The final of Melodifestivalen 2026 will take place tonight live from Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena. Twelve acts have reached the final of the popular show after five weeks of competing rounds.
The line-up:
1. Iconic – A*Teens
2. Dooset Daram – Meira Omar
3. Delulu – Lilla Al-Fadji
4. Ain’t Today – Saga Ludvigsson
5. Hollow – Smash Into Pieces
6. Eternity – Cimberly
7. Viva L’Amor – Medina
8. Half of Me – Greczula
9. Honey Honey – Robin Bengtsson
10. My System – FELICIA
11. Waste Your Love – Sanna Nielsen
12. Rakt in i elden – Brandsta City Släckers
Interesting facts about the acts
1. A*Teens – “Iconic”
Songwriters: Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy Jansson, Lina Hansson, Moa “Cazzi Opeia” Carlebecker, Thomas G:son
• A*Teens consists of two women and two men. The last time an act with both male and female artists competed in the Melodifestivalen final was when Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO came third with “Hold You”, 2019. Never before since 2002 has such a long time passed between two final entries featuring both women and men.
• By advancing in the competition, Marie Serneholt and Sara Lumholdt progressed in Melodifestivalen for the first time, after having previously been eliminated following two and one earlier solo attempts, respectively.
2. Meira Omar – “Dooset Daram“
Songwriters: Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Laurell Barker, Meira Omar
• Meira Omar reached the final via finalkvalet for the second year in a row. The result pattern has recurred historically. The other artists who have reached the final via the second-chance round two years in a row are Magnus Carlsson (2002–2003, also 2005), Linus Svenning (2014–2015), Samir & Viktor (2015–2016), Boris René (2016–2017), Felix Sandman (2017–2018, also 2020), Paul Rey (2020–2021), Alvaro Estrella (2020–2021), and THEOZ (2022–2023).
3. Lilla Al-Fadji – “Delulu”
Songwriters: Daniel Réhn, Edward af Sillén, Lilla Al-Fadji, Fredrik Sonefors, Melanie Wehbe, Mikaela Samuelsson
• Lilla Al-Fadji has six songwriters, which is the highest number for an entry in the final and tied for the highest in the entire Melodifestivalen 2026.
• For the second time in Melodifestivalen history, no artist in the two entries that advanced directly to the final from Heat 5 was under 40 years old. The finalists were Lilla Al-Fadji (played by Fille, 45) and Sanna Nielsen (41). The first time this occurred was in Heat 1, 2025, where the finalists were John Lundvik (42) and Maja Ivarsson (45).
4. Saga Ludvigsson – “Ain’t Today”
Songwriters: Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy Jansson, Johanna “Dotter” Jansson, Saga Ludvigsson
• Saga Ludvigsson, 20, is the youngest artist in the final, for the second year in a row.
5. Smash Into Pieces – “Hollow”
Songwriters: Benjamin Jennebo, Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, Per Bergquist, Philip Strand
• By reaching the final in 2026, Smash Into Pieces became the first band to reach the Melodifestivalen final three times from the heats: 2023, 2024, and 2026. Groups are not included in this count, and a band is defined here as a formation of three or more members where several play instruments. The bands that had previously reached the final twice are Östen med Resten (2002 and 2003), Barbados (2002 and 2003), and Brandsta City Släckers (2002 and 2026).
• Smash Into Pieces compete with “Hollow”, a song title that has thus become the first to appear three times in Melodifestivalen history. The previous songs titled “Hollow” were performed by Peter Jöback in 2010 and Janet Leon in 2014. Melodifestivalen does, however, have a large number of song titles that have appeared twice.
• Smash Into Pieces return to the competition after having finished on the podium twice in recent years, in 2023 and 2024. Medina have the same starting point, from 2022 and 2024. Since 2000, there have been 19 instances of artists returning for a third time after recently achieving two consecutive high placements. On 16 of those occasions, the subsequent entry reached the final (the exceptions are Andreas Johnson in 2008, Shirley Clamp in 2009, and BWO in 2009). Among the entries that reached the final, the average placement has since been 6th. But only 2 of the 17 entries that currently have a final result, 12%, have finished on the podium (Sanna Nielsen in 2014, who won, and Danny Saucedo in 2012, who finished second).
