The online submission platform of SRF was repealed this year after being in use since 2011. A total of 160 songs were submitted, and an expert jury made of 21 people will now decide which songs will go to the next stage.

The jury, made of music experts, producers, people from the music industry, musicians and journalists will evaluate all submitted songs internally, and choose the Top 20, to qualify to a live check phase that will likely take place on 4 December.

No secure spots will be saved for the various broadcasters and regions as happened before, as the Swiss final used to have three songs from SRF (chosen by the online platform), two from RTS and one from RSI (chosen by internal selections).

The best six to ten qualifiers of the live check phase will participate in the Swiss national selection that will take place on 5 February 2017 in Zürich and will be broadcasted on SRF 2. The winner will be decided by 100% televoting.

Rykka performing The last of our kind in last year’s Live Check round

Switzerland was represented by Rykka in Stockholm with the song The last of our kind. She failed to qualify to the final, as did Mélanie René in 2015 with Time to shine.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for more news regarding Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017!