There are only a total of 2 weeks left until submissions open for the 2017 edition of the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen, with the submission process opening on the 1 September.

For the past number of months following the conclusion of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, songwriters have been busy preparing and composing potential entries in the hope of competing in the forthcoming edition of the Swedish national selection.

Back in June, Melodifestivalen supervisor Christer Björkman revealed that, as usual, entries of all languages, genres and styles are being called for the upcoming edition of the selection.

Opening on Thursday 1 September, songwriters will be able to upload the audio files of their bidding entries via the SVT Melodifestivalen website, with submissions closing on Monday 19 September at 08:59 CEST. A full set of rules and regulations for the selection can be found at svt.se.

Once again, a total of 28 songs and artists will be shortlisted to compete in the competition with 7 acts competing in each of the 4 semi-finals. One act is set to be selected on the 28 August in the talent competition Svensktoppen nästa, in which a total of 8 artists will be competing for the victory with a possible place in the 2017 edition of Melodifestivalen.

Svensktoppen nästa 2016 acts

1. Jimmy Ottosson – Rising rivers
2. Small Town Girls – Do your thing
3. Mackan n’ Matthew – Allt som vi va’
4. SaVe – 2 wrongs don’t make 1 right
5. Vindstyrka 12 – Sluta gömma dig
6. LiRic – Bullshit affair
7. Les Gordons – Need to feel
8. Noomi – Intoxicated

As with 2015, the winner of Svensktoppen nästa may not go on to compete in Melodifestivalen as the act is set to be decided via a jury. The chosen Melodifestivalen act will also go on to compete in the selection with a different song in order to comply with the Eurovision rules.

Following the closure of submissions, the remaining 27 competitors will be shortlisted with an official announcement expected to be made in the following months.

2016 saw Frans winning the 2016 Melodifestivalen selection where he went on to represent the Eurovision host nation of Sweden in the Grand Final with his entry If I were sorry. Finishing in 5th position with a combined total of 261 points, If I were sorry went on to become a European hit, charting in a number of countries around the continent.