Celebrities and gossip press in Belgium: magazines, royals and showbiz

The Belgian celebrity press includes French-language weeklies such as Ciné-Télé-Revue and Paris Match Belgique, Flemish titles such as Dag Allemaal and Story, and the showbiz sections of Sudinfo, DH and Het Laatste Nieuws, available at newsstands, online and in apps.

A celebrity press in two languages

Like the rest of the Belgian media, the celebrity press is divided between French and Dutch speakers. Flemish stars of VRT or VTM are sometimes unknown in Liège, while RTBF presenters attract little attention in Antwerp.

Ciné-Télé-Revue and the French-language weeklies

For decades, Ciné-Télé-Revue has combined TV listings, celebrity lives and human-interest stories, with a loyal readership in Wallonia and Brussels. Moustique and Télépro add profiles and interviews, in a more cultural vein than outright gossip.

Paris Match Belgique, between France and Belgium

The Belgian edition of Paris Match combines major reports from the Paris edition with stories specific to Belgium: the royal family, Belgian artists and political figures. Its website also publishes content that differs from the French magazine.

Dag Allemaal, Story and TV Familie in Flanders

In Flanders, Dag Allemaal, Story and TV Familie dominate the market for magazines about stars, singers and presenters. These weeklies closely follow VTM and VRT programmes, a theme developed on our page about Flemish media.

The royal family, a favourite subject

King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Crown Princess Elisabeth and their children hold a central place in the Belgian celebrity press. La Libre Belgique and Het Nieuwsblad run sections devoted to the monarchy, while the magazines publish features and photo albums.

Which Belgian stars draw the most attention?

Stromae, Angèle, Virginie Efira, Benoît Poelvoorde and Cécile de France interest both the Belgian and the French press. Athletes, from the Red Devils to Flemish cycling champions, also feed the celebrity pages of DH and Het Laatste Nieuws.

Showbiz sections in the popular dailies

Sudinfo, DH and Het Laatste Nieuws publish daily articles on celebrities, reality TV and stars' social media accounts. These widely shared online sections generate most of the digital audience for celebrity news in Belgium.

Women's magazines and lifestyle titles

Belgian women's magazines blend fashion, beauty and interviews with public figures, often without the intrusive tone of the scandal weeklies. This segment, with its French and Dutch-language titles, is presented on our page on the women's press in Belgium.

Privacy and press ethics

Belgian law protects privacy and image rights, including those of public figures. The Conseil de déontologie journalistique on the French-speaking side and the Raad voor de Journalistiek on the Flemish side examine complaints about paparazzi photos or intimate revelations.

Influencers and social media

Instagram and TikTok have produced Belgian influencers with large followings, whose posts become news articles. Newsrooms at Sudinfo or HLN pick up these posts, which makes it necessary to check whether a story comes from a news outlet or a simple message.

French celebrity magazines in Belgium

Voici, Gala, Closer and Public are sold at Walloon and Brussels newsstands and regularly cover Belgian artists based in Paris. Their editorial line is worth comparing with that of the titles presented on our page about the French press.

Telling rumour from verified news

A magazine break-up story or a paparazzi photo shared online is not confirmation. Checking whether the story is picked up by Belga, by a daily such as Le Soir or De Standaard, or denied by the person concerned avoids spreading a rumour.

Following Belgian celebrity news from a distance

1. Pick a French-language weekly such as Ciné-Télé-Revue or Paris Match Belgique, or Dag Allemaal or Story on the Flemish side, depending on the language you read.
2. Add the showbiz section of a popular daily, Sudinfo, DH or Het Laatste Nieuws, for stories published throughout the day.
3. Follow the official accounts of the Royal Palace and of artists to compare rumours with public statements.
4. Turn on news app alerts only for the personalities you care about, to avoid information overload.
5. Check the date of articles, as old celebrity interviews are often republished or reshared without a clear notice.
6. Cross-check any revelation with a general news daily or the Belga agency before treating it as established.

Access to the Belgian celebrity press

Key facts about celebrity media in Belgium

• Languages: French for Brussels and Wallonia, Dutch for Flanders
• French-language weeklies: Ciné-Télé-Revue, Paris Match Belgique, Moustique, Télépro
• Flemish weeklies: Dag Allemaal, Story, TV Familie
• Press ethics bodies: CDJ and Raad voor de Journalistiek
• News agency: Belga
• Subscription currency: euro

Celebrity press pitfalls

• Believing a fake article imitating a well-known outlet, often sponsored on social media, that links a Belgian star to a miracle investment.
• Mistaking a satirical article or a parody account for a genuine statement by a celebrity or a member of the royal family.
• Confusing brand-sponsored content with reporting, when the partnership notice appears in small print at the top of the article.
• Resharing a rumour of a break-up or illness without confirmation, with real and sometimes legal consequences for the people involved.
• Passing on an old photo presented as recent, without checking when it was taken or where it came from.

Questions about the Belgian celebrity press