Loïc Nottet Returns to Eurovision: Belgium Banks on a Familiar Face to Break Its Losing Streak
Surprise comebacks are the bread and butter of Eurovision lore — but this one might just outshine the rest. Belgian singer Loïc Nottet is officially returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, a full decade after his dazzling fourth-place finish in Vienna. And guess what? We’re headed to Austria again. Some coincidences are just too Eurovision to ignore.
According to exclusive reports from CGTV, Nottet beat out over forty contenders in Belgium’s internal selection process, including The Voice darlings Mentissa and Essyla, as well as fan-favourite DJ Henri PFR. In what’s been described as a tight race filled with English-language anthems and last-minute drama, it was ultimately the 29-year-old crooner who clinched the ticket to Austria.
The announcement arrives sooner than expected — we’re barely done humming the 2025 winner’s chorus — but it seems Belgium is determined to course-correct after two disappointing years of non-qualification. For a country that gave us City Lights, Rhythm Inside, and, occasionally, unintentionally hilarious staging decisions, this could mark a much-needed revival.
So, what makes Loïc Nottet the man of the moment? For starters, there’s the sheer Eurovision poetry of it all. His first appearance in 2015 coincided with Austria hosting the contest. Ten years on, the stars have aligned once more. One might even call it fate — or at least savvy planning by RTBF.
Nottet, who turns 30 just weeks before the contest, is now tasked with the challenge of outdoing his former self. No pressure, right? Back in 2015, he landed third in the semi-final and finished a very respectable fourth overall, narrowly missing the podium. This time, Belgium is hoping for gold — or at the very least, a spot in the final.
Despite Essyla being tipped as the frontrunner, with a modern, fully English track that had the industry buzzing, the jury opted for experience over novelty. Eurovision is a marathon, not a sprint, and Nottet has proven he can go the distance — and do it in a tailored blazer while pirouetting.
Whether Belgium’s gamble will pay off remains to be seen, but if anything, Eurovision 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most nostalgic — and strategic — editions to date.
Source: Public.fr
