision," said Jennifer Dettman, Executive Director of Unscripted Content and Studios at CBC, during a press conference announcing the finalists on Tuesday.
The five finalists were selected from a pool of 325 artists who submitted applications between August 31 and September 9. CBC/Radio-Canada's music teams initially narrowed the field to 15 contenders before a seven-member jury selected the final five during a meeting in Toronto on October 8. The artists were evaluated on criteria including vocal ability, stage presence, artistic experience, musical vision and their potential to deliver a memorable performance on the international stage.
"We're thrilled that Canadian artists have shown so much interest in the Eurovision Song Contest. Each of the five finalists has their own style, and they're all exceptionally talented," said Douglas Smith, Executive Vice-President of CBC. "Regardless of who Canadians choose, we can be confident we'll be represented by a remarkable voice."
The shortlist brings together five artists with very different sounds and career trajectories. Montreal-born, Toronto-based dance-pop artist Rêve has amassed more than 175 million global streams with tracks including "CTRL + ALT + DEL," "Whitney" and "Contemporary Love," while Ottawa-born singer-songwriter Talk broke through internationally with his viral hit "Run Away to Mars" and took home the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2024. Vancouver's Tyler Shaw, meanwhile, has built a significant international following with hits including "Kiss Goodnight" and "Love You Still," accumulating more than 692 million global streams and touring Europe earlier this year.
Rounding out the lineup are two artists with strong francophone roots. Quebec singer-songwriter William Cloutier rose to prominence after winning Star Académie in 2021 and has since performed more than 360 shows in the acclaimed musical Starmania across Europe and Quebec. Acadian singer Josiane, who won La Voix in 2020, has established herself as a rising bilingual pop artist, releasing her debut album, Take Care, in March 2026.
Canada may be making its official Eurovision debut in 2027, but the country is hardly a newcomer to the international music scene. Already the world's fourth-largest exporter of music, the country has spent decades producing artists who have dominated global charts and shaped popular culture. And while this will be the first time Canada competes under its own flag, it already has a pretty legendary connection to Eurovision.
In 1988, Quebec-born Céline Dion famously represented Switzerland at Eurovision in Dublin, Ireland, winning with the French-language ballad "Ne partez pas sans moi." The victory helped propel Dion onto the international stage and remains one of the most iconic moments in the competition's history. More recently, New Brunswick-raised Natasha St-Pier represented France in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2001 with "Je n'ai que mon âme," while Montreal's La Zarra competed for France in Liverpool, England, with "Évidemment" in 2023.
Canadian interest in Eurovision has also continued to grow. At the 2026 competition, Canada reportedly ranked among the top three countries in the "Rest of the World" vote, while Canadian fans were among the largest groups of international ticket buyers from outside Europe, with thousands travelling to Vienna for the Semi-Finals and Grand Final.
First held in 1956, Eurovision has become one of the world's biggest live music events, bringing together artists from across Europe and beyond for a competition known for its elaborate staging, over-the-top performances and occasionally unpredictable results. Over the decades, the contest has helped launch international careers, most famously Swedish pop group ABBA, who won in 1974 with "Waterloo."
Now, Canada is preparing to join the competition for the first time, with one of the five finalists set to represent the country in Bulgaria next May. While the artists have been announced, the song that will represent Canada has yet to be revealed.
Eurovision 2027 will take place in Bulgaria in May, with exact dates still to be announced. The competition will unfold over three live broadcasts, including two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final. For now, Canadians have until November 5 to decide which artist will make history as the country's first-ever Eurovision representative.
