Nu kör vi! As national broadcaster SVT has geared up to kick off Sweden’s classic national selection, Melodifestivalen, for its 66th edition. Once again, the event will tour several Swedish cities for six weeks, featuring schlager, pop, rock, and more throughout the country.
In this article, we’ll review how all 30 acts were spread across the 5 heats, and who will be presenting Sweden’s most-watched show this year.
Meet Our Hosts: Gina is back! Hallo Hampus!
Just a month ago, SVT announced that comedienne & TV personality Gina Dirawi and comedian Hampus Nessvold will be leading the biggest musical event in Sweden this year. For Dirawi, this will be her fourth time as lead presenter (thus surpassing the record for a female presenter for Mello); while for Nessvold, this will be his first time.
“It’s been ten years since I last met the audience, and I’ve missed it,” Gina said in a statement, according to the publication Aftonbladet. “Melodifestivalen is a very unique stage to stand on. To now be able to come back for the fourth time to the place that made me feel at home as a child, and also together with Hampus, feels incredibly fun.”
Meanwhile, Hampus stated the following: “Especially right now, when more than ever you want some kind of light to gather around. See Gina as the keyhole brand in this duo, the quality assured one and me as the “loose cannon”. But I promise to do my best and if it goes badly, I will be the first to give myself a minus in the evening newspapers.”
Meet the 2026 Melodifestivalen Class!
Melodifestivalen 2026 will take place across six Swedish cities — Linköping, Gothenburg, Kristianstad, Malmö, Sundsvall, and Stockholm for the finale — with a total of 30 artists competing for the chance to represent Sweden at the upcoming edition of the Song Contest. The confirmed lineup includes a mix of returning competitors such as Greczula, Vilhelm Buchaus, Meira Omar, Saga Ludvigsson, and Arwin (all returning following their debuts in 2025), seasoned names Robin Bengtsson (Sweden’s 2017 entrant) and Sanna Nielsen (2014), and fan-favourites like Smash Into Pieces and Medina; it also features notable participants making waves such as American Song Contest winner AleXa and early 2000’s mainstream icons A*Teens. The roster thus blends debuts, seasoned Melodifestivalen veterans, and international crossover artists in this year’s competition.
Let’s take a look at how all 30 entrants have been set to perform:
Heat 1, January 31 – Linköping
- Indra Elg – “Beautiful Lie”
- Noll2 – “Drunk Words”
- Junior Lerin – “Copacabana Boy”
- Greczula – “Half of Me”
- A*Teens – “Iconic”
- Jacqline – “Woman”
Heat 2, February 7 – Gothenburg
- Klara Almström – “Where the Whole World is Waiting”
- Arwin – “Glitter”
- Robin Bengtsson – “Honey Honey”
- FELICIA – “My System”
- Laila Adèle – “Oxygen”
- Brandsta City Släckers – “Rakt in i elden”
Heat 3, February 14 – Kristianstad
- Saga Ludvigsson – “Ain’t Today”
- Patrik Jean – “Dusk Till Dawn”
- Emilia Pantić – “Ingenting”
- Korslagda – “King of Rock ’n’ Roll”
- Eva Jumatate – “Selfish”
- Medina – “Viva L’Amor”
Heat 4, February 21 – Malmö
- Meira Omar – “Dooset Daram”
- Cimberly – “Eternity”
- Erika Jonsson – “Från landet”
- Felix Manu – “Hatar att jag älskar dig”
- Smash Into Pieces – “Hollow”
- Timo Räisänen – “Ingenting är efter oss”
Heat 5, February 28 – Sundsvall
- Lilla Al-Fadji – “Delulu”
- Vilhelm Buchaus – “Hearts Don’t Lie”
- JULIETT – “Långt från alla andra”
- AleXa – “Tongue Tied”
- Sanna Nielsen – “Waste Your Love”
- Bladë – “Who You Are”
And there you have it, Eurovision Fam! This is the full line-up for this coming year’s Swedish national showcase, Melodifestivalen. Let us know who you’re most hyped up to see on stage in the comments.
Finally, let’s remember the icons, legends, and comedy geniuses of KAJ with their hit “Bara Bada Bastu” one more time.