After a 2025 without an election, Mister Gay Belgium returns to find an ambassador for the LGBTQIA+ community in Belgium, and for Belgium in international pageants. As usual, there are twelve finalists.
On Sunday 10 May, Mister Gay Belgium (the organising committee) presented twelve men who will try to win over a jury and the public to become Mister Gay Belgium on Saturday 29 August. Usually, the term is one year.
The twelve finalists were presented in the Athena Hall of the Royal Atheneum of Antwerp, in Antwerp.
Organiser Bram Bierkens: “We still believe that the Mister Gay Belgium competition, by being just a little different, can make a significant difference for and within a world where there is still much work to be done in the name of LGBTQIA+ rights. Additionally, the competition is an educational experience for every participant, positively and honestly aimed at finding a spokesperson and ambassador for the LGB and transgender community.”
“During the Mister Gay Belgium competition, the Misters and finalists consistently bring relevant themes within the LGBTQIA+ community to the forefront. Topics such as verbal and physical aggression against LGBTQIA+ individuals, discrimination in the workplace and in sports, child abandonment, surrogacy and adoption, LGBTQIA+ and religion, blood donation policy, international human rights, elderly care, domestic violence, education, and prevention are addressed.”
Twelve finalists
114 candidates came forward this year. 24 were invited to a selection weekend. 12 were chosen. Each of them chose a theme.
- Laurens Bervoets, 27, Berlaar, podcast producer, body positivity.
- Alaettin Kadioglu, 32, Antwerp, works in catering, LGBTQIA+ and migration. He moved from Turkey to Belgium three years ago.
- Joël Peeters, 36, Kapellen, head of care at a residential care centre, LGBTQIA+ in such centres.
- Dylan Ramos Guerreiro, 30, Vilvoorde (Vilvorde), lawyer, LGBTQIA+ and substance (ab)use.
- Ben Scheelen, 32, Antwerp, banker, diversity in rural areas.
- Brandon Sittler, 29, Brussels, event manager, inclusivity at work.
- Ziön Vanleene, 22, De Panne (La Panne), nurse, bullying at school.
- Robbe Vernaillen, 24, Liedekerke, educator, depression and suicide.
- Bjorn Verolleman, 38, Wervik, carpenter, discrimination at work.
- Jens Verschoore, 23, Bruges, logistics employee, verbal and physical aggression.
- Lorenzo Warie, 34, Deerlijk, teamleader customer support in the healthcare sector, safe spaces.
Supporting Le Refuge
Mister Gay Belgium (the organising committee) supports Le Refuge LGBTQIA+ Opvanghuis, a shelter LGBTQIA+ people in Brussels. The charity has two safehouses: one for 18 to 25-year-old registered residents of Belgium who can’t stay with their family anymore, and one safehouse for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers.
Book: ‘Between rainbow and prayer’
Incubent Mister Gay Belgium Imran Nawaz wrote a book: ‘Tussen regenboog en gebed. Over LGBTQ en religie‘. Imran Nawaz is a history teacher with a catholic mother and a muslim father. The book is published at Gompel & Svacina.
A first copy was presented to Flemish Minister for Education Zuhal Demir (N-VA), who, ten years ago, was Federal State Secretary for Equal Opportunities. She pledged to continue to support sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in the learning outcomes (eindtermen).
‘I’m here’ campaign
With a ‘I’m here‘ pin, painter Denis De Gloire and MGB launch a visibility campaign.
Mister Gay Belgium: from regional pageant to LGBTQIA+ platform
Mister Gay Belgium is an annual Belgian competition for gay men that has been organised since 2013. The event originally launched under the name Mister Gay Vlaanderen (Mister Gay Flanders) before rebranding to its current national title in 2015.
More than a traditional beauty pageant, Mister Gay Belgium positions itself as a platform for visibility, advocacy and representation within Belgium’s LGBTQIA+ community. The winner receives the official sash and title of Mister Gay Belgium and acts as an ambassador for the country’s LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year. Winners have also represented Belgium at international competitions such as Mister Gay Europe and Mister Gay World.
Over the years, the competition has increasingly focused on themes such as inclusion, mental health, discrimination, identity and LGBTQIA+ rights, reflecting the broader evolution of Pride events and queer visibility in Belgium.
Antwerp as the event’s home base
Since its creation, the competition has been closely tied to Antwerp, which has hosted nearly every final. Early editions took place at venues including the D-Club and the AMUZ / St Agustine Church, before the finals moved for several years to Theater Elckerlyc. The 2024 edition was held at Play Zuid.
The strong connection with Antwerp reflects the city’s longstanding role as one of Belgium’s main LGBTQIA+ hubs, particularly around neighbourhoods such as the historic queer district near Hessenhuis and the annual Antwerp Pride celebrations.
Belgian winners through the years
The first winner in 2013 was Tom Goris from Tremelo. Other titleholders have included Willem Joris, Skelte Willems, Raf Van Puymbroeck and Jaimie Deblieck. Some Belgian winners also achieved international success. Raf Van Puymbroeck, for example, later won the title of Mister Gay Europe, while Skelte Willems finished sixth at Mister Gay World.
The competition was cancelled in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, before returning in 2022.
The most recent winner is Imran Nawaz from Rijkevorsel, who won the 2024 edition on 24 August.
List of winners
- 2013: Tom Goris (Tremelo), D-Club, Antwerp.
- 2014: Willem Joris (Leuven), Sint-Augustinus Church, Antwerp.
- 2015: Skelte Willems (Aarschot), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2016: Raf Van Puymbroeck (Vosselaar), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2017: Jaimie Deblieck (Roeselare), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2018: Bart Hesters (Lochristi), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2019: Matthias De Roover (Lokeren), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2020: Joren Houtevels (Leuven), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2021: competition cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2022: Maarten Truijen (Kinrooi), Theater Elckerlyc, Antwerp.
- 2024: Imran Nawaz (Rijkevorsel), Play Zuid.
UPDATE 26.06.2026
At the end of June, the organising committee announced ending Stijn‘s candidature, citing a lack of commitment from his part.
It’s far from the first time MGB drops or loses candidates en cours de route. But the organisers don’t always actively communicate this.
21 thoughts on “MISTER GAY BELGIUM 2026 | Laurens Bervoets, Alaettin Kadioglu, Joël Peeters, Dylan Ramos Guerreiro, Ben Scheelen, Brandon Sittler, Ziön Vanleene, Robbe Vernaillen, Bjorn Verolleman, Jens Verschoore, Lorenzo Warie”