Belgium at Eurovision 2026: The Belgian-Walloon national broadcaster RTBF has unveiled the country’s entry for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Essyla will perform “Dancing on the Ice”. Listen to the song.
The Belgian-Walloon national broadcaster, RTBF, has officially announced that “Dancing on the Ice” is the title of the song to be performed by singer Essyla, who will represent Belgium at Eurovision 2026,set to take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th and 16th. The song was written by Essyla herself, alongside songwriter Barbara Petitjean.
Belgium follows a distinctive Eurovision participation model, under which responsibility for artist selection and representation alternates between the country’s two public national broadcasters – the French-speaking RTBF and the Flemish VRT. Following the 2025 edition managed by VRT, responsibility for 2026 returns to RTBF, in accordance with the established rotation mechanism between the broadcasters. This year’s selection process differed from the previous one. While last year Red Sebastian won “Eurosong 2025” organized by the Flemish broadcaster VRT, this year Essyla was chosen through an internal selection conducted by the French-speaking national broadcaster RTBF.
Essyla – Who Are You?
Essyla, born Alice Van Aesbeck and hailing from Bruges, Belgium, is a singer-songwriter who first gained national recognition after reaching the final of the ninth season of “The Voice Belgique” in 2021. From an early age, she formed her first musical ensemble and later continued her formal training at IMEP, a higher academic institution for music comparable to a conservatory. Her musical style draws influence from French chanson while blending pop with elements of jazz, folk, rock, and funk. In her artistic work, she emphasizes themes of empowerment and contemporary issues from a female perspective. Among her notable songs are “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude“.
Lyrics – “Dancing on the Ice”
I got that summer on my skin.
It burns, it lives, it burns within.
That world is hopped and I’m driving. Rains are gone, but I’m sinking.
I’m gonna burst, I’m gonna scream.
I won’t love, but I’m not loyal.
Call me queen, though I’m not royal.
Won’t you go, what if I hold alone?
I keep dancing on the ice where everything dies, frozen to the bone.
I keep dancing on the ice, ’cause I feel alive.
I’m satisfied.
Keep dancing on the ice.
Keep dancing on the ice.
Got king with there in my bag. Gotta keep going on the track.
Sunscreen that sticks on with parties, ice cream melting on my blue jeans.
Melting on my blue jeans.
I won’t love, but I’m not loyal.
Call me queen, though I’m not royal.
Won’t you go, what if I hold alone?
I keep dancing on the ice where everything dies, frozen to the bone.
I keep dancing on the ice, ’cause I feel alive.
I’m satisfied.
Keep dancing on the ice.
Keep dancing on the ice.
I won’t love. Keep dancing on the ice.
Call me queen. Keep dancing on the ice.
Won’t you love? Keep dancing on the ice.
I won’t love. Keep dancing on the ice.
Call me queen. Keep dancing on the ice.
Won’t you love? Keep dancing on the ice.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Belgium’s 67th participation in the contest. Belgium joined Eurovision in 1956 as one of its seven founding nations. The country’s best result came in 1986, when Sandra Kim won first place with “J’aime la vie”.
