Dancing on the Ice is Belgium's song for Vienna

On Thursday 19 February, Belgian broadcaster RTBF revealed the artist and song it would be taking to Vienna in May.

Dancing on the Ice by ESSYLA will represent Belgium at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.

Viewers of the 8-9 programme on the La Une channel were the first to learn the news, with the music video then being premiered on the Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.

Dancing on the Ice was composed by ESSYLA, Nicolas d'Avell and Emil Stengele, with lyrics by ESSYLA and Barbara Petitjean.

With her song for Vienna. ESSYLA wants to convey a message of hope; this is 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 fragility and despite everything that can crack or break in our world today.

ESSYLA

Originally from Perwez, in Walloon Brabant, ESSYLA became known to audiences when she reached the final of the ninth season of The Voice Belgique.

At a very young age, ESSYLA had formed her first band, and eager to go further, she then perfected her vocal technique at the IMEP in Namur, gradually refining her artistic identity.

Raised on French songs, ESSYLA developed her own tastes by listening to the great singers of jazz, folk, rock and funk. She fell in love with these voices and grooves, particularly captivated by the American legends.

ESSYLA kicked off her career with the release of her first two singles Let You Go and Not My Kind of Dude. After both were well received by radio, she followed up with the release of her debut EP, I'll Be Okay.

In her lyrics, ESSYLA shares the concerns of a young woman of her time, with a central focus on female empowerment.

2026 marks 70 years since Belgium debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest, as it is one of seven countries that participated in the first edition in 1956.

Its first and to date only win came 40 years ago, when Sandra Kim brought victory to Belgium with J'aime La Vie in 1986.

After a run of four solo male artists, ESSYLA is the first solo female to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest this decade!