Julie Allemand wins the sports category as Liégeois de l’Année 2025 vote crowns solidarity at Liège Expo
Julie Allemand received the Liégeois de l’Année title for the “sports” category during the Liégeois de l’Année 2025 ceremony held at Liège Expo on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), with Julie Allemand represented on site by her father while reacting by video from Turkey.
What did the Liégeois de l’Année 2025 vote reveal about this year’s priorities?
The event at Liège Expo marked a new edition of the annual ceremony where residents learned who voters selected across multiple categories. This year’s overall outcome highlighted a message of solidarity: Bob Balbourg, director of the Resto du Cœur de Liège, won the “citoyenneté” category and also took the top title of Liégeois de l’Année 2025.
Organizers stated that the 37th edition drew 20, 000 votes, underscoring broad participation in the selection process. In the economy category, Ethias received the most votes and was represented at the ceremony by its CEO, Philippe Lallemand.
How did Julie Allemand’s award unfold, and what was her situation at the time?
Julie Allemand secured the “sports” category distinction. During the ceremony, Julie Allemand was represented by her father, while she delivered a video reaction from Turkey. The context provided at the event was that she was there to play in the final of the playoffs.
Her win placed her alongside a set of winners that organizers characterized as unsurprising in other categories. In culture, Les Gauff were named laureates. In commerce, Max and Erika Zimmer—owners of the restaurant “Un Max de Goût” in Comblain-au-Pont—won their category.
Who benefited from the night’s outcomes, and what do the category results show?
The ceremony’s results elevated both individuals and institutions recognized by the public vote. Bob Balbourg’s dual win—citizenship category and overall Liégeois de l’Année 2025—stood as the clearest signal of the night’s theme of solidarity. In parallel, Ethias’ economy-category victory, represented by CEO Philippe Lallemand, demonstrated strong support for the organization in that field.
Within this slate of outcomes, Julie Allemand’s sports-category title added an athletic dimension to the honorees, even as her professional obligations kept her away from the venue in person. The combination of on-site representation by a family member and a remote video reaction reflected how the event accommodated winners who could not attend physically.
