Rêve calls Eurovision ‘my Super Bowl’ in bid for Canada

Rêve, Tyler Shaw and three other finalists made their pitches this week to become Canada’s first entry at the Eurovision Song Contest, with public voting open until Nov. 5 and a winner to be named in December.

Rêve, the Montreal dance-pop artist whose legal name is Briannah Donolo, called the contest “my Super Bowl,” The Canadian Press reported in a story published by CP24 on Oct. 27.

Asked how big her performance could get, she said: “How big am I willing to go? As big as they let me and their insurance allows.” She also described herself as “a theatre kid at heart” and “a maximalist at heart,” The Canadian Press reported.

Talk, the Ottawa pop-rocker whose name is Nicholas Durocher and who was named breakthrough artist of the year at the 2024 Junos, joined the event virtually. “I’m ready to win,” he said, adding that “this opportunity was built for me.”

William Cloutier, a Quebec vocalist, cited two years performing Starmania in Europe and Quebec. “I want to push my limit doing something crazy on stage,” he said.

Josiane Comeau, 25, of Dieppe, N.B., who performs as Josiane, said: “We have a place, we truly do, and I believe in Canada.”

Shaw, a British Columbia pop singer who first broke out in 2012 with Kiss Goodnight, said hearing other countries sing his music is “mind-blowing to me,” The Canadian Press reported.

CBC/Radio-Canada named the five on Oct. 27 from 325 applicants. A seven-member jury picked them at a meeting in Toronto on Oct. 8, The Canadian Press reported. Canada is the first new country to join the contest since Australia in 2015.

Billboard Canada reported that fans can vote at cbc.ca/eurovision up to 10 times until Nov. 5. Eurovoix, a site that covers the contest, reported that the public vote counts for 50 per cent of the result and a professional jury decides the rest. Voting closes at 10:59 a.m. ET on Nov. 5, according to Eurovoix.

The winner will help develop Canada’s song and performance with music-industry professionals, The Canadian Press reported. Canada will make its debut at the 71st contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May 2027. Eurovoix reported that Canada must compete in a semi-final and does not receive an automatic place in the final.

Organizers say this year’s contest drew more than 130 million viewers across 35 markets, The Canadian Press reported.

CBC/Radio-Canada has not announced song titles or the date of any televised final, according to the reports reviewed by Canada News Media.

The pitches follow our report on the five finalists. Earlier, an expert said the contest gives Canada a chance to flex soft power.

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Sources: The Canadian Press via CP24 (Oct. 27, 2026), Billboard Canada (Oct. 27, 2026) and Eurovoix (Oct. 27, 2026).