won it in 1986
Belgium at Eurovision
Belgium first sang at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, at the very first one, and has entered 67 contests. It has won once, in 1986, with “J'aime la vie” by Sandra Kim. The contest has been held there once, in Brussels in 1987.
- 67
- contests
- 1
- win
- 1
- hosted
- first song
- 1956
- contests
- 67 (68 songs: two in 1956)
- wins
- 1 — 1986
- second place
- 2 — 1978, 2003
- last place
- 8 — 1961, 1962, 1965, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1993, 2000
- nul points
- 1962, 1965
- in the final
- 10 of 22 tries since semi-finals began in 2004
- sung in
- French (24), English (24), Dutch (19), Imaginary (2)
- hosted
- Brussels 1987
- not in the line-up
- 1994, 1997, 2001
The win
-
1986, Bergen “J'aime la vie”
Sandra Kim · 176 points
Photos are stills from the contest’s own videos on YouTube. Each one opens that year’s story.
Every song
All 69 entries, newest first. The year opens the story of that contest; the name opens the artist.
| Year | Artist | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Vienna | Essyla | “Dancing on the Ice” English | 21st of 25 | 36 |
| 2025 Basel | Red Sebastian | “Strobe Lights” English | Out in semi-final 1 (14th of 15) | 23 |
| 2024 Malmö | Mustii | “Before the Party's Over” English | Out in semi-final 2 (13th of 16) | 18 |
| 2023 Liverpool | Gustaph | “Because of You” English | 7th of 26 | 182 |
| 2022 Turin | Jérémie Makiese | “Miss You” English | 19th of 25 | 64 |
| 2021 Rotterdam | Hooverphonic | “The Wrong Place” English | 19th of 26 | 74 |
| 2020 Rotterdam | Hooverphonic | “Release Me” English | Contest cancelled | — |
| 2019 Tel Aviv | Eliot | “Wake Up” English | Out in semi-final 1 (13th of 17) | 70 |
| 2018 Lisbon | Sennek | “A Matter of Time” English | Out in semi-final 1 (12th of 19) | 91 |
| 2017 Kyiv | Blanche | “City Lights” English | 4th of 26 | 363 |
| 2016 Stockholm | Laura Tesoro | “What's the Pressure” English | 10th of 26 | 181 |
| 2015 Vienna | Loïc Nottet | “Rhythm Inside” English | 4th of 27 | 217 |
| 2014 Copenhagen | Axel Hirsoux | “Mother” English | Out in semi-final 1 (14th of 16) | 28 |
| 2013 Malmö | Roberto Bellarosa | “Love Kills” English | 12th of 26 | 71 |
| 2012 Baku | Iris | “Would You?” English | Out in semi-final 1 (17th of 18) | 16 |
| 2011 Düsseldorf | Witloof Bay | “With Love Baby” English | Out in semi-final 2 (11th of 19) | 53 |
| 2010 Oslo | Tom Dice | “Me and My Guitar” English | 6th of 25 | 143 |
| 2009 Moscow | Copycat | “Copycat” English | Out in semi-final 1 (17th of 18) | 1 |
| 2008 Belgrade | Ishtar | “O Julissi” Imaginary | Out in semi-final 1 (17th of 19) | 16 |
| 2007 Helsinki | The KMG's | “LovePower” English | Out in the semi-final (26th of 28) | 14 |
| 2006 Athens | Kate Ryan | “Je t'adore” English | Out in the semi-final (12th of 23) | 69 |
| 2005 Kyiv | Nuno Resende | “Le Grand Soir” French | Out in the semi-final (22nd of 25) | 29 |
| 2004 Istanbul | Xandee | “1 Life” English | 22nd of 24 | 7 |
| 2003 Riga | Urban Trad | “Sanomi” Imaginary | 2nd of 26 | 165 |
| 2002 Tallinn | Sergio & the Ladies | “Sister” English | 13th of 24 | 33 |
| 2000 Stockholm | Nathalie Sorce | “Envie de vivre” French | 24th of 24 | 2 |
| 1999 Jerusalem | Vanessa Chinitor | “Like the Wind” English | 12th of 23 | 38 |
| 1998 Birmingham | Mélanie Cohl | “Dis oui” French | 6th of 25 | 122 |
| 1996 Oslo | Lisa del Bo | “Liefde is een kaartspel” Dutch | 16th of 23 | 22 |
| 1995 Dublin | Frédéric Etherlinck | “La voix est libre” French | 20th of 23 | 8 |
| 1993 Millstreet | Barbara | “Iemand als jij” Dutch | 25th of 25 | 3 |