6. Cimberly – “Eternity”
Songwriters: Cimberly-Malaika Wanyonyi, David Lindgren Zacharias, Dino Medanhodzic, Melanie Wehbe
• Cimberly became the first Melodifestivalen debutant to reach the final in 2026. She is the second-youngest artist in the final, one year older than Saga Ludvigsson. The two previously faced each other in the final of Idol 2023 and now meet again in a new final.
7. Medina – “Viva L’Amor”
Songwriters: Ali Jammali, Anderz Wrethov, Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Sami Rekik
• Medina’s place in the final means that Sami Rekik appears in the final for the fifth consecutive year in a prominent role, a record matched in Melodifestivalen history together with Nick Borgen, who competed as an artist from 1993 to 1997. Sami Rekik has competed as an artist in 2022, 2024, and 2026, was the announcer in the opening number “Flaggparad Balkan” in 2023, and performed the interval act “Genom Eld & Vatten” in 2025.
• In the modern Melodifestivalen, only Linda Bengtzing (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011) has reached the final with a song in Swedish more times than Medina. Medina share second place on the list with Sanna Nielsen (2003, 2005, 2007), Magnus Carlsson (2002, 2006, 2015), Jon Henrik Fjällgren (2015, 2017, 2019), Samir & Viktor (2015, 2016, 2018), Panetoz (2014, 2016, 2023), and Nordman (2005, 2008, 2023).
8. Greczula – “Half of Me”
Songwriters: Andreas Weling, Karl Ivert, Kian Sang, Greczula
• “Half of Me” is written by Greczula, Karl Ivert, Kian Sang, and Andreas Werling and is therefore, together with FELICIA, the entry with the least Melodifestival-experienced songwriters in Melodifestivalen 2026. Among the songwriters of the entry, only Greczula himself has previously competed with a song, and the same applies to FELICIA. However, later in the season Andreas Werling also co-wrote Korslagda’s entry, which makes FELICIA’s songwriting team the least experienced in Melodifestivalen among the finalists.
9. Robin Bengtsson – “Honey Honey”
Songwriters: Gavin Jones, Pär Westerlund, Petter Tarland, Robin Bengtsson
• Robin Bengtsson advanced to the final with his fifth entry, which puts him in a tie for second place on the list of most final appearances in the modern Melodifestivalen, two entries behind Sanna Nielsen.
• Since Melodifestivalen 2022, viewers have had 10 votes in the app instead of 5. Since then, no entry outside the two direct final spots has received more votes than Robin Bengtsson did this year, when viewers gave him 1,889,614 votes in Heat 2. Meira Omar, however, received almost as many in Heat 4: 1,871,640 votes. Only THEOZ in 2023 and Robin Bengtsson in 2026 have received more votes in a heat than Meira Omar without advancing directly to the final.
10. FELICIA – “My System”
Songwriters: Audun Agnar, Emily Harbakk, FELICIA, Julie Bergan, Theresa Rex
• FELICIA co-wrote “My System” with three Norwegian songwriters and one Danish, which is the highest number of foreign songwriters on a single entry in Melodifestivalen ever, tied with Felix Sandman’s two entries “Boys with Emotions” (2020) and “Every Single Day” (2018).
• “My System” by FELICIA has four female songwriters, which is tied for the second-highest number for a Melodifestivalen entry of all time, only surpassed by Browsing Collections’ “Face in the Crowd” (2022), where all the band members participated in writing the song. The previous occasion in history when an entry with four or more female songwriters reached the final was Malou Prytz’s “I Do Me” in 2019.
• FELICIA has been assigned running order number 10, which has been the most successful in the final since it was expanded to 12 entries in 2015. The average placement since then is 4.4, and on 4 of 11 occasions the entry in this slot has won: Frans in 2016, John Lundvik in 2019, Cornelia Jakobs in 2022, and Loreen in 2023. In the 2025 final, however, Saga Ludvigsson competed with this number and finished last.
