Next May, Canada will make history by sending its first artist to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 being held in Bulgaria. CBC/Radio-Canada has announced the five finalists who were selected by a jury of industry professionals and will be vying for the honour of representing Canada at this prestigious international music competition: William Cloutier, Josiane (Josiane Comeau), Rêve (Briannah Donolo), Talk (Nicholas Durocher) and Tyler Shaw. It’s now up to fans from every corner of the country to have the final say on who will be Canada’s pick.
Starting today, people across Canada can visit CBC.ca/eurovision to view performances by the finalists and make their choice for Canada’s representative. Canadians can vote for their preferred artist up to 10 times during the voting period, which will end on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (PT).
There’s no doubt these finalists have all the talent and personality it takes to make Canada shine on the international stage, but only one of them will represent the country in its first appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest. CBC/Radio-Canada is encouraging fans to cast their votes — the final decision is now entirely in the hands of the public.
*Watch Eurovision Song Contest: Canada's Choice, the unveiling of the finalists vying for the honour of representing Canada at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027.*
*Photos from Eurovision Song Contest: Canada's Choice are available. Courtesy of CBC/Radio-Canada*
Rigorous Selection Process
A total of 325 artists submitted applications between August 31 and September 9. CBC/Radio-Canada’s music teams then conducted an initial selection, narrowing the field to 15 artists who advanced to the next stage: the selection of finalists by an expert jury.
Eligible applications were evaluated against established criteria, including vocal quality and proficiency, stage presence, artistic experience, musical vision, artist availability and the potential to deliver a strong performance on an international stage. The expert jury subsequently shortlisted five finalists, who are now being put to a public vote. Canadians will ultimately decide which of these five artists will represent the country for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s biggest music stage.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is the official auditor of the Eurovision Song Contest 2027: Canada’s Choice. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is responsible for overseeing the integrity of the voting system and the secure tabulation of voting data, supporting an impartial process for the official national results.
Jury
The finalists were selected by a jury consisting of five well-respected professionals from the Canadian music industry and the Executive Vice-Presidents of CBC and Radio-Canada at a meeting held in Toronto on October 8:
- Maurin Auxéméry, Senior Director of Programming for the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Francos de Montréal, and Montréal en Lumière.
- Sam Chouinard, choreographer and director who works regularly with Cirque du Soleil.
- Orin Isaacs, TV Composer, Musical Director, and television music producer.
- Shawn Myers, social media strategist, creator and Eurovision specialist.
- Élisabeth St-Gelais, internationally renowned soprano.
- Dany Meloul, Executive Vice-President, Radio-Canada.
- Douglas Smith, Executive Vice-President, CBC.
“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. Regardless of who Canadians choose, we can be confident we’ll be represented by a remarkable voice,” said Doug Smith, Executive Vice‑President of CBC.
According to Dany Meloul, Executive Vice-President of Radio-Canada, “Millions of people - especially young people - watch the Eurovision Song Contest on digital platforms every year, in addition to the final, which is broadcast live in twelve countries. It is an extraordinary showcase for promoting and highlighting the unique musical talent that sets Canada apart.”
The voting public’s final choice will be announced by December.
Profiles of the Five Finalists
William Cloutier
Quebec singer-songwriter William Cloutier was drawn to the stage early, stepping into the spotlight at age 12 on TVA’s youth talent show La cour des grands before winning Mixmania at 16. Following formal theatre training, he returned to his first love of music in 2021 to take top honours on Quebec’s Star Académie. The following year, he provided the singing voice for the title character in the French-language release of Sony Pictures’ Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile — a role originally performed by Shawn Mendes. A fifth-season finalist on Chanteurs masqués, William also competed on Big Brother Célébrités in 2026, earning the Fan Favourite award.
His first two albums cemented his standing on Quebec’s pop scene, prompting critics to hail him as the province's “Prince of Pop.” His 2022 release, On ira, earned an ADISQ nomination for Album of the Year. He sustained that momentum with 2025’s L’amour, propelled by the breakout hit “Où on dansait autrefois.”
William stepped onto the international stage after landing the coveted role of Johnny Rockfort in the iconic musical Starmania. He has since performed the role more than 360 times across Europe and Quebec, playing to over one million theatregoers.
Backed by an online community of more than 500,000 followers, William Cloutier pairs digital reach with raw stage power, making electrifying live performance his signature trademark.
