Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has revealed 10 artists that it says will compete at next year’s edition of Melodifestivalen.
The paper says that, from the 10 artists they have named, four previous winners of Melodifestivalen are expected to compete. Additionally, there are other artists popular in previous years coming back to attempt to win for the first time.
Aftonbladet’s predictions for the lineup of Melfest are historically very accurate. As a result, they are anticipated by fans of the contest every year and seen as a reliable indicator of which acts are expected to compete.
The full line-up for Melodifestivalen 2025 won’t be officially revealed until later this year.
The biggest story from the initially linked artists is that four previous winners of Melodifestivalen are reportedly returning to the contest.
As previously rumoured, 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw is expected to return to Melodifestivalen. Zelmerlöw, who went on to win Eurovision that year with his song “Heroes”, is said to have written his song in collaboration with David Lindgren Zacharias, Sebastian Atas and his former rival on Swedish Idol, Ola Svensson.
According to a source speaking to Aftonbladet, Måns’s return is almost a certainty. They said: “It is crystal clear. He will be there. The only thing is if he were to pull out.”
Also expected to join Måns at Melfest is Frans, who won in 2016 with “If I Were Sorry”. Frans is reportedly returning to the contest after focusing on his studies in recent years.
Not only that, former winner John Lundvik is also among the names being reported. He sang “Too Late for Love” in his triumphant year in 2019, and this will be his fifth entry at Melodifestivalen.
Finally, the fourth former winner being linked is Arvingarna. The band have been longtime favourites in Sweden and at Melodifestivalen since they won the contest at their first attempt with “Eloise” in 1993. If they compete, it will be the seventh time they have performed on the Melfest stage.
Aside from the former winners, several other artists are rumoured to be plotting a return to the contest.
Arguably the biggest name in the pack is Klara Hammarström. Hammarström competed at Melfest in 2020, 2021 and in 2022 without winning Sweden’s biggest music show. However, she is expected to return next year, and Aftonbladet refers to reports that suggest former Melfest and Eurovision winning writer Cazzi Opeia is involved with her entry.
Despite being just 21, Malou Prytz is reported to be competing at Melodifestivalen for the fourth time in 2025. She made her debut at the age of just 16 with her song “I Do Me” in 2019.
On the other end of the spectrum, 52-year-old Andreas Lundstedt is also linked with an entry. It would be his tenth go at Melfest – his fifth solo, matching the five attempts he made as part of Alcazar.
From last year’s crop, Scarlet is also expected to join Melodifestivalen again next year. A person with insight has told Aftonbladet that the “Circus X” performers have “a very strong song” that can “give Zelmerlöw and the others a match”.
While Scarlet will bring metal to Melfest, Dolly Style will bring the complete opposite. If reports are correct, then the bubblegum pop group – who style themselves as dolls Molly, Holly, Polly and Yolly – will also be joining the fray.
And, last but not least, there is one new artist in the 10 being reported by Aftonbladet – Kaliffa. A 44-year-old rapper from Stockholm, Kaliffa is a member of the group Hoffmaestro, but also makes music solo. His entry is reportedly going to be in a similar style to Medina, who came second this year with their song “Que Sera”.
Melodifestivalen 2025 will take place across six cities in Sweden. The dates, places and host cities for the shows are:
- Heat 1: February 1 – Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå
- Heat 2: Feburary 8 – Scandinavium, Gothenburg
- Heat 3: Feburary 15 – Västerås Arena, Västerås
- Heat 4: February 22 – Malmö Arena, Malmö
- Heat 5: March 1 – Husqvarna Garden, Jönköping
- Final: March 8 – Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
Melodifestivalen has been held annually since 1959, except for 1964 and 1976, when Sweden did not compete in Eurovision. The winner of this Melodifestivalen 2025 will represent the country in Basel.
Marcus & Martinus represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö with the song “Unforgettable”. They placed 9th in the Grand Final receiving a total of 174 points, including 12 points from the German jury.
Image Source: Eurovoix / Daniel Stridh | Source: Aftonbladet
Sweden debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 and has gone on to be one of the contest’s most successful countries. The country has won the contest 7 times – tying with Ireland, the most recent being in 2023. Abba´s win in Brighton 1974 with the song “Waterloo” marked Sweden’s first victory. Since missing out on the final in 2010, the country has gone on to finish 3rd twice and has won the contest three times. Only in 2013 and 2021 did the country place outside of the top 10 in the final.