11. Sanna Nielsen – “Waste Your Love”
Songwriters: Jimmy Jansson, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son
• In the heat, Sanna Nielsen became the artist who has advanced directly from a heat to the final the most times in Melodifestivalen history: six times. She debuted in 2001, the year before the heats were introduced, and reached the final via Andra chansen in 2007. With her other entries, she went directly to the final. Before this year, she shared the record with Danny Saucedo.
• Sanna Nielsen was already the artist with the most final appearances in the modern Melodifestivalen, a record she has now extended to seven finals.
• Sanna Nielsen won the final in 2014 with her seventh entry, making her unique. No one else in Melodifestivalen history had competed six years before their win. Östen Warnerbring won in 1967 after competing for three previous years, but with six different entries; in 1967 he competed with his 7th and 8th entries. Technically, Tommy Körberg had also competed with six entries before winning in 1988, having won in 1969 and then competed with five entries in the heats in 1971.
• Sanna Nielsen returns as a competing artist after 12 years of absence. Among Melodifestivalen winners who have returned, this is the longest gap since Carola in 1991, who waited 15 years before returning in 2006 and winning again.
• Among artists who won Melodifestivalen between 2000 and 2016, 12 of 17 later made a comeback. The average gap between the win and the comeback has been 5.33 years. Seven of these artists reached the final, four were eliminated in the heats, and one (Charlotte Perrelli in 2012) was eliminated in the heat. None of them won the final on their comeback. Måns Zelmerlöw’s second place in 2025 is the strongest result. The last returning winner to win on a comeback was Charlotte Perrelli in 2008.
• Sanna Nielsen is the 19th artist in history to compete after having been a host. Participation by former hosts has led to a final appearance in 53 percent of cases and a win in the final in 17 percent, namely Lena Philipsson (2004), Charlotte Perrelli (2008), and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).
• Sanna Nielsen competed with the last running order number in the final heat. The entry in the closing position of the final heat has won Melodifestivalen every fourth time since the heats were introduced in 2002. The winning entries from this position were performed by Loreen (2023), John Lundvik (2019), Måns Zelmerlöw (2015), Malena Ernman (2009), Charlotte Perrelli (2008), and Carola (2006). The last time the entry in the closing position of the final heat did not go directly to the final was with Loreen’s “Statements” in 2017. The entry in the closing position advanced directly to the final in all five heats of 2026.
12. Brandsta City Släckers – “Rakt in i elden”
Songwriters: Anderz Wrethov, Elin Wrethov, Kristofer Strandberg, Robert Skowronski
• Brandsta City Släckers became the first competing band to reach the final with a song in Swedish since Rolandz in 2018.
• The band also became the fourth in the modern Melodifestivalen—excluding groups—to secure a final spot with a second entry, after Östen med Resten and Barbados in 2003, and Smash Into Pieces in 2024.
• Brandsta City Släckers (61–66 years old) are the oldest artists to reach the final since record-holder Owe Thörnqvist reached the final in 2017. Mats Nilsson in the band, 66, is this year’s oldest artist and the sixth oldest to qualify for the final in the entire modern Melodifestivalen.
Voting in the final – how it works
Power is shared equally between the viewers and an international jury, with 50% of the points coming from the viewers’ votes, while the remaining 50% are awarded by the international jury. If two entries receive the same total points, the number of viewer votes determines which entry wins.
International juries
- Australia
- Finland
- Greece
- Czechia
- France
- Armenia
- Croatia
- Italy
Competition format – the final
In the final, twelve entries compete. It is possible to vote in advance for all entries and to vote for all entries in two voting rounds during the live final.
Advance voting
This year, advance voting is possible in the Melodifestivalen app. From Monday, 2 March at 09:00 until Friday, 6 March at 19:00, it is possible to vote in advance for the twelve final entries in the Melodifestivalen app. Advance votes only count as Radiohjälpen votes in the app, and it is possible to vote five times per entry. Votes cast during this period are collected and counted in the viewer group Radiohjälpen (viewer group 8) when the votes are tallied during the final.
