Belgium’s journey in the Eurovision Song Contest continues for the 67th time this year in Basel, with representatives alternating between Flanders and Wallonia, reflecting the country’s linguistic and regional diversity. Recent years have seen both regions achieve success with strong performances and impressive rankings. However, there have also been setbacks, notably in 2018, 2019 and 2024 when the entries failed to qualify for the Grand Final. Memorable highlights include Blanche’s impressive 4th place with „City Lights“ in Kiev 2017, Loïc Nottet’s captivating „Rhythm Inside“ in Vienna 2015, and Laura Tesoro’s energetic 10th place with „What’s The Pressure“ in Stockholm. Unfortunately, the highly appraised Mustii could did not make it into the Grand Final with “Before The Party Is Over” last year in Malmö.
Belgium clinched its first and, to date, only victory in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1986 with the upbeat anthem „J’aime la vie“ performed by Sandra Kim. Over the years, Belgium has enjoyed numerous strong showings, securing several top 10 finishes.
However, with the introduction of Semi Finals in 2004, Belgium, like many other countries, has encountered challenges in securing a spot in the Grand Final. Out of the past eighteen years, Belgium has only successfully navigated through to the final nine times. It’s important to acknowledge that the competition has grown fiercer over time, with the influx of a greater number of Eastern European nations and even non-European contenders like Australia.
Consequently, some longstanding participants have found it more difficult to secure qualification, making room for newer entrants. Yet, this shift has spurred a positive impact on the calibre of songs presented. The heightened competition compels composers to bring their finest creations to the stage, leaving little tolerance for subpar entries.
Biggest successes
2nd place, Fud Leclerc with ”Messieurs Les Noyés De La Seine” (Lugano 1956)
2nd place, Mony Marc with “Le Plus Beau Jour De Ma Vie” (Lugano 1956)
2nd place, Jean Vallée with ”L’amour ça Fait Chanter La Vie” (Paris 1978)
History
- Debut: 1956
- Participations: 66
- Victories: 1
- Finals: 55 (9 since 2004)
- Chances to reach the final: 82% (45% since 2004)
- Top 10: 27 (6 since 2004)
- Chances to reach the Top 10: 49% (30% since 2004)
- Best place: 1
- Last places: 8
# | host city | year | performer | song | points | place | show |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lugano | 1956 | Fud Leclerc | Messieurs Les Noyés De La Seine | 2 | final | |
2 | Lugano | 1956 | Mony Marc | Le Plus Beau Jour De Ma Vie | 2 | final | |
3 | Frankfurt | 1957 | Bobbejaan Schoepen | Straatdeuntje | 5 | 8 | final |
4 | Hilversum | 1958 | Fud Leclerc | Ma Petite Chatte | 8 | 5 | final |
5 | Cannes | 1959 | Bob Benny | Hou Toch Van Mij | 9 | 6 | final |
6 | London | 1960 | Fud Leclerc | Mon Amour Pour Toi | 9 | 6 | final |
7 | Cannes | 1961 | Bob Benny | September, Gouden Roos | 1 | 15 | final |
8 | Luxembourg | 1962 | Fud Leclerc | Ton Nom | 0 | 13 | final |
9 | London | 1963 | Jacques Raymond | Waarom | 4 | 10 | final |
10 | Copenhagen | 1964 | Robert Cogoi | Près De Ma Rivière | 2 | 10 | final |
11 | Naples | 1965 | Lize Marke | Als Het Weer Lente Is | 0 | 15 | final |
12 | Luxembourg | 1966 | Tonia | Un Peu De Poivre, Un Peu De Sel | 14 | 4 | final |
13 | Vienna | 1967 | Louis Neefs | Ik Heb Zorgen | 8 | 7 | final |
14 | London | 1968 | Claude Lombard | Quand Tu Reviendras | 8 | 7 | final |
15 | Madrid | 1969 | Louis Neefs | Jennifer Jennings | 10 | 7 | final |
16 | Amsterdam | 1970 | Jean Vallée | Viens L’oublier | 5 | 8 | final |
17 | Dublin | 1971 | Lily Castel and Jacques Raymond | Goeie Morgen, Morgen | 68 | 14 | final |
18 | Edinburgh | 1972 | Serge and Christine Ghisoland | À La Folie Ou Pas Du Tout | 55 | 17 | final |
19 | Luxembourg | 1973 | Nicole and Hugo | Baby, Baby | 58 | 17 | final |
