On May 20, 2025, the Belgian public broadcaster VRT publicly expressed concerns about the transparency of the Eurovision voting process. The statement came shortly after the semi-final, which featured scenes with Palestinian flags and political slogans that sparked intense reactions.
In its address to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), VRT demanded clarifications about how viewer votes are counted and how susceptible the process is to influence from individual countries and political campaigns. The broadcaster stressed that Belgium’s participation in the 2026 contest, scheduled to take place in Austria, is now uncertain.
What Belgium didn’t like about Eurovision
The main concerns are not about music, but about increasing politicization and a lack of transparency in the voting system. VRT stated that it received numerous complaints from viewers who noticed irregularities in vote distribution and the activity of certain national campaigns. The impact of the Israeli campaign in the online space has been particularly controversial.
Belgium’s key demands include:
- A full audit of the voting process, including an independent technical review;
- Complete transparency of the algorithms used for viewer vote counting;
- A ban on campaigns that could distort the public’s vote;
- A return to Eurovision’s original format — musical unity without political overtones;
- Inclusion of other national broadcasters in the reform discussions.
VRT clarified it does not intend to contest the 2025 results and has not received threats or warnings from the EBU. However, it believes the situation calls for a systemic rule review.
How other participants responded
Belgium’s position sparked debate in the international community. RTBF, the French-speaking Belgian broadcaster, also expressed solidarity with VRT and supported the call for reform.
EBU representatives said they trust the current system, but are open to discussing changes if a unified request comes from participating countries.
Belgium’s decision on Eurovision 2026 is still pending. However, based on VRT’s stance, participation depends heavily on the organizers’ willingness to revise the contest’s principles and structure. Otherwise, Belgium may not take the stage at Europe’s most-watched music show for the first time in many years.
