The Eurovision Song Contest is heading toward its 70th edition, which will take place in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle.
On this occasion, France has once again opted to internally select its representative for the European contest. The lucky artist is Monroe, one of the great emerging voices of French lyrical music. The young singer will be responsible for defending the French colors at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in search of a sixth victory or, at least, maintaining the extraordinary level achieved by Slimane in 2024 (4th place) and Louane in 2025 (7th place).
How did she make it to Eurovision? What experience does she have in the music world? In what way has her lyrical training influenced her entry for Vienna 2026?
In this edition, we take a look at Monroe’s musical career, the context of her candidacy, and her song. France’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will try to take her country to the top of the grand final ranking with “Regarde!” in what will be France’s 69th participation in the European contest.
Monroe, one of the promising talents of French lyrical music
Monroe Vata Rigby, known professionally as Monroe, was born on 19 November 2008 in Salt Lake City (United States). Of French-American origin and with Congolese roots, she grew up in a multicultural environment that deeply shaped her identity. Her mother, born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in France, encouraged a bilingual education, so Monroe is fluent in both French and English, and also speaks Spanish and German.
From a very young age she showed a clear musical vocation. She began singing in her church choir, where she developed a solid foundation in classical music and vocal technique. Her parents supported her talent by encouraging her to also train in piano. During her childhood and adolescence she participated in musical theatre productions and youth opera programs, which strengthened her stage presence and interpretative ability.
Among her influences are very diverse artists, ranging from the a cappella group Pentatonix to lyrical figures such as Cecilia Bartoli, as well as Céline Dion. This combination of references helped shape a versatile style that blends classical tradition with contemporary sensitivity. Over time, Monroe has established herself as one of the rising young talents of lyrical music in France.
Her rise to prominence came in 2024 thanks to her participation in the television program Prodiges, where she performed demanding opera pieces such as “Una furtiva lagrima” and “Der Hölle Rache”. Her vocal mastery and stage confidence earned unanimous recognition from both the jury and the public, leading her to win the competition. This success allowed her to sign with Warner Classics and receive a scholarship to continue her training.
In 2025 she released her debut album, Monroe, in which she combined major works from the classical repertoire with more accessible pieces. That same year she embarked on a concert tour focused on sacred music and opera. In 2026 she was selected to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Regarde!”.
This is “Regarde!”, Monroe’s entry to represent France at Eurovision 2026
“Regarde!” (“Look!”) is France’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 performed by Monroe. Maintaining her lyrical essence and with clear inspiration from Rosalía’s “Berghain,” the French proposal was written by Christopher Cohen, Fred Savio, Fredie Marche, and Maxime Morise. The song blends elements of opera, musical theatre, and contemporary pop.
The song tells the story of love in its most intense and passionate form. Through its lyrics, it expresses how love can illuminate everything around it, even in moments when everything seems empty. At all times, it highlights the importance of gaze and closeness in love, which can be a feeling that surprises because of its intensity, something that is present everywhere and makes us feel alive, strong, and accompanied.
Lyrics
French
Quand tout s’illumine
Dans tout Paris,
Que les rues se vident, je reste ici
J’ai cherché ton amour
Dans tous les faubourgs
Je chante tous les jours
Regarde-moi, regarde-toi
C’est ça l’amour, ça te foudroie
Regarde-moi, regarde-toi
C’est ça l’amour
Tu ne seras jamais perdu
Allez viens, je peux t’emmener
Là où c’est fort, fort de s’aimer
Allez viens, tu n’es pas fou
Dans ma poitrine, tu rythmes mon pouls
Allez viens sous la pluie battante
Je dirai aux gens qu’il est présent
Je dirai aux femmes, aux hommes, aux enfants
Je dirai au monde dans chaque chanson
J’ai cherché ton amour
Dans tous les faubourgs
Je chante tous les jours
Regarde-moi, regarde-toi
C’est ça l’amour, ça te foudroie
Regarde-moi, regarde-toi
C’est ça l’amour
Tu ne seras jamais perdu.
C’est ça l’amour
Chuuuuut
Il est partout
Chuuuuut
Il est là, là, là !
Haaaaaa
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Regarde-moi, regarde-toi
C’est ça l’amour, ça te foudroie
Regarde-moi
English
When everything glows
Across all of Paris
When the streets fall silent, I stay here
I searched for your love
Through every neighborhood
I sing about it every day
Look at me, look at yourself
That’s what love is, it hits you like lightning
Look at me, look at yourself
That’s love
You will never be lost.
Come with me, let me take you
To a place where love burns strong
Come with me, you’re not crazy
Inside my chest, you set my heartbeat
Come with me into the pouring rain
I’ll tell everyone it’s real
I’ll tell women, men and children
I’ll tell the world in every song
I searched for your love
Through every neighborhood
I sing about it every day
Look at me, look at yourself
That’s what love is, it hits you like lightning
Look at me, look at yourself
That’s love
You will never be lost.
That’s love
Hush…
It’s everywhere
Hush…
It’s here, here, here!
Haaaaaa
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Look at me, look at yourself
That’s what love is, it hits you like lightning
Look at me.
France at Eurovision: A Quick History
France debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and is a member of the Big 5; it has only missed Eurovision in 1974. Its greatest success is concentrated in the early decades, when it achieved five victories between 1958 and 1977.
After a more discreet period at the beginning of the 21st century, with some notable results, the country experienced a recent resurgence. In 2021, Barbara Pravi came close to victory with a 2nd place, followed by irregular results in 2022 and 2023, the year in which La Zarra did not go beyond 16th place.
In 2024, Slimane and his song “Mon Amour” returned France to the Top 5 with a 4th place, and in 2025 the young Louane with her emotional song “Maman” achieved 7th place.