Essyla will represent Belgium at Eurovision 2026 with Dancing on the Ice

Image credit: Nanoi Alloo

Belgian broadcaster RTBF has this evening announced that Essyla will be their representative at Eurovision 2026, where she will perform the song Dancing on the Ice.

You can watch the song and music video here:

Essyla is the stage name of Alice Van Eesbeeck, a 29-year-old singer-songwriter hailing from Perwez in Belgium's Wallonia region. The name "Essyla" was formed by reversing the syllables of her first name in real life, "Alice".

Like many Eurovision contestants, Essyla came to prominence in her native Belgium on The Voice Belgique, where she participated on Season 9 of the long-running talent show. Coached by Typh Barrow, Essyla (then performing under her real name) made it all the way to the grand final, where she ultimately finished as runner-up to Eurovision 2022 contestant Jérémie Makiese.

In the years since The Voice, she has released a number of singles exploring a wide variety of musical genres, including jazz, rock, folk and funk. Female empowerment is a recurring theme in Essyla's work, as she explores how a young woman can come into her own power in the modern age.

Belgium at Eurovision

Belgium is one of the original seven countries that participated at the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, with only three countries recording more participations at the Contest. They have one win under the belt, when 13-year-old Sandra Kim won Eurovision 1986 with J'aime la vie.

As Belgium is a federal country divided into two major linguistic regions, each with its own broadcaster, the broadcasters take turns organising participation at the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, it is the turn of RTBF to select the Belgian entry, being the broadcaster for the French-speaking Wallonia region.

After two consecutive non-qualifications in 2024 and 2025, Belgium will be hoping that Essyla can take them back to the final.

For continued updates on all the Eurovision Song Contest news follow us on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram. All links at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet