SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster, is set to introduce some changes to Melodifestivalen’s voting and viewing.
Melodifestivalen 2026 is set to kick off on Saturday 31st January and will run for 6 weeks until the 7th of March when the Grand Final takes place in Stockholm.
SVT will be implemeting several changes to the Melodifestivalen voting and viewing of the shows. During the semi-finals the Swedish audience will be able to see the which two acts qualify for the Grand Final on SVT 1, whilst the qualifier round will be broadcast on SVT Play, hence viewers will have to switch to SVT Play to see which act goes to the qualfier round. This will be implemented during the first four shows, whilst the fifth semi-final and qualifier round will be entirely broadcast on SVT1.
SVT’s official press relase reads:
As Melodifestivalen gets underway, some new features are being introduced to enhance the experience for viewers and get even more people involved in the competition. Now, for the first time, viewers can vote for Radiohjälp in the app, which was previously only possible via phone. Another new feature is that the semi-finals will end on SVT Play, where the selection for the final qualifier will be broadcast.
Anders Wistbacka (Melodifestivalen 2026 Project Manager) says:
We always want to innovate Melodifestivalen and find new ways to engage viewers. Radiohjälpen is important to us and this year we are therefore testing the introduction of Radiohjälpen voting in the app as well. It will be introduced gradually during each competition and the ambition is that as many people as possible will have the chance and want to try the new function during the season.
Anders Wistacka (Melodifestivalen Project Manager) adds:
Ever since SVT Play came into the picture, the channel has been part of the broadcast, including exclusive winner interviews. This year we are taking it a step further and inviting viewers to Play to select the artists who will go to the final qualifier there. By informing in time, we hope to give everyone who watches the opportunity to prepare and choose whether they want to follow the broadcast on SVT1 or all the way on SVT Play. The new arrangement means that the program on SVT Play will be ten minutes longer, which means more Mello for the audience.
SVT’s press release reads:
New for this year is that a selection of viewers will be able to Radiohjälp vote directly in the Melodifestivalen app, something that was previously only possible via phone. The new feature will be launched in stages. In each competition, a randomly selected proportion of users will have access to Radiohjälp voting via the app. The ambition is that as many as possible will be able to test the feature during the competition. To be able to Radiohjälp vote in the app, you must be 16 years old.
It is still possible to vote in favor of Radiohjälpen by phone and this year only Radiohjälpen’s number is used for telephone voting. A Radiohjälpen vote costs 10 kronor, regardless of whether it is cast in the app or by phone. If you vote in the app, the entire amount, 10 kronor, goes to Radiohjälpen. If you vote by phone, 9.13 kronor goes directly to Radiohjälpen’s work (0.87 kronor goes to administrative fees). Just as before, viewers can also heart-vote in the Melodifestivalen app free of charge.
The proceeds go to Radiohjalpen’s campaign Children of the World. Read more at radiohjalpen.se
SVT’s press relase continues to read:
This year, SVT Play will have a bigger role in Melodifestivalen. Previously, viewers have been able to see winner interviews on SVT Play, but this year the selections for the final qualifiers in the first four rounds will be shown there. During the rounds, two contestants go directly to the final, and a final qualifier will be chosen. Previously, this has been shown at the end of the SVT1 broadcast, but this year the final qualifier will be chosen on SVT Play, after 9:30 p.m. That part will therefore not be broadcast on SVT1, but only on SVT Play, during the first four rounds.
This means that the program on SVT Play will be extended by ten minutes and will be broadcast between 20:00 and 21:40. The SVT1 broadcast will be between 20:00 and 21:30, and then viewers can continue on SVT Play to see which entry will advance to the final qualifiers.
The final round (round five) will be broadcast in its entirety on SVT1 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
SVT’s press release concludes:
This year, the results show will also be reintroduced to the television broadcast. In previous years, the viewer groups’ points were presented in the program and a graphical score was reported, but last year the graphical report was removed. Now the element is being reintroduced and all the competing entries’ points will be reported in the broadcast.
Anders Wistabacka (Melodifestivalen Project Manager) sheds more light on the results presentation at Melodifestivalen:
When we made the change last year, many viewers got in touch and said they missed the results show. It’s great that there’s so much engagement, and that’s why it feels right to bring it back this year and report everyone’s scores at the end of the program.
