RUN-EU Day 2026

Keynote speaker: Michel Vermeersch

Michel Vermeersch, lecturer in Journalism at Howest and journalist at VRT NWS, the news desk of the VRT.

‘More than Music: What Eurovision tells us about Europe’

Everyone has an opinion about the Eurovision Song Contest. Even those who claim to dislike it often end up watching. Since its creation, Eurovision has aimed to bring Europeans closer together while celebrating both their differences and their common ground.

Over the years, the contest has increasingly presented itself as a showcase of shared European values. But what exactly are those values? And are Europeans really as united as we sometimes assume? Is Eurovision truly ‘united by music’, or perhaps more ‘divided by values’?

In this keynote, Michel Vermeersch explores these questions through the unique lens of Europe’s most colourful cultural phenomenon — with a touch of kitsch included.

About Michel Vermeersch

Michel Vermeersch studied Political and Social Sciences, Communication Sciences, Radio Journalism, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy. Throughout his career, he has worked as a journalist for various Flemish magazines, as an editor and presenter for the Flemish public broadcaster VRT, as an editor at the Belgian Federal Parliament, and as an adviser to the Flemish Vice-Minister-President and Minister for Media.

He currently combines his role as a Journalism lecturer at Howest with his work as a journalist for VRT NWS, the news division of VRT.

A long-time follower of the Eurovision Song Contest, Michel approaches the event both as a journalist and as a critical enthusiast, bringing together analytical insight, cultural reflection, and a healthy dose of unapologetic Eurovision passion.