The Swedish broadcaster SVT has announced changes to the format of Melodifestivalen 2026 ahead of the first Heat this weekend.
Sveriges Television has revealed more details of the format for Melodifestivalen, the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The two finalists from each Heat will be announced during the live TV broadcast on SVT1, but the ‘final qualifier’ will be announced on SVT Play alone. The ‘Final qualifier’ is the act that places second in the second round of voting after the first finalist is announced.
In addition, changes have been made to the way people can vote. The regular telephone number is being removed, with phone votes all being made through the Radiohjälpen phone number, which includes a charity donation. While app voters can now vote on the app and contribute to Radiohjälp.
Melodifestivalen 2026
Melodifestivalen 2026 will take place across six cities in Sweden and will be hosted by Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold. The dates, places and host cities for the shows are:
- Heat 1: January 31 – Saab Arena, Linköping
- Heat 2: Feburary 7 – Scandinavium, Gothenburg
- Heat 3: Feburary 14 – Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
- Heat 4: February 21 – Malmö Arena, Malmö
- Heat 5: February 28 – Gärdehov Arena, Sundsvall
- Final: March 7 – Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
Several favourites from recent previous years are included in the lineup, including Medina and Smash into Pieces, who both reached top 3 twice each between 2022 and 2024.
Greczula, Vilhelm Buchaus, Meira Omar, Saga Ludvigsson, and Arwin are all straight back to the contest after making their debuts in 2025.
There are two previous Swedish representatives among the lineup. Robin Bengtsson, who represented Sweden in 2017 with “I Can’t Go On”, will compete in the second heat, while Sanna Nielsen, who represented Sweden in 2014 with “Undo”, will compete in the fifth heat.
Eurovision fans may be familiar too with AleXa in Heat 5. She was the winner of the inaugural and to date only edition of American Song Contest in 2022 with the song “Wonderland”, winning the contest for the state of Oklahoma.
Melodifestivalen has been held annually since 1959, except for 1964 and 1976, when Sweden did not compete in Eurovision. The winner of Melodifestivalen 2026 will represent the country in Vienna.
KAJ represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with “Bara Bada Bastu”. They finished 4th in the final with 321 points.
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.
