Swedish media reports four artists are likely to enter the Swedish Eurovision selection, Melodifestivalen 2026, and Eurovision fans know them all! Who are the artists expected to compete this year?

As anticipation for Melodifestivalen 2026 rises, rumors and media reports about the stars set to take the stage are fueling excitement in Sweden’s music scene. The question on everyone’s mind: who will step onto the big stage this year to deliver another smash hit? After reports that the duo Medina is likely returning next year, media outlets are now surfacing four more artist names. Who are they?

The first name very familiar to Eurovision fans is Meira Omar, who participated last year with the hit single “Hush Hush,” which advanced to the final through the second chance round and finished in tenth place.

The second name recognized by Eurovision followers is Saga Ludvigsson, age 19, who last year performed the song “Hate You So Much,” which reached the final as a surprise direct qualifier from her heat, finishing twelfth overall. Saga gained national fame after securing second place in Swedish Idol.

The third notable name is the band Smash Into Pieces. The band competed two consecutive years: in 2023 with “Six Feet Under,” which became a massive Swedish hit and placed third overall in a selection that featured Eurovision winner Loreen; and again in 2024 with “Heroes Are Calling,” which also finished third.

The fourth name set to compete in Melodifestivalen 2026 is the relatively unknown Eva Jumatate, age 17, who is making her first appearance in the national selection. Eva is already known in Sweden as a musical prodigy, having placed second on the Swedish version of Got Talent at age 11 and appearing in musicals and television series since.

Additional Contestants Revealed

These names join other rumored contestants recently mentioned by the Swedish newspaper Expressen. These artists have not been officially confirmed or announced, and the official contestant list is expected at the end of November.

Fröken Snusk rose to fame for her secret identity, always appearing behind a pink mask. She broke out in September 2022 with the track “Ride mig som en dalahäst,” which garnered over 20 million Spotify streams, and later competed in Melodifestivalen 2024 with “Unga & Fria,” though she did not reach the final. Despite this, her character and the song became nationwide hits. This time, she is expected to compete under her real name, Felicia.

Greczula, whose full name is Kristofer Niklas Greczula, is a well-known and respected Swedish singer who placed third in Melodifestivalen 2025 with the song “Believe Me.” He began performing as a solo artist in 2017, and released his debut album “Live and Let Live” in 2022. That same year, he was featured on Sweden’s popular summer TV show, “Allsång på Skansen.”

Manoel “Junior” Marques Lerin, born in Brazil, is set to make his Melodifestivalen debut in 2026. Known in Sweden as a photographer and television figure, he recently appeared on the Swedish version of “Dancing with the Stars” on TV4. Manoel is married to painter and author Lars Lerin, and has participated in numerous of his husband’s projects — both in his books and television shows.

Medina, the duo that began their career in 2003, is a Swedish–Tunisian partnership featuring Sami Daniel Rekik, a former professional footballer in Tunisia, and Ali “Alibi” Jammali. Their music fuses hip-hop with Arab influences, a style they describe as “Hafla music.” The pair has achieved significant success and widespread love from audiences, placing third in Melodifestivalen 2022 with “In i dimman” and second in 2024 with “Que Sera,” a song that became a hit thanks to its heartfelt lyrics and genre-blending sound.

Dates and Locations For Melodifestivalen 2026

The first heat will be staged in Linköping, in southern Sweden, the capital of the Östergötland County. The second heat will be held in Göteborg, Sweden’s second-largest city, which also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1985. Göteborg is the largest city in western Sweden and the fifth-largest in Scandinavia.

The third heat will be held in Kristianstad, located on the opposite side of the Skåne region, which will be hosting three consecutive shows. The fourth heat will take place in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city, well remembered for hosting the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Previously, Malmö also hosted Eurovision in 1992 and 2013.

The fifth heat is set for Sundsvall, a coastal city in central Sweden. As tradition dictates, the grand final will once again take place at Friends Arena in Stockholm. The Swedish capital has previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975, 2000, and 2016.

The heats will be held across Sweden over six weeks:

• First heat: Saturday, January 31st, in Linköping.

• Second heat: Saturday, February 7th, in Göteborg.

• Third heat: Saturday, February 14th, in Kristianstad.

• Fourth heat: Saturday, February 21st, in Malmö.

• Fifth heat and “Second Chance Round”: Saturday, February 28th, in Sundsvall.

• Grand Final: Saturday, March 7th, at Friends Arena, Stockholm.