Belgium to Perform 4th in Eurovision Final as Ratings Drop

Belgium will take the stage as the fourth act in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Saturday, 16 May, in Vienna, Austria. The announcement comes as new figures reveal a significant drop in viewership for this year’s semi-finals, underscoring the impact of the ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s participation.

Belgium’s Slot in the Final

The running order for Saturday’s final was determined late Thursday night after the second semi-final concluded. Essyla, the 29-year-old Belgian entrant from Walloon Brabant, will perform “Dancing on the Ice” in the fourth position, with Israel performing immediately before her in third place, according to VRT NWS.

Belgium’s slot was determined through a two-stage process. After qualifying from the first semi-final on Tuesday, Essyla drew the “first half” card, meaning she would perform in the first half of the final. Producers then assigned Belgium the fourth position. Israel drew “producer’s choice,” giving organizers full freedom to place them directly before Belgium — a mirror of the first semi-final where Belgium also performed after Israel.

Performing fourth is generally considered a disadvantage in Eurovision, as later performances tend to be more memorable to both juries and televoters. The producers consider genre balance, show flow, and logistical requirements when finalizing the running order.

Viewership Decline

Viewership figures released on Friday paint a concerning picture for the contest’s popularity in Belgium. The second semi-final on Thursday drew just 368,094 viewers on VRT channels, down from 394,274 in 2025 — a drop of approximately 6.6%, as reported by De Morgen.

More striking was the first semi-final on Tuesday, which featured Essyla’s qualification performance. Only 499,603 viewers tuned in — a sharp decline from 914,210 in 2025 when Red Sebastian competed, and 973,860 in 2024 with Mustii. According to De Standaard, this marks the lowest viewership for a semi-final featuring Belgium in over a decade.

The Belgian Entry: Essyla

Essyla (real name: Alice Van Eesbeeck) was internally selected by RTBF and officially announced on 19 February 2026. Her song “Dancing on the Ice” is an English-language pop track co-written with Barbara Petitjean, Emil Stengele, and Nicolas d’Avell, as detailed by RTBF.

A finalist from The Voice Belgique, Essyla studied at IMEP in Namur and blends pop, jazz, folk, and funk influences. She is joined by four dancers on stage in Vienna. Her qualification from the first semi-final was considered a surprise by bookmakers, who had not ranked her among the favorites. According to Songfestival.be, this marks the first time Belgium has reached the Eurovision final since 2023, breaking a two-year streak of non-qualification.

The Controversy Context

The viewership decline cannot be separated from the broader controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in the 70th edition of the contest. Five countries — the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Iceland — withdrew in protest. Protests were heard during Israel’s semi-final performance, and an activist displaying a pro-Palestinian message was removed from the venue.

VRT spokesperson Yasine Van der Borght defended the decision to broadcast the contest despite boycott calls, stating the broadcaster continues to believe in “the unifying power of the Song Festival.” The EBU maintains that Israeli public broadcaster KAN represents the country, not its government.

What to Watch For

The grand final on Saturday will determine whether Essyla can outperform expectations once again. Viewership for the final will be a key indicator of whether the controversy has permanently affected audience engagement with the Eurovision brand. With VRT set to select Belgium’s 2027 entry under the alternating broadcaster system, Flemish engagement may rebound next year. The EBU also faces structural questions about participation criteria for future editions.

For now, all eyes are on Vienna, where Essyla will take the stage as the fourth act, hoping to deliver a performance that brings Belgium its best result in years.