Belgium: VRT confirms participation in ESC 2016

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani 2,367 views

VRT, the Flemish Belgian national broadcaster has confirmed its participation at the forthcoming  2016 Eurovision Song Contest and has announced on its official website that Belgium will opt for a 5 artist national selection in order to select the 2016 Eurovision entry and act.

In 2015 RTBF was in charge of the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgium and selected Loic Nottet via an internal selection to defend the Belgian colours in Vienna. Loic achieved a 4th place for Belgium at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with his entry Rythm inside. Hence in 2016 VRT will be in charge of the Eurovision Song Contest and will be responsible to select the 2016 Belgian Eurovision act and entry.

For 2016 Belgium will have a national selection with 5 artists. More details will be released in due course. Artists and composers wishing to bid to represent Belgium at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest can do so by sending their applications/entries to [email protected]

RTBF and VRT are the 2 Belgian national broadcasters that compete at the Eurovision Song Contest, thus participating alternately every other year. In 2014 VRT opted for a national selection Eurosong 2014– in order to select its 2014 Eurovision entry and act. Axel Hirsoux won the 2014 Belgian Eurovision national final with his entry Mother and flew the Belgian flag in Copenhagen. Despite a great peformance he failed to qualify to the grand final.

The preliminary dates of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest have been set on 10,12 and 14 May.

Belgium debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, thus being one of the founding members of Europe’s favourite television show.  Belgium has won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986 with Sandra Kim’s J’aime La Vie. In 1987 Belgium successfully hosted the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest in Brussels.

The country has participated in the contest every year since its debut only missing out due to relegation in 1994, 1997 and 2001.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for the latest news on Belgium and the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.