20 | Brighton | 1974 | Jacques Hustin | Fleur De Liberté | 10 | 9 | final |
21 | Stockholm | 1975 | Ann Christy | Gelukkig Zijn | 17 | 15 | final |
22 | The Hague | 1976 | Pierre Rapsat | Judy Et Cie. | 68 | 8 | final |
23 | London | 1977 | Dream Express | A Million In One, Two, Three | 69 | 7 | final |
24 | Paris | 1978 | Jean Vallée | L’amour ça Fait Chanter La Vie | 125 | 2 | final |
25 | Jerusalem | 1979 | Micha Marah | Hey Nana | 5 | 18 | final |
26 | The Hague | 1980 | Telex | Euro-vision | 14 | 17 | final |
27 | Dublin | 1981 | Emly Starr | Samson | 40 | 13 | final |
28 | Harrogate | 1982 | Stella | Si Tu Aimes Ma Musique | 96 | 4 | final |
29 | Munich | 1983 | Pas de Deux | Rendez-vous | 13 | 18 | final |
30 | Luxembourg | 1984 | Jacques Zegers | Avanti La Vie | 70 | 5 | final |
31 | Gothenburg | 1985 | Linda Lepomme | Laat Me Nu Gaan | 7 | 19 | final |
32 | Bergen | 1986 | Sandra Kim | J’aime La Vie | 176 | 1 | final |
33 | Brussels | 1987 | Liliane Saint-Pierre | Soldiers Of Love | 56 | 11 | final |
34 | Dublin | 1988 | Reynaert | Laissez Briller Le Soleil | 5 | 18 | final |
35 | Lausanne | 1989 | Ingeborg | Door De Wind | 13 | 19 | final |
36 | Zagreb | 1990 | Philippe Lafontaine | Macédomienne | 46 | 12 | final |
37 | Rome | 1991 | Clouseau | Geef Het Op | 23 | 16 | final |
38 | Malmö | 1992 | Morgane | Nous On Veut Des Violons | 11 | 20 | final |
39 | Millstreet | 1993 | Barbara Dex | Iemand Als Jij | 3 | 25 | final |
Dublin | 1994 | not qualified | |||||
40 | Dublin | 1995 | Frédéric Etherlinck | La Voix Est Libre | 8 | 20 | final |
41 | Oslo | 1996 | Lisa del Bo | Liefde Is Een Kaartspel | 22 | 16 | final |
Dublin | 1997 | not qualified | |||||
42 | Birmingham | 1998 | Mélanie Cohl | Dis Oui | 122 | 6 | final |
43 | Jerusalem | 1999 | Vanessa Chinitor | Like The Wind | 38 | 12 | final |
44 | Stockholm | 2000 | Nathalie Sorce | Envie De Vivre | 2 | 24 | final |
Copenhagen | 2001 | not qualified | |||||
45 | Tallinn | 2002 | Sergio & the Ladies | Sister | 33 | 13 | final |
46 | Riga | 2003 | Urban Trad | Sanomi | 165 | 2 | final |
# | host city | year | performer | song | points | place | show |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
47 | Istanbul | 2004 | Xandee | 1 Life | 7 | 22 | final |
48 | Kyiv | 2005 | Nuno Resende | Le Grand Soir | 29 | 22 | semi-final |
49 | Athens | 2006 | Kate Ryan | Je T’adore | 69 | 12 | semi-final |
50 | Helsinki | 2007 | The KMG’s | Love Power | 14 | 26 | semi-final |
51 | Belgrade | 2008 | Ishtar | O Julissi | 16 | 17 | semi-final |
52 | Moscow | 2009 | Copycat | Copycat | 1 | 17 | semi-final |
53 | Oslo | 2010 | Tom Dice | Me And My Guitar | 143 | 6 | final |
54 | Düsseldorf | 2011 | Witloof Bay | With Love Baby | 53 | 11 | semi-final |
55 | Baku | 2012 | Iris | Would You? | 16 | 17 | semi-final |
56 | Malmö | 2013 | Roberto Bellarosa | Love Kills | 71 | 12 | final |
57 | Copenhagen | 2014 | Axel Hirsoux | Mother | 28 | 14 | semi-final |
58 | Vienna | 2015 | Loïc Nottet | Rhythm Inside | 217 | 4 | final |
59 | Stockholm | 2016 | Laura Tesoro | What’s The Pressure | 181 | 10 | final |
60 | Kyiv | 2017 | Blanche | City Lights | 363 | 4 | final |
61 | Lisbon | 2018 | Sennek | A Matter Of Time | 91 | 12 | semi-final |
62 | Tel Aviv | 2019 | Eliot | Wake Up | 70 | 13 | semi-final |
Corona | 2020 | Hooverphonic | Release Me | ||||
63 | Rotterdam | 2021 | Hooverphonic | The Wrong Place | 74 | 19 | final |
64 | Turin | 2022 | Jérémie Makiese | Miss You | 64 | 19 | final |
65 | Liverpool | 2023 | Gustaph | Because Of You | 182 | 7 | final |
66 | Malmö | 2024 | Mustii | Before The Party Is Over | 18 | 13 | semi-final |
67 | Basel | 2025 | Red Sebastian | Strobe Lights | 23 | 14 | semi-final |
Video Nostalgia
Pierre Rapsat with “Judy Et Cie”, Rank 8 (The Hague 1976)
Pas de Deux with “Rendez-vous”, Rank 18 (Munich 1983)
Philippe Lafontaine with “Macédomienne”, Rank 12 (Zagreb 1990)