TORONTO -- Montreal dance-pop artist Reve has spent years watching Eurovision’s over-the-top performances from her couch. Now, with a chance to become Canada’s first contestant, she’s ready to put on a spectacle of her own. “How big am I willing to go? As big as they let me and their insurance allows,” said the artist born Briannah Donolo. The Juno winner and self-described Eurovision superfan was named Tuesday as one of five finalists vying to represent Canada at the 2027 song contest. Joining her are Quebec vocalist William Cloutier, Ottawa pop-rocker Talk, New Brunswick singer-songwriter Josiane and B.C. pop-crooner Tyler Shaw. CBC/Radio-Canada revealed the contenders at a splashy media event in Toronto, where the artists made their pitches for a spot on one of the world’s biggest music stages. For Reve, whose music draws on Eurodance, disco and contemporary pop, the competition’s elaborate performances have long felt like a natural fit. “I’m a theatre kid at heart. I’m a maximalist at heart,” she said Tuesday. The public broadcaster says 325 artists applied earlier this year for a chance to become Canada’s inaugural representative. The public will be invited to vote, with the winner set to be announced in December. Canada will make its official debut at the 71st Eurovision Song Contest, taking place next May in Burgas, Bulgaria. It will be the first new country to join since Australia in 2015. The winning artist will work with music-industry talent to develop Canada’s song and performance. Reve said she became hooked on Eurovision after watching Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst’s winning performance of “Rise Like a Phoenix” in 2014. Its mix of vocal power, staging and message showed her a different kind of singing competition. Despite her success -- including winning the Juno for dance recording of the year in 2023 for her hit “Ctrl + Alt + Del” -- she never imagined entering the competition herself. “It is my Super Bowl.” For Josiane, the opportunity is also a chance to introduce international audiences to her Acadian roots. The 25-year-old from Dieppe, N.B. said her ability to shift seamlessly between French and English could distinguish her in the competition, while giving her community a global platform. She was in a car with her mother when she received the news she had made the shortlist. As Josiane became emotional on the phone, her mother pulled over and began crying, too. “It’s a beautiful moment I got to live with my family,” said the artist, whose full name is Josiane Comeau. Josiane hopes Canada’s participation will give other artists in the country permission to dream bigger. “We have a place, we truly do, and I believe in Canada.” Shaw, meanwhile, said he feels as though he has spent 14 years preparing for the opportunity, working his way from performing in coffee shops to arenas. A tour of Germany last May strengthened his belief that his music could connect with European audiences. “It’s, like, normal for me to hear Canadians sing back my music, but to hear other countries sing my music is mind-blowing to me,” said Shaw, who first broke out in 2012 with his hit “Kiss Goodnight.” Shaw, who described his background as Chinese and Polish-Ukrainian, said he also wants to offer the kind of representation he felt was missing while growing up. “I’ve had a long struggle with self-identity for the longest time because I had no one to look up to,” he said. Cloutier pointed to two years performing across Europe and Quebec in the musical “Starmania” as preparation for Eurovision’s demanding stage. His wish list for a performance includes sparkles, fireworks and possibly water. “I want to push my limit doing something crazy on stage,” he said. Talk, known for his flashy and eccentric stage theatrics, was fairly direct about his ambitions. “I think any of the finalists would be a great choice. But I really think this opportunity was built for me and I’m ready to win,” he said virtually, unable to attend the event in person. Born Nicholas Durocher, Talk won the Juno for breakthrough artist of the year in 2024. CBC/Radio-Canada says its music teams made initial selections before a seven-member jury chose the finalists at an Oct. 8 meeting in Toronto. Jennifer Dettman, Canada’s head of delegation and CBC’s executive director of unscripted content, said vocal ability and the capacity to deliver a mesmerizing performance were central considerations. With limited preparation time in Canada’s first year, organizers also sought artists with experience performing on large stages, she said. Asked about the absence of Black and Indigenous finalists, Dettman said representing the country’s diversity is important to the broadcaster and promised more outreach in future years. Those conversations take time, she said, particularly when many Canadian artists are still unfamiliar with Eurovision and the opportunities it offers. “We’re really making sure with Indigenous music organizations, with Indigenous artists, with Black artists, that we are talking with them, that we’re listening to them,” she said. Canada’s arrival comes as the competition faces continued controversy over Israel’s participation amid the crisis in Gaza. Five public service broadcasters -- from Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Iceland -- boycotted this year’s event. Ireland’s RTE has confirmed it will neither participate in nor broadcast next year’s contest. The Netherlands is also withdrawing again, reversing a decision in September to return to the show. Dettman said CBC/Radio-Canada respects other broadcasters’ decisions, while viewing Canada’s participation as an opportunity for its artists. “It’s not a comment or a thought about what countries are participating or not,” she said. “It’s about our participation with that Canadian artist to give them this incredible opportunity to showcase their music and their artistry to the world.” Dettman declined to disclose how much it will cost to send Canada’s entrant. Organizers say more than 130 million viewers across 35 markets watched this year’s Eurovision, a competition that has helped propel acts including ABBA, Celine Dion and Måneskin to international fame. For Reve, it’s a chance to show audiences a different side of a country already known for its musical exports. “Sometimes we only get to know Canadians on a global scale when they’ve already left,” she said. “But we’re all still here.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2026.
