February 19, 2026
ESSYLA will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Dancing on the ice'
RTBF has just announced that singer ESSYLA will represent Belgium at the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with her song 'Dancing on the ice'. The contest will take place in Austria later this year. The announcement was made this morning during the radio programme “8-9” on La Une and VivaCité. As is tradition, every other year, it is up to RTBF to select the artist who will defend Belgium's colours. With ESSYLA, RTBF is betting on the younger generation and the powerful messages they convey.
ESSYLA: "I can't wait to go to Austria... it's fast approaching! It's a completely crazy adventure, a dream I've had since I was a little girl. And today, I can say without hesitation: I've never been happier."
About ESSYLA
ESSYLA - Alice backwards - is originally from Perwez, in Walloon Brabant. She became known to the general public when she reached the final of the 9th season of The Voice Belgique in 2020. She joined Typh Barrow's team, who took her to the final, alongside - in a twist of fate - a certain Jérémie Makiese, Belgium's future representative at Eurovision. She subsequently performed on numerous stages as a backing singer for several artists. At the same time, ESSYLA embarked on her solo career, showcasing her assertive, colourful, pop, modern and unique style to the world.
With her whimsical temperament and eccentric look, ESSYLA is the embodiment of a pop generation with colourful and eclectic funky/groove influences.
The song 'Dancing on the ice'
'Dancing on the ice' perfectly illustrates the sophisticated electro-pop universe in which ESSYLA evolves. The daring track was created during a songwriting camp organised by SABAM, bringing together several emerging talents from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. The sibylline and fragmented lyrics were co-written with Benni (a Belgian indie-folk revelation) and bring a message of hope. An anthem to the determination of youth, to its optimism and its ability to carve its own path. A generation that chooses to keep moving forward, to keep dreaming, to keep dancing on the ice - despite its fragilities, despite everything that can crack or break in our world today.
Supported by modern electro-pop rhythms, 'Dancing on the ice' is the result of the masterful work of Nicolas D'Avell, co-composer and artistic producer. Emil Stengele also participated in the composition of the track.
ESSYLA has a powerful and infinitely versatile voice; she sings her own backing vocals. Her lyrical flights and her vocalisations punctuate the track, while a surprising oriental touch adds a unique colour to the composition.
Her history with Eurovision
Eurovision is a recurring theme in ESSYLA's career, almost a self-evidence. Her participation today seems like a logical next step for an artist who grew up with this musical event.
The memory is still vivid: at a birthday party, while her friends were having fun, she sat alone in front of the screen, fascinated by the Junior Eurovision Song Contest organised in 2005 in Hasselt by VRT and RTBF. Over the years, the Eurovision contests have followed one after another, and ESSYLA has followed them with the same passion - in Flanders, where her father lives, as well as in Walloon Brabant, where her mother lives.
In 2019, she took a new step by participating in the Eurovision Choir Contest in Sweden with the Almakalia choir. Last year, she was part of the very privileged circle of members of the Belgian jury for the contest. Today, the circle continues to grow, and the story between ESSYLA and Eurovision is being written more than ever in the present.
