Canada will participate in Eurovision 2027. Here’s what you need to know.
[This was my weekly column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
It’s official: Canada will be making its Eurovision debut in 2027.
And while the song contest has been around for decades, many Canadians might not be familiar with the competition and what it entails.
So here’s your full breakdown on the ins and outs of the long-standing musical competition.
What is Eurovision?
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual music competition designed to have European countries compete via original songs, then be judged by both public votes and professional juries.
One official broadcaster from each participating country submits one original song. The maximum length of the song is three minutes, it may be performed by up to six artists on stage and it must not have been released before a certain date.
With the contest taking place over three nights, each act performs that song live on stage in a competitive system of two semi-finals and a grand final for the chance to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
The top 10 acts in each semi-final are determined primarily by public televoting on Eurovision’s official app or website, which then advance to the grand final. Viewers are not allowed to vote for their own country, and international audiences outside the participating countries can also cast their votes online.
The song that receives the highest combined score from the public vote and the national juries is declared the winner.