| 1992 Malmö | Morgane | “Nous on veut des violons” French | 20th of 23 | 11 |
| 1991 Rome | Clouseau | “Geef het op” Dutch | 16th of 22 | 23 |
| 1990 Zagreb | Philippe Lafontaine | “Macédomienne” French | 12th of 22 | 46 |
| 1989 Lausanne | Ingeborg | “Door de wind” Dutch | 19th of 22 | 13 |
| 1988 Dublin | Reynaert | “Laissez briller le soleil” French | 18th of 21 | 5 |
| 1987 Brussels | Liliane Saint-Pierre | “Soldiers of Love” Dutch | 11th of 22 | 56 |
| 1986 Bergen | Sandra Kim | “J'aime la vie” French | winner! | 176 |
| 1985 Gothenburg | Linda Lepomme | “Laat me nu gaan” Dutch | 19th of 19 | 7 |
| 1984 Luxembourg City | Jacques Zegers | “Avanti la vie” French | 5th of 19 | 70 |
| 1983 Munich | Pas de Deux | “Rendez-vous” Dutch | 18th of 20 | 13 |
| 1982 Harrogate | Stella | “Si tu aimes ma musique” French | 4th of 18 | 96 |
| 1981 Dublin | Emly Starr | “Samson” Dutch | 13th of 20 | 40 |
| 1980 The Hague | Telex | “Euro-Vision” French | 17th of 19 | 14 |
| 1979 Jerusalem | Micha Marah | “Hey Nana” Dutch | 18th of 19 | 5 |
| 1978 Paris | Jean Vallée | “L'amour ça fait chanter la vie” French | 2nd of 20 | 125 |
| 1977 London | Dream Express | “A Million in One, Two, Three” English | 7th of 18 | 69 |
| 1976 The Hague | Pierre Rapsat | “Judy et Cie” French | 8th of 18 | 68 |
| 1975 Stockholm | Ann Christy | “Gelukkig zijn” Dutch, English | 15th of 19 | 17 |
| 1974 Brighton | Jacques Hustin | “Fleur de liberté” French | 9th of 17 | 10 |
| 1973 Luxembourg City | Nicole and Hugo | “Baby Baby” Dutch | 17th of 17 | 58 |
| 1972 Edinburgh | Serge and Christine Ghisoland | “À la folie ou pas du tout” French | 17th of 18 | 55 |
| 1971 Dublin | Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel | “Goeie morgen, morgen” Dutch | 14th of 18 | 68 |
| 1970 Amsterdam | Jean Vallée | “Viens l'oublier” French | 8th of 12 | 5 |
| 1969 Madrid | Louis Neefs | “Jennifer Jennings” Dutch | 7th of 16 | 10 |
| 1968 London | Claude Lombard | “Quand tu reviendras” French | 7th of 17 | 8 |
| 1967 Vienna | Louis Neefs | “Ik heb zorgen” Dutch | 7th of 17 | 8 |
| 1966 Luxembourg City | Tonia | “Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel” French | 4th of 18 | 14 |
| 1965 Naples | Lize Marke | “Als het weer lente is” Dutch | 15th of 18 | 0 |
| 1964 Copenhagen | Robert Cogoi | “Près de ma rivière” French | 10th of 16 | 2 |
| 1963 London | Jacques Raymond | “Waarom?” Dutch | 10th of 16 | 4 |
| 1962 Luxembourg City | Fud Leclerc | “Ton nom” French | 13th of 16 | 0 |
| 1961 Cannes | Bob Benny | “September, gouden roos” Dutch | 15th of 16 | 1 |
| 1960 London | Fud Leclerc | “Mon amour pour toi” French | 6th of 13 | 9 |
| 1959 Cannes | Bob Benny | “Hou toch van mij” Dutch | 6th of 11 | 9 |
| 1958 Hilversum | Fud Leclerc | “Ma petite chatte” French | 5th of 10 | 8 |
| 1957 Frankfurt | Bobbejaan Schoepen | “Straatdeuntje” Dutch | 8th of 10 | 5 |
| 1956 Lugano | Fud Leclerc | “Messieurs les noyés de la Seine” French | Placing not published | — |
| 1956 Lugano | Mony Marc | “Le Plus Beau Jour de ma vie” French | Placing not published | — |
Points for a song that went out in a semi-final are its semi-final points. Before 2004 there were no semi-finals: every song sang on the one night.
Sent more than once
The six acts Belgium has sent to more than one contest.
- Fud Leclerc 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962
- Bob Benny 1959, 1961
- Jacques Raymond 1963, 1971
- Louis Neefs 1967, 1969
- Jean Vallée 1970, 1978
- Hooverphonic 2020 (cancelled), 2021
Hosting
The one contest held in Belgium.
On air at home
The channels that carried the contest in Belgium, year by year, and who commentated where our source names them. Newest first.
