SVT, the Swedish broadcaster, have revealed the dates and venues for Melodifestivalen 2011, the super popular local national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The show kicks off on February 5th with the first semi final at the Coop Arena in Lulea and ends with the grand final on 12 March at the Globen in Stockholm

Melodifestivalen is possibly the most popular national final for the Eurovision Song Contest among Eurofans attracting large numbers of visitors and viewers from all over the continent. SVT announced today the dates and venues of the four semi finals, the Second chance contest and the final of the 2011 edition which will take place all through February and early March 2011.

These are the dates and venues for Melodifestivalen 2011:

First semi final: February 5, Coop Arena Lulea
Second semi final: February 12, Scandinavium, Goteborg
Third semi final: February 19, Cloetta Center, Linkoping
Fourth semi final: February 26, Malmo Arena, Malmo
Second Chance: March 5, Nordichallen, Sundsvall
Final: March 12, Globen, Stockholm

As usual rumours have started swirling about which artists will submit songs for this high profile event. Last week, Aftonbladet revealed Christer Bjorkman's "secret list" with names of artists which, according to the Swedish tabloid, the Melodifestivalen top man has or hopes to persuade to give it a go this year. Among them resounding names of the Swedish music scene such as Sanna Nielsen, Shirley Clamp, Danny of EMD, Lili & Susie and Lasse Stefanz. The list also includes past Eurostars such as Nanne Gronvall and Greek Swedish Eurovision 2005 winner Helena Paparizou. Aftonbladet claim that Sara Varga, Marie Picasso, Rebound, Marie Serneholt, Le Kid, Timoteij, Sarah Dawn Finer, Elisabeth Andreassen and Linda Bengtzing are all planning or have already submitted songs. As nothing has been confirmed yet and won't be for quite some time, we will just have to wait and see.