Swedish broadcaster SVT confirmed and released the dates and cities for Melodifestivalen 2006, the Swedish national selection for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, Greece. Leksand and Karlskrona welcome semifinals for the first time, Göteborg, Karlstad and Stockholm hosted Melodifestivalen in previous years.
Tour schedule
1st semifinal – Leksand (Ejendahls Arena) – 18 February
2nd semifinal – Karlstad (Löfbergs Lila) – 25 February
3rd semifinal – Karlskrona (Arena Rosenholm) – 4th March
4th semifinal – Göteborg (Scandinavium) – 11th Match
2nd chance round – TBC
Final – Stockholm (Globen) – 18th March
The final of next year's Swedish national Eurovision Song Contest selection will traditionally take place in Stockholm's Globen Arena, where the Eurovision Song Contest took place in 2000. It's the sixth time the venue will host, without doubt, the largest national selection final in Europe.
It's the first Melodifestivalen under supervision of Christel Tholse Willers, the successor of Thomas Hall. Tickets are expected to go on sale in October, we will bring you more news on ticket sales when further details are announced.
Sweden didn't manage to qualify for the final of next year's Eurovision Song Contest, ending up 20th with Las Vegas, performed by Martin Stenmarck.