- 2026
- VRT 1 Dutch: Peter Van de Veire
- La Une (semi-final 1 and final) French: Jean-Louis Lahaye and Fanny Jandrain
- Tipik (semi-final 2) French: Jean-Louis Lahaye and Fanny Jandrain
- 2025
- VRT 1 Dutch: Peter Van de Veire
- Radio 2 (final)
- La Une (semi-final 1 and final) French: Jean-Louis Lahaye and Joëlle Scoriels
- Tipik (semi-final 2) French: Jean-Louis Lahaye and Joëlle Scoriels
- 2024
- Tipik (semi-final 1) French: Maureen Louys and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- La Une (semi-final 2, final) French: Maureen Louys and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- VivaCité (final) French: Maureen Louys and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- VRT 1 Dutch: Peter Van de Veire
- Radio 2 (final) Dutch: Peter Van de Veire
- 2023
- VRT 1 Peter Van de Veire
- Radio 2 (final) Peter Van de Veire
- Tipik (semi-final 1) Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- La Une (semi-final 2 and final) Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- VivaCité Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- 2022
- La Une, VivaCité Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- één Peter Van de Veire
- 2021
- één Peter Van de Veire
- Ketnet Dutch audio description
- Radio 2 (final) Anja Daems and Showbizz Bart
- La Une, RTBF Auvio Jean-Louis Lahaye and Fanny Jandrain
- VivaCité (semi-final 1 and final) Jean-Louis Lahaye and Fanny Jandrain
- 2019
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- één (semi-final 1 and final) Peter Van de Veire
- Ketnet (semi-final 2) Peter Van de Veire
- 2018
- één Peter Van de Veire
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- 2017
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- VivaCité (semi-final 1 and final) Olivier Gilain
- één, Radio 2 Peter Van de Veire
- 2016
- één Peter Van de Veire
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- 2015
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- VivaCité (final) Olivier Gilain
- één, Radio 2 Peter Van de Veire and Eva Daeleman
- 2014
- één, Radio 2 Peter Van de Veire and Eva Daeleman
- La Une Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys
- VivaCité (final) Olivier Gilain
- 2013
- La Une Maureen Louys and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- één, Radio 2 André Vermeulen and Tom De Cock
- 2012
- één, Radio 2 André Vermeulen and Peter Van de Veire
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- 2011
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- Eén Sven Pichal and André Vermeulen
- Radio 2 Sven Pichal and André Vermeulen
- 2009
- La Une, RTBF Sat Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- Eén Anja Daems and André Vermeulen
- 2008
- Eén (semi-final 1 and final) Bart Peeters and André Vermeulen
- Eén+ (semi-final 2) Bart Peeters and André Vermeulen
- La Une (semi-final 1 and final) Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- 2007
- La Une, RTBF Sat Jean-Pierre Hautier and Jean-Louis Lahaye
- La Première
- Eén André Vermeulen and Anja Daems
- 2006
- Eén André Vermeulen and Bart Peeters
- Radio 2
- La Une, RTBF Sat Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 2005
- La Une, RTBF Sat Jean-Pierre Hautier
- La Une, RTBF Sat (semi-final) Jean-Louis Lahaye
- Eén André Vermeulen and Anja Daems
- 2004
- TV1
- La Une (final) Jean-Pierre Hautier
- La Première (final)
- 2003
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier
- TV1 André Vermeulen and Anja Daems
- 2002
- TV1 André Vermeulen and Bart Peeters
- Radio 2 Filip Pletinckx and Katrien Palmers
- Radio Donna Jan Bosman
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 2001
- TV1 André Vermeulen and Anja Daems
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 2000
- La Une Jean-Pierre Hautier
- TV1 André Vermeulen and Anja Daems
- 1999
- TV1 André Vermeulen and Bart Peeters
- RTBF La 1 Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 1998
- RTBF La 1 Jean-Pierre Hautier
- TV1, Radio 2 André Vermeulen and Andrea Croonenberghs
- 1997
- TV1 André Vermeulen
- RTBF La 1 Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 1996
- TV1 Michel Follet and Johan Verstreken
- Radio 2 Guy De Pré and Bart Pieters
- RTBF1 Jean-Pierre Hautier and Sandra Kim
- 1995
- RTBF1 Jean-Pierre Hautier
- TV1 André Vermeulen
- 1994
- TV2 André Vermeulen
- Radio 2 Marc Brillouet and Julien Put
- RTBF1 Jean-Pierre Hautier
- 1993
- TV1 André Vermeulen
- RTBF1, Sports 21 Claude Delacroix
- 1992
- RTBF1 Claude Delacroix
- TV1, TV2 André Vermeulen
- Radio 2 Marc Brillouet and Julien Put
- 1991
- TV1, TV2 André Vermeulen
- Radio 2
- RTBF1 Claude Delacroix
- 1990
- RTBF1 Claude Delacroix
- TV2 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2
- 1989
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Ann Lepère
