Sweden's most popular entertainment series, Melodifestivalen, which selects the country's Eurovision Song Contest entry has announced the cities that will host the 2010 semi finals, second chance round and final. Once again, Globen Arena in Stockholm will be the venue for the final. The country will be looking for a return to the Eurovision Song Contest top ten for the first time since 2006 despite a 100% qualification record from the semi finals.

Sandviken make's its debut on the Melodifestivalen circuit, whilst in another big change, Göteborg will host the third semi final rather than it's traditional slot as the opening semi final and the host city for the competition's opening ceremony.

National broadcaster SVT are still accepting entries for the competition. The deadline for song submissions is 22nd September 2009. For more information about the entry requirements, please click here.

The 2010 Melodifestivalen dates:

• 6th February – First Semi Final – Swedbank Arena, Örnsköldsvik
• 3th February – Second Semi Final – Göransson Arena, Sandviken
• 20th Febryary – Third Semi Final – Scandinavium, Göteborg
• 27th Feburary – Fourth semi final – Malmö Arena,Malmö
• 6th March – Second chance round – Conventum Arena, Örebro
• 13th March – Melodifestivalen final – Globen, Stockholm

Last year, Malena Ernman won the competition with the song La voix. The song placed only 8th on the jury vote, but won the televote in a tightly run final and it was enough to lift the song to first place. Despite more than 1.8million televotes, it defeated second place Caroline af Ugglas by under 4,000 votes, sending the country's leading opera star to Moscow.