Jacqline Moss

Jacqline Moss participated in Melodifestivalen 2024 and went straight to the final with the song “Effortless,” where she finished ninth. The track later gained popularity among Eurovision fans across Europe. After taking time off to become a mother, Jacqline is reportedly ready to return to the big stage.

Patrik Jean

Patrik Jean is a familiar name in the competition. He co-wrote “Move” for The Mamas, which won Melodifestivalen 2020 but could not represent Sweden due to Eurovision’s cancellation amid the pandemic. Jean also competed in 2021 with “Tears Run Dry” but did not reach the final.

Felix Manu

Felix Manu, a promising young artist in Sweden’s pop scene, is believed to be one of the rising stars to join the lineup. His participation would be a major step toward national recognition.

The Band Korslagda Changes Its Name

The group Korslagda, previously known as Korslagda kukar (a name containing an offensive word), reportedly submitted a song well-received by the jury and the national broadcaster SVT, though a final decision on their participation has not yet been made. Unverified reports claim that their name change played a key role in their potential inclusion.

While these reports remain unofficial, the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has consistently revealed accurate contestant lists before SVT’s official announcements in previous years.

Additional Contestants Reported by Swedish Media

These names join others mentioned recently by Aftonbladet and Expressen. None of them have been formally confirmed. The official list will be announced in late November.

• Sanna Nielsen (age 40), one of Sweden’s most respected singers and presenters, has competed in Melodifestivalen seven times and won once, representing Sweden in Eurovision 2014 with “Undo,” where she finished third. According to Expressen, she is set for her eighth appearance.
• Emilia Pantic, a 25-year-old pop artist first revealed by Expressen, debuted in 2022 with “Roadkill” and recently released “Han vill ha dig” (“He Wants You”), inspired by a comparison to her partner’s ex.
• Fröken Snusk, known for her pink mask persona, gained fame in 2022 with “Ride mig som en dalahäst” (over 20 million Spotify plays). After failing to reach the 2024 final with “Unga & Fria,” she is expected to return under her real name, Felicia.
• Greczula, real name Kristofer Niklas Greczula, finished third in Melodifestivalen 2025 with “Believe Me”. He launched his solo career in 2017 and released his debut album “Live and Let Live” in 2022.
• Manoel “Junior” Marques Lerin, born in Brazil, well-known photographer and TV personality, will make his Melodifestivalen debut. He is married to painter and author Lars Lerin and has appeared in several of his projects.
• Medina, the Swedish-Tunisian duo formed by Sami Daniel Rekik and Ali “Alibi” Jammali, blends hip hop with Arabic influences – a style they call “hafla music”/ They placed third in 2022 with “In i dimman” and second in 2024 with the hit “Que Sera”.
• Meira Omar, who competed last year with “Hush Hush”, reached the final through the Second Chance round and finished tenth.
• Saga Ludvigsson, age 19, surprised audiences last year by advancing directly to the final with “Hate You So Much”, finishing 12th. She first rose to fame as runner-up on Idol Sweden.
• Smash Into Pieces, the rock band that competed two years in a row – 2023 with “Six Feet Under” and 2024 with “Heroes Are Calling” – both finishing third.
• Eva Jumatate, age 17, will appear for the first time this year. Known since childhood, she finished second on Sweden’s Got Talent at age 11 and has acted in musicals and TV shows.
• Robin Bengtsson, age 35, competed four times and won Melodifestivalen 2017 with “I Can’t Go On”, finishing fifth at Eurovision. According to Expressen, he will compete for the fifth time, reportedly with a country song.
• Arwin Ismail, a 17-year-old up-and-coming artist performing under the name Arwin, competed in 2025 with “This Dream of Mine”, where he reached the “Rescue Round” but not the final.

Selection Process and Upcoming Schedule

The national broadcaster is currently reviewing the 3,888 songs submitted. Only 30 will compete in Melodifestivalen 2026 – half chosen by a professional jury and half by SVT.

In previous years, participant announcements took place on:

• Melodifestivalen 2025 – November 26th, 2024
• Melodifestivalen 2024 – December 1st, 2023
• Melodifestivalen 2023 – November 29th, 2022
• Melodifestivalen 2022 – November 26th, 2021
• Melodifestivalen 2021 – December 1st, 2020
• Melodifestivalen 2020 – November 26th, 2019

Melodifestivalen 2026: Format and Updates

The Swedish national selection will again run for six weeks, featuring five heats and a grand final. Each heat will be held in a different city, with the final traditionally taking place at Friends Arena in Stockholm. Two songs from each heat will advance to the 12-song grand final. The winner will be decided by a 50/50 combination of jury and public votes and will represent Sweden at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

SVT confirmed that the competition format introduced two years ago will remain for 2026. These two elements have become essential to Melodifestivalen:

The first is the Second Chance round, which allows songs placing third or fourth in semifinals another opportunity to reach the final — a popular format that adds tension and fairness.
The second is the early song release, allowing audiences to listen to all semifinal entries the day before their live broadcast. This approach lets viewers form opinions in advance and enjoy the songs before the show airs.