Red Sebastian to represent Belgium at Eurovision 2025

Red Sebastian has been chosen to represent Belgium at this May’s Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland. He will perform "Strobe Lights" – an ode to 1990s rave culture – for the 69th edition of the competition.

Both the professional jury and the viewers awarded Red Sebastian, the stage name of singer Seppe Herreman, the highest score in the qualifying round in Vilvoorde, which the Dutch-speaking radio and television service VRT organises alternately with the French-speaking RTBF.

The 25-year-old artist from Ghent is known for his high falsetto voice, bright red hair and outfit. In the qualifying round, Red Sebastian was up against seven other contestants: Jelle Van Dael, Stefanie Callebaut, Lenn, Grace, Leez, Le Manou, and Mentissa.

With the song he wrote himself with Billie Bentein, Ameerah A Roelants and Willem Vanderstichele, he scored 423 out of a total 1,170 points. However, his success has not guaranteed him a Eurovision Song Contest final place. He must first pass the semi-final round, where Mustii, last year’s Belgian hopeful, failed.

The semi-finals will be held on 13 and 15 May, with the final taking place on Saturday 17 May. Belgium will perform in the first of the two semi-finals.

“I’m still shaking,” said Red Sebastian after his victory. “I want to thank my parents, my manager, and everyone watching. But especially my grandmother: she passed away just as I learned I could participate in the contest. But she is still with me in spirit.”

Red Sebastian was a finalist on Belgium’s Got Talent at the age of 14 in 2014. He later studied at the Ghent Conservatory. His singing lessons were taught by Gustaph, who competed for Belgium in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and was part of this year’s jury. In 2024, Red Sebastian was a finalist on VTM’s Sing Again programme.

The Belgian singer has always been a fan of Eurovision: “As a child, the Eurovision Song Contest always induced strong emotions. When I first saw Lordi’s monsters, I ducked behind the couch in shock.

"I was also completely fascinated by Alexander Rybak, who impressed me with his enthusiasm and masterful violin playing.

"When I was 12, Loreen completely blew me away, and then I knew for sure: that’s where I want to be too. From that moment on, I rehearsed for hours in my bedroom with a microphone in my hand, and I never really stopped."

Belgium is one of the founding countries of the Eurovision Song Contest, participating in the very first competition in 1956.

As the country is divided into two major linguistic regions, two public broadcasters alternate the responsibility for their country’s presence in the contest. French-language broadcaster RTBF organises participation in even years, while the Flemish-language VRT takes over in odd years, including this year.

The RTBF gave Belgium its first and (so far) only victory, when it sent 13-year-old Sandra Kim to perform at Bergen, Norway in 1986 with the song J'aime La Vie.

The singer from Montegnée, Liège province, will probably remain Eurovision’s youngest champion. The rules were changed shortly after her victory to ensure that all performers are at least 16 by the time they take to the stage.

Photo: VRT