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It’s been a long, hot summer here at OnEurope Towers, but in between trying to improvise air-con by draping a wet towel over a fan (it doesn’t work), we’ve had an eye on the world of the Eurovision Song Contest. Because 2027 is closer than you think and Eurovision has been busy while you were pretending to have other interests.
If you’ve been following our updates, you’ll already know most of this, but new readers, please be so kind as to start here…
Since the beginning of July we’ve acquired a new competing country, a host city, several rule changes, one returning nation, two more withdrawals and, because apparently Britain has solved everything else, a parliamentary investigation into why we’re rubbish at Eurovision.
Canada is actually doing Eurovision
Canada will make its Eurovision debut in 2027, becoming the first completely new country to join the Contest since the (similarly unlikely entrant) Australia in 2015. CBC/Radio-Canada became a full EBU member in June and confirmed on 1 July that it would be heading to Bulgaria.
The Canadians aren’t mucking about either. CBC launched a national search for its first representative in August, with the plan being to choose the artist first and then develop the song around them. Because that’s always worked so well in the past, right?
We’re going to Burgas
Sofia looked the obvious choice, which naturally meant Eurovision chose somewhere else. After the host race was narrowed to Sofia and Burgas in July, the Black Sea city got the nod on 13 August. Arena Burgas will host the Semi-Finals on 11 and 13 May 2027, with the Grand Final on Saturday 15 May.
It’s Bulgaria’s first opportunity to host after DARA won in Vienna with Bangaranga. Eurovision beside the Black Sea in May? We’ve suffered worse assignments.
The rulebook has had a bit of work
The EBU announced several significant changes on 12 August. From 2027, performers must be at least 18 years old by their first rehearsal. The previous minimum was 16. There’s also firmer wording around vocals: the lead singer has to perform the main melody live, and recorded vocals cannot replace or prop up that lead performance.
There’s also a new hosting rule. Winning no longer means automatically hosting. If war, geopolitical instability or another security issue makes staging the Contest in the winning country unsafe, the EBU can appoint a different broadcaster.
North Macedonia is back
Some uncomplicated good news. North Macedonia will return in 2027 after four Contests away. MRT last sent an entry in 2022, when Andrea performed Circles in Turin. That gives Burgas at least one returning country as well as one debutant, even before we know what the eventual participation total looks like.
The boycott hasn’t gone away
The fallout over Israel’s participation continues into another Eurovision year. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS confirmed on 24 August that it will not participate in 2027, saying it no longer believes the Contest can be considered neutral while Israel remains involved. The EBU has since been talking to Dutch umbrella organisation NPO about whether another broadcaster might represent the Netherlands instead.
Ireland followed on 17 September. RTÉ says it will neither participate in nor broadcast Eurovision 2027, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Spain, Iceland and Slovenia, the other three countries that stayed away from Vienna 2026, had not all reached final publicly confirmed decisions by 21 September. Spain has postponed its decision, while Iceland and Slovenia have also remained unresolved.
So the final Burgas line-up remains rather more interesting than the usual autumn spreadsheet exercise.
National final season is already stirring
The 2027 eligibility window opened on 1 September, meaning songs released from that date can compete in Burgas. Sweden has already been taking Melodifestivalen submissions, Germany is bringing back Das Deutsche Finale, Estonia has started looking for songs and Latvia is supersizing Supernova, moving its national final into Riga’s 14,500-capacity arena.
In other words, the pleasant bit where nobody has heard any of the songs and every country could theoretically win is now officially under way.
And Westminster would like a word
Possibly the most gloriously British development of the lot: MPs are taking an interest in why the UK has become so consistently dreadful at Eurovision. Seems you can only get away with doing a bad job in a back room for so long before everyone notices. And yes, I know about Sam Ryder. Exception that proves the rule etc.
The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee plans to look at the UK selection process and the BBC’s recent record following another last-place finish in 2026. After decades of fan forums, podcasts, blogs and pub arguments trying to establish exactly the same thing, we look forward to Parliament discovering that sending a really good song might help.
Thinking of going to Burgas?
One practical change before you start refreshing ticket websites: the official Eurovision site says fans wanting to enter the Burgas 2027 ticket sale will need to register for the free Eurofan scheme. Ticket dates and prices haven’t been announced yet.
Stay tuned, we’ll resume bringing you actual news as it happens…
