Five Finalists Vie for Canada’s Eurovision Debut in Burgas
CBC and Radio-Canada announced the five finalists competing to represent Canada at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest during a media event in Toronto. The country will make its official debut at the 71st edition of the contest in May 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria.
The finalists include Quebec pop vocalist William Cloutier, New Brunswick singer-songwriter Josiane, Montreal-born dance-pop artist Rêve, Ottawa pop-rocker Talk, and B.C. pop crooner Tyler Shaw. Canada is the first new country to join the competition since Australia in 2015, according to the article.
Public Voting Opens for Canada’s Choice
The public can now watch finalist performances and cast votes online at CBC.ca/eurovision. Voting is restricted to individuals living in Canada, with the window closing on Nov. 5 at 11:59 p.m. Eurovisionworld reported. Voters can cast one ballot per day, and the first vote requires email confirmation.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is overseeing the voting system and tabulation. Unlike traditional national selections that choose a song alongside the performer, Canada’s Choice focuses entirely on selecting the artist. Once the winner is announced by December, that artist will work with industry professionals to develop a custom Eurovision entry and stage performance.
Inside the Selection of the Final Five
CBC/Radio-Canada music teams reviewed 325 applications submitted between Aug. 31 and Sept. 9 to narrow the field down to 15 contenders. A seven-member jury then selected the final five during an Oct. 8 meeting in Toronto.
The evaluation panel included Montreal International Jazz Festival programming director Maurin Auxéméry, choreographer and director Sam Chouinard, television composer Orin Isaacs, social media strategist and Eurovision specialist Shawn Myers, soprano Élisabeth St-Gelais, Radio-Canada executive vice-president Dany Meloul, and CBC executive vice-president Douglas Smith. Applicants were judged on vocal ability, stage presence, artistic experience, musical vision, and availability.
Artist Profiles and Musical Backgrounds
William Cloutier won Quebec’s Star Académie in 2021 and performed the role of Johnny Rockfort in the musical Starmania over 360 times. Josiane released her debut album, Take Care, in March 2026. Talk won the 2024 Juno Award for breakthrough artist of the year. Tyler Shaw released his debut single Kiss Goodnight in 2012 and toured Europe in 2026 with sold-out shows in Germany, Austria, and the U.K.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada at Eurovision
Why is Canada competing in Eurovision?
Canada is joining the long-running European competition, marking the first new country to join the event since Australia participated in 2015.
Who oversees the vote tabulation?
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is managing the voting system and tabulating the results to determine the winning artist.
When will the winner be announced?
The winning artist will be revealed by December, following the close of public voting on Nov. 5.
Where will the 2027 contest take place?
The 71st Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria.
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