Just days ahead of Belgium revealing its participant for Eurovision 2026, the unions at RTBF and VRT have called for both broadcasters to withdraw from the competition.
The Unions ACOD and CGSP are calling on both Belgian public broadcasters to withdraw from competing and airing the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The unions placed wooden figures in the broadcaster’s shared building holding a sign reading ‘Boycott Eurovision’. Ilse Orbaen from ACOD commented:
“This is the third year in a row that we’re campaigning for Eurovision. The first year, we interrupted the broadcast with a sign , last year we found a partner in Oxfam, and this year we’re here together with our colleagues at RTBF, supported by a large civil society movement,”
With Eric Tamundele from CGSP adding:
“This action is part of a larger, international project. Countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland have already voted in favor of the boycott, and in other countries, such as Malta and Greece, unions are also taking action to block the broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
RTBF, the French-language public broadcaster of Belgium, will present the artist and the music video of the act that will represent Belgium on February 19. The announcement will come on Thursday morning.
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.
Source: VRT
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest+
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.