RTBF has confirmed that Belgium will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria.
The French-language Belgian public broadcaster RTBF has confirmed that Belgium will be competing in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The new Head of Delegation for RTBF, Michaël De Lil, confirmed the broadcaster’s participation in Austria to ESCspot.
No details regarding how the Belgian entry will be selected has been announced. RTBF is expected to once again internally select their representative for the competition, having last held a national selection process in 2013.
Belgium is unique in the Eurovision Song Contest for alternating organisation of its participation among its public broadcasters. RTBF, the French-language public broadcaster, alternates responsibility for participation with VRT, the Dutch-language public broadcaster.
Red Sebastian represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with “Strobe Lights”. He placed 14th in Semi-Final One, scoring 23 points. Belgium received 12 points from the Sammarinese jury.
Image source: Alma Bengtsson/ EBU | Source: ESCspot
Belgium was one of the seven nations who participated in the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. To date, the country has won the contest only once in 1986. Sandra Kim won the contest with the song “J’aime la vie”. Her victory was not without controversy when it emerged that Sandra was just 13 years old, two years younger than the age restriction at the time. In the late 00s, Belgium struggled in the contest, failing to reach the final annually from 2005 until 2010, when Tom Dice finished 6th in the final with 143 points. Belgium has finished last at the contest eight times, including two sets of nul points.
