BBC Begins Search for the UK's Eurovision 2027 Act and Song
The BBC and BBC Studios have begun the search for the United Kingdom’s act and song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, announcing the hunt with 200 days to go until the Grand Final, ESCToday reported.
A familiar hand leading the search
The project is being led by David May, the UK Eurovision project director, who managed Sam Ryder, the singer who finished runner-up for the United Kingdom in 2022, ESCToday reported. Ryder’s run included a UK Number 1 album and two Number 2 singles, and nominations for both BRIT and Emmy Awards, according to ESCToday.
May is working with Andrew Cartmell, executive producer and head of delegation for the United Kingdom, alongside colleagues from BBC Music, BBC Introducing, BBC Studios Entertainment Production and BBC Entertainment Commissioning, ESCToday reported.
What the BBC is looking for
The search will canvass leading music labels, publishers and the independent sector across the United Kingdom, with the aim of finding an act and a song that reflect contemporary British music, ESCToday reported. The team is looking for performers with tried and tested live experience and a song crafted in the United Kingdom.
“We intend to be represented by an outstanding current British act, backed up by the very best songwriting and production talent the UK music industry has to offer,” May said, according to ESCToday. “We are looking for an act with tried and tested live performance experience and a song crafted in the UK by the very best home-grown talent. I saw first-hand in 2022 what one performance at Eurovision can do for an artist’s career. The opportunity is still very much there and it’s time the United Kingdom reached the top of the Eurovision scoreboard once again.”
Why the reset matters
The new search follows a disappointing result at Eurovision 2026, when the United Kingdom’s entry, Eins, Zwei, Drei by Look Mum No Computer, finished last with one point, according to reports of the BBC announcement. The 2027 contest will be the 71st edition of the competition, which attracts an estimated average audience of 160 million viewers worldwide, ESCToday reported.
The contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, after Dara won in 2026 with Bangaranga, ESCToday reported. The semi-finals and the Grand Final are scheduled for 11, 13 and 15 May 2027, to be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
When the act will be revealed
The chosen act and song are expected to be announced before the European Broadcasting Union’s submission deadline in March 2027, ESCToday reported. Until then, the BBC’s message is clear: the search is on, and the ambition is to return the United Kingdom to the top of the scoreboard.
Sources: ESCToday, 27 October 2026; Brit Brief, 27 October 2026.