Who is ESSYLA? Meet Belgium’s Eurovision 2026 entry

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ESSYLA is set to compete in Eurovision with an upbeat dance track that’s expected to energize the audience in Vienna.

In 2026, Belgium will celebrate its 70th anniversary of participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. Belgium was one of the original seven countries to compete when the contest began in 1956.

Belgium’s only Eurovision win happened four decades ago, in 1986, when Sandra Kim won with the song ‘J’aime La Vie’.

Belgium is sending ESSYLA to the Eurovision Song Contest, making her the first solo female artist to represent the country in the competition this decade, after four consecutive appearances by solo male artists.

Here’s everything you need to know about ESSYLA.

Who is Belgium Eurovision 2026 entry ESSYLA?

Instagram: @essaylaoff

TikTok: @essaylaoff

ESSYLA, also known as Alice Van Eesbeeck, became well-known in 2020 when she made it to the finals of The Voice Belgique’s ninth season.

Essyla started singing and playing in bands when she was young. Growing up listening to French music, she later expanded her musical influences to include jazz, folk, rock, and funk, shaping her unique style.

I have to say, ESSYLA burst onto the scene with some really promising tracks. Her first two singles, “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude,” immediately caught my ear, and thankfully, she didn’t leave us waiting. She quickly followed those up with her debut EP, I’ll Be Okay, which definitely lived up to the hype built by those initial releases.

I’ve been following Eurovision for years, and it turns out this isn’t ESSYLA’s first time involved! She actually sang with the Eurovision Choir back in 2019 – I remember that competition ran a couple of times, and she was part of it then. Plus, she was even one of the judges on the Belgian national jury just this year, helping to pick their entry. It’s cool to see someone with that much Eurovision history taking the main stage!

How old is ESSYLA?

ESSYLA is 30 years old.

What nationality is ESSYLA?

ESSYLA is Belgian and is from Perwez, Walloon Brabant, Belgium.

What has ESSYLA said about representing Belgium at Eurovision 2026?

ESSYLA shared that appearing at Eurovision was a lifelong dream come true, and she’s deeply thankful to be experiencing it alongside her team and family.

What is Belgium’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

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ESSYLA will perform the song “Dancing on Ice.” ESSYLA, Nicolas d’Avell, and Emil Stengele wrote the music, while ESSYLA and Barbara Petitjean penned the lyrics.

ESSYLA explained that the song is a celebration of young people’s drive, hopefulness, and power to create their own futures.

This generation is determined to progress, to hold onto its hopes, and to continue finding joy – even with all the challenges and uncertainties of today’s world.

Where did Belgium come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Red Sebastian, representing Belgium, didn’t make it to the final round of Eurovision 2025. They placed 14th in the first semi-final with their song, ‘Strobe Lights’.

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The Eurovision Song Contest has received a lot of criticism for letting Israel participate this year, given the current war happening in Gaza.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in this year’s contest because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against excluding Israel from the event.

In December 2025, the EBU held a meeting where members voted to establish rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly pushing certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate.

The EBU announced that most of its members agreed there’s no need to revote on whether to participate in Eurovision, and the 2026 contest will go ahead as scheduled with extra safety measures.

After that announcement, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all stated they would not be competing in Eurovision this year.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has stated that it believes it’s inappropriate for Ireland to participate in the upcoming event, considering the devastating loss of life and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which continues to endanger civilians.

The BBC, the UK broadcaster for the competition, backs the EBU’s decision. In a statement, they explained it’s about following the competition’s rules and ensuring everyone feels welcome.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

As a huge Eurovision fan, I’ve been digging around and found where you can see a complete list of all the past winners. I was also curious about how many times the UK has actually taken home the trophy, and you can find that info there too!

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-12 08:55