- RTBF1 Jacques Mercier
- 1988
- RTBF1 Pierre Collard-Bovy
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Erik Bayens
- 1987
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2
- RTBF1 Claude Delacroix
- Radio Deux
- 1986
- RTBF1, Télé 2 Patrick Duhamel
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Julien Put
- 1985
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2, Studio Brussel
- RTBF1 Jacques Mercier
- 1984
- RTBF1, Télé 2 Jacques Mercier
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2
- 1983
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Omroep Brabant Luk de Laat
- Télé 2 Jacques Mercier
- RTBF 1
- 1982
- RTBF1 Jacques Mercier
- RTBF 1, Bruxelles 21
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Omroep Brabant
- 1981
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- RTBF1
- RTBF 1
- 1980
- RTBF1 Jacques Mercier
- RTBF Radio 1
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- 1979
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 2 Omroep Brabant
- RTBF1 Paule Herreman
- RTBF 1
- 1978
- RTBF1 Paule Herreman
- RTBF 2
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 1 Jan Schoukens
- 1977
- TV1 Luc Appermont
- BRT 1
- RTB1 Patrick Duhamel
- RTB 2
- 1976
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 2
- BRT, BRT 1 Luc Appermont
- 1975
- BRT, BRT 1 Jan Geysen and Robrecht Willaert
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 2
- 1974
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- BRT, BRT 1 Herman Verelst
- 1973
- BRT, BRT 1
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- 1972
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- BRT
- 1971
- BRT Anton Peters
- BRT 2 Omroep Brabant Fred Braeckman
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- 1970
- RTB, RTB 1
- BRT Jan Theys
- BRT 2 Omroep Brabant Rudi Sinia
- 1969
- BRT Jan Theys
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- 1968
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 1
- BRT Herman Verelst
- 1967
- BRT Herman Verelst
- RTB Paule Herreman
- RTB 3
- 1966
- RTB, Premier Programme
- BRT
- 1965
- BRT
- RTB, Premier Programme
- 1964
- RTB
- BRT
- 1963
- BRT Bob Boon and Denise Maes
- RTB Pierre Delhasse
- 1962
- RTB
- BRT Willem Duys
- 1961
- BRT Nic Bal
- RTB Robert Beauvais
- 1960
- INR Pierre Tchernia
- NIR Nic Bal
- 1959
- NIR Paula Sémer
- INR Paule Herreman
- 1958
- INR, Bruxelles I
- NIR
- 1957
- NIR, Brussel Vlaams
- INR Robert Beauvais
- 1956
- INR Raymond Colbert
- NIR Piet te Nuyl Jr.
In our contest stories
Lines about Belgium from our story of each contest. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 1956 Fourteen songs
Seven broadcasters entered: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
- 1958 Who was there
Belgium's Fud Leclerc was back from 1956 and Germany's Margot Hielscher from 1957.
- 1958 The song that came third
As "Volare" it became one of the first Eurovision songs to matter outside Eurovision. It reached number one on the American Billboard Hot 100, went top five in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway, and top ten in Britain.
- 1960 Thirteen
Belgium sent Fud Leclerc again.
- 1961 A record field
Belgium's Bob Benny and Norway's Nora Brockstedt were both back for a second go.
- 1961 The result
Austria and Belgium shared last place with one vote each, and Lale Andersen came thirteenth.
- 1962 The same sixteen
Belgium's Fud Leclerc was making his fourth appearance, the first artist to reach that number; only three acts have matched it since.
- 1962 Nul points
Four countries scored nothing: Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
- 1965 The result
Four countries scored nothing: Belgium, Finland, Germany and Spain.
- 1966 The result
Sweden was second and Norway third, with Belgium and Ireland sharing fourth.
- 1969 One empty place
Simone de Oliveira was back for Portugal, Louis Neefs for Belgium and Kirsti Sparboe, for the third time, for Norway.
- 1973 Familiar names
Nicole and Hugo finally got their turn for Belgium.
- 1986 A record score
Belgium's Sandra Kim sang "J'aime la vie" and took the lead when the second of the twenty juries reported.
- 1986 A record score
It meant something more in Belgium.
- 1987
Sandra Kim's win was supposed to bring Belgium together.
- 1987 Two broadcasters, one contest
Belgium has two public broadcasters, one for French speakers and one for Dutch speakers. They take turns to choose the country's entry, and they had agreed that if Belgium ever won, they would stage the contest together.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. “Not in the line-up” means no song from Belgium was in that year’s contest, whatever the reason. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.