Voting during the live broadcast
During the final broadcast on 7 March, voting is possible in two ways:
- With heart votes in the Melodifestivalen app
- With Radiohjälpen votes via telephone
To vote for Radiohjälpen in the app, you must be 16 years or older. Each vote costs 10 SEK, all of which goes to Radiohjälpen’s fundraising for Världens Barn.
Voting in the final takes place in two rounds, and in each round it is possible to vote up to five times per entry using heart votes in the app and via telephone. Viewers distribute half of the points (464 points), and an international jury distributes the other half (464 points).
Round 1: The first voting round ends before the jury groups’ votes are announced. Eight jury groups award points as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 points are shown graphically, and 8, 10, 12 points are announced by a spokesperson. In total, the jury groups distribute 8 × 58 points = 464 points.
Round 2: After the jury groups’ votes are announced, viewers have the opportunity to react to the results, and the second voting round begins. When the second round ends, the number of votes per viewer group is converted into points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 and summed across all eight groups. In total, viewers distribute 8 × 58 points = 464 points.
The viewers’ points determine the winner and are presented as a total at the end of the program to maximize suspense for both viewers and artists.
If two entries have the same final score, the entry with the highest points from the viewer groups wins. If two entries have the same final score and also the same points from viewer groups, the entry with the highest total number of votes from the viewer groups wins.
Voting in the Melodifestivalen app
In the Melodifestivalen app, voting is free during the final. In one voting round, it is possible to vote five times per entry. Viewer votes in the app are divided into seven age groups, each with its own color. Telephone votes and advance votes to Radiohjälpen count as an eighth viewer group.
Viewer group distribution:
- Green: 3–9 years
- Turquoise: 10–15 years
- Blue: 16–29 years
- Purple: 30–44 years
- Pink: 45–59 years
- Red: 60–74 years
- Orange: 75+
Those who vote in support of Radiohjälpen belong to the eighth viewer group, which has no color.
Voting in the app is only possible if you are in Sweden.
Telephone voting
Each entry has a telephone number for voting. Voting by phone in support of Radiohjälpen costs 10 SEK per call, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen’s fundraising for Världens Barn. Any additional call charges may apply.
In one voting round, it is possible to call five times per entry. Voting from abroad is not allowed. Telephone votes and advance votes to Radiohjälpen count as an eighth viewer group.
Telephone voting for the final:
099-908 XX (XX = entry’s running order number). 10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen.
Melodifestivalen 2025 – Live English Commentary
The Grand Final of Melodifestivalen 2026f will be broadcast with live commentary in English on SVT Play or the sixth year in a row. Behind the microphones are once again commentator favorites and Mello enthusiasts Bella Qvist and William Lee Adams.
Bella and William will guide the viewers through the Grand Final, answer questions and share the joy with dedicated Mello fans around the world. Journalist Bella Qvist has been involved since the start, making this her sixth year as a commentator. William Lee Adams returns for his third year.
–It feels great to be back in the commentary booth with William. I look forward to guiding international fans, English-speaking viewers and Mello newcomers – as well as Swedes who want to follow the final with English live commentary, through all the silliness, excitement and magic that is Melodifestivalen
Bella Qvist
During last year’s competition, the live commentary took the step from sound to image, and in addition to being able to listen, viewers could also see Bella and William in the booth.
Last year we broke the digital barrier and turned the camera on in our commentary booth. We love bringing viewers’ comments and reactions into the live broadcast, and this year we’re aiming to make that connection with the audience even stronger
William Lee Adams
Melodifestivalen has many international viewers and it’s very exciting that we can offer English commentary so that even more experience the show. We are also happy that Bella and William are back, they do a fantastic job of guiding the audience through the entire Mello party
Anders Wistbacka, project manager for Melodifestivalen
You can watch the show live at 20:00 CET via our Multi-window live feed or at svtplay.se.