SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster has revealed  the dates  and cities for the 2015 Melodifestivalen. 

We will be heading back to the Friends Arena for the 2015 Melodifestivalen final on 14 March when Sweden will select its Eurovision song and entry for Vienna.

The dates

• 07/02: Semi-final 1 – Gothenburg
• 14/02: Semi-final 2 – Malmö
• 21/02: Semi-final 3 – Östersund
• 28/02: Semi-final 4 – Örebro
• 07/03: Andra Chasen – Helsingborg
• 14/03: Final – Stockholm

This edition of Melodifestivalen will be the first time that Östersund and Helsingborg will host the competition.

“We are pleased to announce two brand new cities by 2015. To go on tour means that audiences have the opportunity to experience a large broadcast on location and a unique opportunity for SVT and the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest to meet more of our viewers” – Christel Tholse Willers, Director of Melodifestivalen speaking to SVT.

Last week, SVT revealed several changes for next years show.

What will be different?

• 12 songs will take part in the grand final, while the number of entries per heat will be reduced to 7.

• Under the new format 28 entries will be chosen to take part in the competition – 13 from the regular competition and 14 contributions appointed by the production team – will compete in each heat, with the top 2 proceeding to the grand final.

• Andra Chansen, the second chance show, will face the major changes as well as there will be four entries qualifying to the Grand Final.

• The Swedish Broadcaster has also set a voting limit per song. Now viewers can vote up to 20 times per entry, but as many songs as they want per heat.

In the upcoming days the selection panel will seat and listen to the 2,177 entries received for the 2015 Melodifestivalen in order to select the semifinalist.

The winner of Melodifestivalen 2015 will go on to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria.

Stay tuned with esctoday.com for more information about Melodifestivalen and the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.