Swedish broadcaster SVT announced that the 2002 Melodifestivalen will be held at March 1 2002 in the Globe Arena, the venue of EuroSong 2000 in Stockholm. Barbados and ex member of Secret Garden Åsa Jinder announced that they are interested in participation.

SVT decided to hold four semi finals in four different towns in January and February. Each semi-final will bring eight songs, the best two songs will go through to the big final. A jury will also select two additional songs from the semi-finals to make a total of ten songs in the final.

The performers in Melodifestivalen 2002 will be allowed to sing in the language of their choice. This change came about after songwriters and composers complained to SVT that they didn”t like being forced to sing in Swedish in the national final, because it will be changed in English for the European final.

A former member of Secret Garden, Åsa Jinder, has told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that she is sending in a song, adding that she is looking for a singer to perform it. The runners up of 2001, the group Barbados, have already announced they would like to return this year, though this promise was made before SVT announced the changes to the staging of the contest.