Just over a week to go until Sweden commences its Eurovision 2026 selection Melodifestivalen and tour all over Sweden, Swedish broadcaster SVT has revealed the stage on which the competing artists will be performing at.
Created with the ambition to blur the boundaries between stage and audience
The stage design consists of LED screens, which are a staple on Mello stages for the previous year, and will also feature a longer catwalk, which you can see below:
Speaking about the stage for this year’s selection, Anders Wistbacka comments:
The new stage opens up completely new possibilities in the program. When the audience and stage are integrated in this way, a clearer nerve is created that reinforces the feeling of competition for both the audience on site and for the TV viewers
A new team is behind the stage design, with Fredrik Stromby, who has worked on events such as Eurovision 2024, is appointed as the production designer for this year’s contest,
Over the years, Melodifestivalen has offered a number of spectacular stages, but we dare to promise that this year’s design offers completely new experiences and makes a strong impression, of course while maintaining the familiar Melodifestivalen vibe.
What we know about Melodifestivalen 2026
As we earlier reported, 30 songs will participate in Melodifestivalen 2026. Two songs will directly qualify for the final from each semi-final (which will consist of ten entries for the final).
The entry that placed third in each semi-final will still have a chance to make it to the final (which will be made up of five entries). Out of the five participants who placed third in each semi-final, the act with the highest score across all of the Semi-Finals will automatically be given a place in the final, with the remaining four acts fighting it out for the remaining spot. The act with the highest points from the vote will then be awarded the last spot in the final
As usual, Sweden’s Eurovision 2026 representative will be selected via a mixture of televoting and an international jury.
The dates and venues for this year’s competition are as follows:
- Semi-Final 1 – January 31 – Linköping – Saab Arena
- Semi-Final 2 – February 7 – Gothenburg – Scandinavium
- Semi-Final 3 – February 14 – Kristianstad – Kristianstad Arena
- Semi-Final 4 – February 21 – Malmö – Malmö Arena
- Semi-Final 5 – February 28 – Sundsvall – Gärdehov
- Final – March 7 – Stockholm – Strawberry Arena
Tickets for this year’s edition are able to be purchased right here.
Sweden’s Eurovision Journey
In 1958, Sweden made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest, with Alice Babs representing them with the song “Lilla stjärna” which placed fourth. Since their debut, the Scandinavian nation has managed to win seven times (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015 and 2023).
In 2025, Sweden were represented by Finnish group KAJ, singing “Bara bada bastu”. At the close of voting in the grand final, they had received 321 points, finishing in 4th place. 126 points were received by the juries, while the trio received 195 points by televoters.
Are you excited for the return of Melodifestivalen in 2026? Who would you like to see represent Sweden at Eurovision in 2026? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok as we prepare for Eurovision 2026!
News Source: SVT
Photo Credit: SVT
Euan T