Steve Barakatt to compose official anthem for Canada Games 2027

The 2027 Canada Games Host Society has tapped Canadian composer and pianist Steve Barakatt to create COURAGE, the official anthem for the winter Games in Québec City. The song is meant to reflect the event’s 60th anniversary, feature musicians from across Canada and help define the Games’ cultural legacy.

Why it matters: - COURAGE will serve as the official musical identity for the 2027 Canada Games, giving the event a signature song tied to its 60th anniversary. - The anthem is meant to carry the Games beyond competition, linking sport, culture and national unity for athletes, volunteers and spectators. - The recording will feature musicians from across Canada, reinforcing the event’s national reach.

What happened: - The 2027 Canada Games Host Society announced that Steve Barakatt will compose and produce COURAGE, the official anthem of the Canada Games 2027. - The winter edition of the Canada Games will take place in Québec City from Feb. 27 to March 14, 2027. - Québec City is the original host of the first Canada Games in 1967, making the 2027 event a return to where the Games began. - The announcement came from the Host Society in Québec, Québec, Canada.

The details: - COURAGE is intended to embody perseverance, excellence, inclusion, unity and achievement. - The anthem is designed to celebrate how sport and music can bring people together across languages, cultures, provinces and territories. - The song will be composed and produced over the coming months. - Universal Music will distribute COURAGE worldwide. - Details on participating artists, the recording process and the official premiere will be released later. - Barakatt has previously created official anthems and musical identities for international, national and cultural organizations. - His credits include Lullaby, The UNICEF Anthem, Devenir, the official anthem of the Ordre national du Québec, Motherland and Jeonju Rhapsody.

Between the lines: - The anthem is also part of the Canada Games 2027 cultural legacy, not just a branding exercise. - Organizers are signaling that music will be used to shape the emotional tone of the Games before competition begins and after it ends. - Barakatt’s background in major cultural and humanitarian projects makes him a high-profile fit for a celebration built around national symbolism. - The announcement frames the return to Québec City as both historical and aspirational, with the anthem positioned as a durable marker of the edition.

What's next: - Barakatt will complete composition and production in the coming months. - Organizers will later announce the artists involved, the recording details and the first official unveiling. - The 2027 Canada Games will be supported by the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the City of Québec. - More information is available on the official Canada Games 2027 site.

The bottom line: - Canada Games 2027 is using a new anthem to turn a sports event into a broader cultural moment, with Steve Barakatt tasked with giving Québec City’s return a lasting soundtrack.