Belgium Plays Hard to Get: RTBF Still Flirting With Eurovision 2026
Belgium may be heading to Eurovision 2026 in Austria, but don’t expect a grand announcement with glitter cannons just yet. The French-speaking broadcaster RTBF, who’s in charge of the Belgian entry this time around, has decided to keep us all on our toes – and not in the fun ABBA way.
Despite several media outlets claiming that RTBF has confirmed its participation, the broadcaster is playing coy. In a statement that sounds suspiciously like it was drafted by a team of diplomats and poets, RTBF insists its participation is «not confirmed at this stage», citing ongoing internal discussions within the EBU and among broadcasters. The tone? Somewhere between «maybe» and «you’ll find out in the sequel».
Eurovision Drama, the Belgian Edition
RTBF and its Flemish cousin VRT take turns representing Belgium at Eurovision – a kind of musical custody arrangement that actually works. This year, the spotlight is on RTBF, and while they’ve already started their selection process, they haven’t yet committed to appearing in the actual show. Bold strategy? Passive-aggressive protest? Eurovision fan theatre? You decide.
With tensions high after the 2025 contest in Switzerland, discussions around the inclusion of Israel and the fairness of the voting system have left several countries scratching their heads and raising their eyebrows – Belgium included.
One in Four Belgians Gave Their Televote to Israel
In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix docuseries, data confirms that almost 25% of Belgian televoters supported Israel during the final. Belgium awarded its coveted 12 points to the Israeli act – a fact that has sparked everything from political outrage to fan confusion.
The VRT, clearly not convinced, reportedly requested access to the numbers – and it seems they got it. Over 220,000 votes were cast by Belgian viewers, despite only 698,000 tuning in. That’s a pretty decent voting rate… or a masterclass in campaign efficiency, depending on how you look at it.
Unfortunately, we won’t get to see the exact breakdown of votes by country – that data is kept under lock and key by the EBU, except in Italy, where RAI is required by law to be transparent. Viva la democrazia.
To Sing or Not To Sing: That is RTBF’s Question
So, will Belgium be on stage in Austria next May? Probably. Will RTBF make a dramatic, candlelit announcement just before the deadline? Also likely. But for now, the broadcaster is keeping us all guessing, sipping its espresso while Eurovision fans across Europe frantically refresh their Twitter feeds.
Source: VRTnews
