Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020


Belgium originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Release Me", performed by Hooverphonic. The entry, written by Alex Callier and Luca Chiaravalli, was selected internally by the Flemish broadcaster VRT. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the contest was cancelled.

Background

2020 is the 62nd time Belgium will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since its debut as one of seven inaugural countries at the first Eurovision Song Contest in. Belgium has won the contest once, in with the song "J'aime la vie" performed by Sandra Kim. The following year, Belgium hosted the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest in Brussels. In 2019, Eliot Vassamillet represented Belgium with the song "Wake Up ". The song failed to qualify to the grand final, placing 13th out of 17 entries in its semi final.

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 1 October 2019, VRT announced Hooverphonic as the Belgian entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Their song "Release Me" was released on 17 February 2020 together with the official music video.

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 will take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with two semi finals on 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May 2020. Belgium will compete in the second half of the first semi final on 12 May. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest was cancelled.