Josiane
Hailing from Dieppe, N.B., Acadian singer-songwriter Josiane moves seamlessly between French- and English-language pop, driven by her distinct Chiac phrasing and an instinctive ear for melody.
After winning La Voix in 2020, she signed with Musicor and Parlophone France (Warner Music). She stands apart on the Canadian scene with a sound that is both bold and disarmingly natural, quickly winning over European audiences. Her track ”Lose It All,” has surpassed 6 million streams and serves as her definitive artistic manifesto. With the line, “If I lose someone, it can’t be myself,” Josiane tackles themes that are central to her work: personal growth, resilience, heartbreak and the importance of staying true to oneself.
The March 2026 release of her debut album, Take Care, marks a major milestone. Effortlessly shifting from unapologetic pop anthems to stripped-back ballads in both languages, the record charts the difficult process of rebuilding after toxic relationships. Across the tracklist, Josiane traces an empowering emotional arc: setting firm boundaries, reclaiming personal worth and ultimately learning to put herself first.
Gifted with a powerful and nuanced voice, she blends depth with accessibility. Her radiant energy and sincere presence on stage transform her songs into moments of connection and shared experience with audiences. Rooted in her Acadian heritage and guided by her two great passions, music and medicine, Josiane channels raw resilience into songs that leave an indelible mark on listeners.
Rêve
Rêve is a Juno Award-winning Canadian dance-pop artist known for her infectious melodies, bold lyricism and signature fusion of contemporary pop, R&B and ’90s Eurodance. Born and raised in Montreal, Rêve’s musical identity was shaped by the city’s vibrant nightlife, European flair and unmistakable joie de vivre. She is currently based in Toronto.
Since her debut in 2021, Rêve has emerged as one of Canada’s most exciting voices in dance music, amassing over 175 million global streams with breakout singles including “CTRL + ALT + DEL,” “Big Boom,” “Contemporary Love” and US Dance Radio #1 “Whitney.” Her music has been featured across major television, gaming and entertainment franchises, including Canada’s Drag Race, Love Island, Canada Shore, EA SPORTS FC (formerly FIFA), Just Dance, and The Crew Motorfest.
With a profound appreciation for the history and cultural significance of club music, Rêve’s artistry is rooted in the belief that the dance floor can be both a place of escape and meaningful connection. Influenced by her French-Canadian roots, queer identity and the vibrant communities that have shaped her, she creates music that champions individuality and radical self-expression, finding strength in vulnerability and liberation in joy.
Talk
Hailing from Ottawa, Talk is eccentric, flashy and colourful, and he’s crafted a sound equally unique. The singer-songwriter shot to global prominence in 2021 with his smash hit “Run Away to Mars.” Originally written at 3 a.m. on a lonely night, the song has connected with listeners all over the world. He followed it with the multiplatinum-selling debut album Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees and a sold-out headlining tour worldwide.
Talk has performed on stages at Lollapalooza, Osheaga, RADAR Switzerland and more, as well as at major sporting events including the NHL All-Star game and Formula One Grand Prix in Montreal.
In 2024, he won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and was named Canadian Sync Artist of the Year. He also wrote the original theme song for the network TV show Tracker. His new concept album The Ballad of Ozzy Moon will be released in early 2027 and tells the story of a failed musician turned amateur wrestler searching for redemption. The lead single, “Time Machine,” was #1 at Canadian radio for nine weeks this summer.
Tyler Shaw
Tyler is a Chinese-Canadian artist, music producer and actor originally from Vancouver. He released his breakout hit “Kiss Goodnight” in 2012, which quickly reached Platinum sales and was featured on CBC’s list of the Top 100 most played homegrown songs on Canadian radio from the millennium to 2015. In 2014, Tyler earned a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and launched his debut album, Yesterday, the following year. He released his third studio album in 2021, along with his first holiday album, A Tyler Shaw Christmas, which generated three number one radio hits and was also nominated for a Juno.
Tyler’s “Love You Still (abcdefu Romantic Version),” his wildly viral 2022 rendition of GAYLE’s chart-topping hit, propelled him onto the global stage. Across his extensive catalogue, Tyler has to date amassed more than 7.6 billion short-form video views and 692 million global streams, earning Gold certifications in Singapore and Malaysia, and Platinum certifications in Canada, India and Taiwan. In 2025, Tyler scored a No. 1 hit in Poland with “Fire,” his collaboration with acclaimed producer and DJ Gromee. In 2026, he embarked on his first European tour, playing sold-out shows across Germany, Austria and the U.K.
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