Sweden has spoken! KAJ has triumphed at Melodifestivalen 2025 with their song “Bara Bada Bastu,” earning the honor of representing Sweden at Eurovision 2025 in Basel. The Finnish-Swedish band secured victory in a tightly contested final, edging out Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw in a thrilling showdown.
With a total of 164 points, KAJ claimed the iconic Melodifestivalen trophy and will now aim to secure Sweden’s eighth Eurovision victory. They will compete in the first semifinal on Tuesday, May 13, alongside 14 other acts, hoping to continue Sweden’s impressive track record at the competition.
Melodifestivalen 2025 Final Results
The grand final featured 12 acts who battled for the coveted title. While 10 of them secured their place through the five initial heats, two acts advanced via last week’s second chance round in Jönköping.
The voting process began with the international jury, consisting of eight countries: Serbia, Lithuania, France, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland. Måns Zelmerlöw emerged as the jury’s favorite, followed closely by KAJ and John Lundvik. However, the final outcome was determined by the combined vote of the Swedish public, with results announced by hosts Kristina Petrushina and Edvin Törnblom.
KAJ ultimately clinched victory after receiving 90 points from the televote, surpassing Måns Zelmerlöw and Greczula, who rounded out the top three.
Final Standings
| Rank | Artist | Song | Total Points | Televote | International Jury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | KAJ | “Bara Bada Bastu” | 164 | 90 | 74 |
| 2nd | Måns Zelmerlöw | “Revolution” | 157 | 81 | 76 |
| 3rd | Greczula | “Believe Me” | 103 | 56 | 47 |
| 4th | Klara Hammarström | “On And On And On” | 77 | 43 | 34 |
| 5th | Dolly Style | “YIHAA” | 75 | 27 | 48 |
| 6th | John Lundvik | “Voice Of The Silent” | 74 | 25 | 49 |
| 7th | SCARLET | “Sweet N’ Psycho” | 64 | 33 | 31 |
| 8th | Annika Wickihalder | “Life Again” | 54 | 18 | 36 |
| 9th | Erik Segerstedt | “Show Me What Love Is” | 51 | 27 | 24 |
| 10th | Meira Omar | “Hush Hush” | 50 | 24 | 26 |
| 11th | Maja Ivarsson | “Kamikaze Life” | 32 | 30 | 2 |
| 12th | Saga Ludvigsson | “Hate You So Much” | 27 | 10 | 17 |
Who Are KAJ? Meet Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 Representatives
KAJ is a Finnish-Swedish group founded in 2009 in Vörå, Finland, and consists of members Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård. Their initials form the name of the band. Known for their humorous techno-influenced music, KAJ often performs in the Finland-Swedish Vöyr dialect, a rarity in mainstream music.
Their career took off with the release of their debut single “Heimani i Skick” in 2012, followed by their first album Professionella Pjasalappa in 2013. The band has since gained widespread recognition, releasing seven albums and even staging two successful musicals in Sweden, with their 2018 production breaking attendance records at Wasa Theatre.
KAJ’s Eurovision 2025 entry, “Bara Bada Bastu,” was composed by Anderz Wrethov, Kristoffer Strandberg, Robert Skowronski, and the band members themselves. Wrethov is a familiar name in the Eurovision world, having contributed multiple entries to the competition over the years.
Sweden’s Legacy at Eurovision
Sweden is one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history, having won the contest seven times. The only time Sweden failed to qualify for the final was in 2010 when Anna Bergendahl’s “This Is My Life” narrowly missed out.
In 2023, Loreen made history by winning Eurovision for a second time with “Tattoo,” bringing Sweden its seventh victory and tying with Ireland as the most successful nation in the contest. She also became the second artist ever to win Eurovision twice, following Johnny Logan.
Most recently, at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö, Marcus & Martinus represented Sweden with “Unforgettable.” They finished 9th overall with 174 points, ranking 8th with the jury and 11th in the televote.
Now, all eyes are on KAJ as they aim to bring Sweden yet another Eurovision victory in 2025.