The five hopefuls aiming to represent Belgium will be revealed on Monday morning. More information about the Belgian selection is also expected to be released at the same time. Eurosong 2016 is likely to be used as their national final to select their entry for Stockholm.
Belgium was one of the first countries to confirm their participation for next year’s contest only a few days after the Eurovision final in May. Belgian entries for the Eurovision Song Contest are organised on a rotational basis, where one year Flemish broadcaster VRT is responsible followed by francophone (Wallonian) broadcaster RTBF the next. As RTBF organised 2015′ s successful participation by Loïc Nottet, VRT is responsible to find the next year’s Belgian entry for Stockholm.
VRT has already confirmed that it would like to host a public selection centring around 5 acts in 2016. This is in contrast to RTBF who decided to choose Loïc Nottet internally this year. Today some more informations came out on the Radio 2 in De Madammen radio show.
It was revealed that VRT in a press conference on Monday will present the 5 singers who hopes to represent Belgium for the next Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. The press conference will be presented by Peter Van De Veire who was one of the two hosts of Eurosong 2014, the Belgian national final VRT held for selecting its song in 2014. It is likely that Belgium opts for Eurosong 2016, with 5 artists fighting for the right to represent the country at Eurovision 2016.
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
Belgium has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 57 times since making its debut as one of the seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The only countries with more appearances are Germany (59), France (58) and the United Kingdom (58). Belgium have been absent only three times in total, due to low scores in the previous contests that relegated them from the contest. Belgium has won the contest once, in 1986 when Sandra Kim won with her song J’ aime La Vie in Bergen, Norway. Sandra is the youngest winner in the contest as despite the fact she claimed she was 15 years old when she won, she was actually only 13 something that was against the rules, but EBU allowed her to keep the victory when her secret revealed. Currently the minimum age for participation is 16 and thus Sandra Kim will remain the youngest winner unless the age limit is lowered. By winning in 1986, Belgium became the last of the French-speaking countries to win the contest.
Belgium has two national broadcasters of the contest, Flemish broadcaster (VRT) and Wallonian broadcaster (RTBF). The two broadcasters rotate selection for the Eurovision Song Contest each year. VRT normally hosts a national final, Eurosong, when selecting their entries for Eurovision, while RTBF hold an internal selection process for its entries.
Last year RTBF chose another The Voice Belgique participant Loïc Nottet, who came second in 2014’s edition. He represented Belgium with his song Rhythm Inside in the first semi-final of the competition. He managed to qualify and came second with 149 points. In the final Loïc finished fourth with 217 points. It was the best result for Belgium since 2003 and it was the highest amount of points ever awarded to Belgium. It was also the first time ever that an entry who finished fourth scored over 200 points.
Below you can watch Loïc Nottet performing this year’s Belgian’s entry, Rhythm Inside:
