Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws has reported that seven acts will take part in VRT’s revived Eurosong 2023. Each act will be singing two songs. On top of that, the country’s national final will move from Antwerp to Belgium’s capital Brussels. The news was confirmed by the broadcaster to Songfestival.be.
VRT has decided to shake up its Eurosong format. Instead of having cover rounds, as in the last two editions, this time the broadcaster will let artists perform not one, but two potential Eurovision entries.
Despite this new info, details about the exact format and the number of shows remains unclear.
What is known is that the broadcaster will stage the final of its selection show in Paleis 12, a popular concert venue in Brussels with a capacity of 15,000. Back in 2014, the show was hosted in Antwerp’s Sportpaleis, while two years later, the show moved back to a smaller venue.
Additionally, Het Laatste Nieuws has reported that the national final is set for February.
Who won’t participate in Eurosong 2023?
Although the broadcaster initially planned to place an open call, welcoming submissions from the general public, VRT ultimately decided to select its participants internally by consulting record labels.
In recent weeks, Flemish media have rounded up a sizeable list of artists that don’t want to participate in the selection. They included fresh names Camille and Pommelien Thijs, as well as TikTok star Berre.
Het Laatste Nieuws has reported that Natalia and Laura Tesoro, who initially considered participation, have now decided against taking part as well. Additionally, bands Bazart and Oscar and The Wolf, and television presenters Jonas Van Geel and Jelle Cleymans are “not interested”.
Niels Destadsbader, one of the region’s biggest television and music stars of the past years, won’t be one of the seven acts either.
Who do you want to see at Eurosong 2023? Who would you like to see representing Belgium at the contest next year?
I feel like introducing a national final when you are that is not known for a national final nor hasn’t really had one before like Spain or Sweden or Italy screams “major panic move”.
I want to see Blackswan compete (although they only have 1 Belgian)
Bazart for the win! Their recent collab with S10 ‘onderweg’ was an absolute banger so yeah. Love their genre too.
already said they’re not interested atm
I don’t know whether to consider this a good or bad omen. Seven artists, two songs each, But with so many Flemish artist confirming to NOT be participating in Eurosong, I don’t know how they’re going to get this national final work. Belgium is a little out of practice doing a national final after doing internal selections for several years. All I can do is wish them good luck.
I can’t understand how the articles about Belgium hardly get comments. Bulgaria wthdraws and in 20 min there are 50+ comments. Belgium will never have a chance to win.
Because at this point in the Eurovision calendar, Eurofans are more concerned about which country confirms their participation.
2Fabiola? Milow? The Voice winner Grace? Regi featuring OT? Sam Bettens? Selah Sue?
Just to name some that (to my knowledge) haven’t refused. I’m very excited to learn who is taking part. I think I listed at least one contender.
Apparently, the original format was one where 5 artists performed 3 songs. Also, I just read that the artists might already be revealed in one of the coming days!
Selah Sue….ain’t gonna happen!
It’s gonna be a semi-related question but i am really curious. If Belgium has won, i’m wondering if they would choose Brussels and this arena to host because it is too small and looks short in length. The ceiling looks too low and huge pipes everywhere make the view bad. I am wondering that because i am interested in Belgium and i can’t stop myself thinking how would be a Belgium- hosted Eurovision in Brussel’s palais12.
You are making me very excited about a possible win :p
The ceiling should be the only possible problem, but visibility is not an issue. The best option would be Antwerp with its Sportpaleis. Worst-case scenario, if it is also too small they could even move the greenroom to the Lotto Arena next door. If neither Antwerp or Brussels are choosen, it would probably go to some exhibition hall like Flanders Expo in Ghent. This is Flanders, though, so I’m not sure what the Wallonians would pick.
Thank you!! I’m dying to know, what would happen if Belgium hosted this. I’m wondering every single detail. Which city would be the host, which arena? I’m even thinking the presenters and the interval acts.
Okay so i think Brussels would be best if we compare the cities. But this arena Palais12 i just can’t imagine a Eurovision there. I can’t see the big eurovision stage there. I don’t know something is missing about that
We have alot of very good presenters, it really is impossible to predict. One of the interval acts would probably include someone from the other part of the country. I suspect they would promote the winning region, but also heavily include the other.
I think two broadcasters work on that, both VRT and RTBF. So presenter group would include from both regions. My canditates would be Danira Boukhriss (F), Sean Dhondt (F) and Maureen Louys (W)
Also interval acts would include artists from both regions, Stromae should have been one of them without a doubt!
Host city could be Brussels because it is the capital of the whole country and represents both regions i think. And again it comes to what i said first, the city Brussels and everything else is fine but i think the arena is problematic and not eurovision-like
Well, Belgium did host Eurovision once before in 1987. How do they do it? Read the Wikipedia page here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_1987
It’s a bit of an unique format! It might be attractive as there won’t be such a focus on one song and leaves more room for the public to choose, but it’s also a large hassle for artists as they have to focus on multiple performances.
The Starlings ( with Tom Dice ESF 2010 and his wife kato) . And the said already few times the would love to go.
I can only think of three Flemish names right now: Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Laura Omloop, and Ibe Wuyts.
lol who remains?
maybe luka and ibe wuyts. can’t think of any other belgian artist rn, i’m sure there’s plentry tho.
maybe emma bale?
Apashe is Belgian-Canadian so he could be good, maybe with a collab with a Belgian singer