En, två, tre, gå! A beautiful journey has just begun! Up there in Sweden, things are all set for the next edition of Melodifestivalen, one of the most popular national selection events, which annually picks the Scandinavian country’s Eurovision entry. But who are the ones to be thrown into the battle for 2020?

Although more than 2,500 songs had been submitted for the event, just a total of 28 acts have been shortlisted by the Swedish national broadcaster SVT. The 28 competing entries will appear in one of the 4 semi-final evenings, which are going to be held around Sweden come February.

Over the last few weeks, the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet had leaked the majority of the names of this year’s participants. However, the official confirmations came after SVT’s press conference.

2545 songs were submitted to participate in the 2020 Melodifestivalen, an increase by 250 from the year before, while 12 of the 28 songs will be sung in Swedish.

Semifinal 1 –  Linköping

1. Malou Prytz – Ballerina
2. Felix Sandman – Boys with emotions
3. OVÖ – Inga problem
4. The Mamas – Move
5. Suzi P – Moves
6. Sonja Aldén – Sluta aldrig gå
7. Robin Bengtsson – Take a Chance

The first semifinal will take place at Linköping on the 1st February 2020. Many of the acts participating are not unknown to the competition, since Malou Prytz is the 2019 finalist, Felix Sandman is the Melodifestivalen 2018 silver medallist and Robin Bengtsson is the Melodifestivalen 2017 winner, thus representing Sweden in Kyiv at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.

Semifinal 2 – Gothenburg

1. Linda Bengtzing – Alla mina sorger
2. Dotter – Bulletproof
3. Anna Bergendahl – Kingdom come
4. Thorsten Flinck – Miraklernas tid
5. Klara Hammarström – Nobody
6. Paul Rey – Talking in my sleep
7. Mendez feat. Alvaro Estrella – Vamos amigos

The second semifinal will take place on the 8th of February 2020. Melodifestivalen veteran Linda Bengtzing returns to the competition, as well with returning artists Dotter, Thorsten Flinck, Mendez and Alvaro Estrella. Additionally, Anna Bergendahl is returning, after two times in Melodifestivalen.

Semifinal 3 –  Luleå

1. Faith Kakembo – Crying rivers
2. Amanda Aasa – Late
3. Albin Johnsen – Livet börjar nu
4. Drängarna – Piga och dräng
5. Mariette – Shout it out
6. Anis Don Demina – Vem är som oss
7. Mohombi – Winners

The third semifinal will take place on the 15th of February 2020. Similarly to the other semifinals, it includes returning artists Mohombi, Albin Johnsen, Anis Don Demina and Mariette, who is a three time Melodifestivalen finalist.

Semifinal 4 – Malmö

1. Hanna Ferm – Brave
2. Nanne Grönvall – Carpool karaoke
3. William Stridh – Molnljus
4. Jakob Karlberg – Om du tror att jag saknar dig
5. Ellen Benediktson & Simon Peyron – Surface
6. Victor Crone – Troubled Waters
7. Frida Öhrn – We are one

The fourth semifinal will take place on the 22nd of February 2020. It sees the return of Nanne Grönvall, who won Melodifestivalen in 1996 with the group One More Time. Victor Crone represented Estonia in Eurovision 2019 and is now returning to Sweden.

After the four semifinals, the Second Chance Round will be held at Eskilstuna on the 29th of February, and in conclusion, the Melodifestivalen 2020 final will take place at Stockholm on the 7th of March 2020.

What do you think of this year’s acts for Melodifestivalen? Let us know in the comments!