Sweden: SVT unveils Melodifestivalen 2022 host and dates

Sweden: SVT unveils Melodifestivalen 2022 host and dates
Tuesday, 07 September 2021

  • The Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, has unveiled the Melodifestivalen 2022 host and the dates on which the next Swedish national selection will unfold. 

    SVT revealed today that Oscar Zia will be the person to present us the next edition of Melodifestivalen, marking a change of direction, with one only host taking over the presentation of the show. He himself has participated and competed three times in the competition: 2012, 2013 and 2016, when he finished in second place with the song "Human".

    Melodifestivalen, the format Sweden is using to select its Eurovision hopefuls, returns next year with a total of six shows to unfold from February 5 up to March 12, 2022. Four semi final rounds, one second chance heat  and a Grand final show will hit the screen once again. 

    This year's Melodifestivalen was held without an audience. Now SVT hopes to be able to take the program on tour again, if the pandemic situation allows it. 

    Annette Brattström, project manager of Melodifestivalen says: 

    "The plan right now is that we will take out the party and meet the audience. Our absolute ambition is for the party to go out into the country again."

    The next Melodifestivalen host, Oscar Zia stated: 

    "I'm looking forward to going maybe on tour. Then I'm looking forward to doing different programs, I love the Melodifestivalen and long to see the contributions"

    Melodifestivalen will unfold precisely on the following dates and respective locations: 

    • 05/02/2022 –  1st Semifinal (Malmo/Malmo Arena)
    • 12/02/2022 -  2nd Semifinal (Gothenburg/ Scandinavium)
    • 19/02/2022 -  3rd Semifinal (Linköping / Saab Arena)
    • 26/02/2022 -  4th Semifinal  (Lidköping / Sparbanken Arena)
    • 05/03/2022 -  Second  Chance Semifinal ( Örnsköldsvik – Hägglunds Arena)
    • 12/03/2022 - Grand Final ( Stockholm/ Friends Arena)

    The submission period for the 2022 edition of Melodifestivalen has kicked off on August 27, 2021 while the deadline expires on September 17, 2021. A total of 28 contestants will take part in the 2022 edition with the ambition to win the show and represent the country at Eurovision in Italy next May.

     

    Sweden in Eurovision

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). 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. Last 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

    This year Tusse won Melodifestivalen 2021 with his song 'Voices' and went on representing the Nordic country in Rotterdam. After qualifying from the 1st semi final, he finished 14th in the Grand final with a total of 109 points in the overall score. 

     

    News Source: SVT

    Photo credit: Fredrik Sandberg/TT