Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2021 dates confirmed; All shows to be held without audience

Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2021 dates confirmed; All shows to be held without audience
Monday, 05 October 2020

  • The Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, has confirmed the dates over which the next edition of Melodifestivalen will unfold, announcing along the decision that all six shows will have no audience. 

    With or without covid-19 one thing is sure: Melfest 2021 will hit our screen next year adjusting itself to the extroadinary circumstances that the coranavirus pandemic has brought along.

    A total of 28 act will battle for the trophy over six shows that are set to all take place in Stockholm, marking a break from the Melfest Tour where the six shows took place across the country's cities and towns. This edition will see only one venue, which hasn't been determined yet, and with out the attendance of audience due to the covid-19 restrictions. 

    The six shows will run from March 6 to March 13, 2020. Melfest project manager , Anne Helenius,  stated on the next Meldodifestivalen conditions:

    An intermediate tour requires long planning. At present, it is not allowed to arrange events for a larger audience and no one knows what it will look like after the turn of the year. Therefore, it is not possible for SVT, host cities or tour coordinators to plan for a tour in 2021

    It is 20 years since the modern Melodifestivalen started and we will celebrate this next year. If there is a time we need something to gather around, agree on and think differently about, it is now. Despite the situation, we are happy that we will be able to offer an exciting music competition and a great show. The Melodifestivalen is and will continue to be our common tradition and a great party for the whole of Sweden!

    Melodifestivalen live shows will kick of on March 6 while the grand final is set for March 13, 2020. Check out the Melfest 2021 will unwind below: 

    • 06/02/2021- Semifinal 1
    • 13/02/2021- Semifinal 2
    • 20/02/2021- Semifinal 3
    • 27/02/2021- Semifinal 4
    • 06/03/2021-  Second Chance  (Andra Chansen)
    • 13/03/2021-  Grand Final

     

    Sweden in Eurovision 

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). Since 1959, the Swedish entry has been chosen through the annual televised competition, named since 1967 as Melodifestivalen. At the 1997 contest, Sweden was one of the first five countries to adopt televoting. Sweden is the only country to have hosted the event in five different decades, three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, 2016), twice in Malmö (1992, 2013) and once in Gothenburg (1985).

    Sweden is one of the most successful competing nations at the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, just one win behind Ireland. The country has the most top five results of the 21st century, with thirteen. In total, Sweden has achieved 24 top five results in the contest. After finishing second with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson in 1966, Sweden went on to achieve its six victories with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson(1999), Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).

    In 2019 John Lundvik represented the country with his song “Too Late For Love”,achieving another top 5 placing for Sweden as he  finished 5th overall with 334 points.

    This year The Mamas won the Melodifestivalen 2020 and earned the right to represent Sweden in Rotterdam with their entry "Move" . Unfortunately for them, the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and The Mamas never had the chance to perform in Rotterdam Ahoy. 

    Source : SVT/ ESCToday