The annual Stockholm Pride festival started on Monday. The week will be filled with Eurovision Song Contest and Melodifestivalen related activities. The main event to take place in the Swedish capital is SchlagerPride on Thursday. The producer of the event promises a great show with 30 former participants from the Swedish and international finals.

In order to make the event exciting the line-up of the SchlagerPride is kept secret until the very last moment. Edward af Sillén, producer of the event, promises that more than 30 of the most appreciated Eurovision Song Contest and Melodifestivalen artists will take the stage in Stockholm, among them two of this year's Eurovision Song Contest participants and a former winner. Only three artists have appeared at SchlagerPride before.

Two artists have already been revealed. Linda Bengtzing and Arja Saijonmaa, both contestants at Melodifestivalen 2005. Belgium's 2004 Eurovision Song Contest representative Xandee revealed her appearance in Stockholm on her website. Host of the evening will be Mark Levengood, who was also one of the hosts of Melodifestivalen this year.

Several evenings will be devoted to schlagermusic this week. On Wednesday the former Melodifestivalen participants Alcazar, Afro-Dite, Papa Dee and Pay-TV will be performing. Helena Paparizou, who lives nearby, is also expected to show up at the Stockholm Pride, most likely at the closing gala on Sunday.

Esctoday.com will be in Stockholm to offer you a coverage from SchlagerPride and keep you updated on special events throughout the week.