SVT Revamps Melodifestivalen Rules – Here’s What Changes for 2026
It’s not just ABBA’s holograms getting a makeover – Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s glitzy national selection for Eurovision, is shaking up the rulebook for 2026. According to a press release from SVT’s Melodifestivalen team, the changes include a refined jury system, a powerhouse selection panel, and a bid to make the process more transparent without losing that irresistible schlager sparkle.
From mixed bag to music pros only
Gone are the days when the jury was a motley crew of music industry types, newsroom staffers, and a few lucky members of the public. For 2026, SVT confirms the jury will consist solely of people with a clear “musical profile” – read: bona fide pros who can tell a key change from a key ring.
Meet the new gatekeepers
Four industry heavyweights will decide which 30 songs make the cut:
- Karin Gunnarsson – Contest Producer
- Viktor Berglund – Contest Producer & Voting Lead
- Lotta Furebäck – Producer
- Daniel Edvardsson – Producer
Project leader Anders Wistbacka says the revamp aims to make the process “less vulnerable and more transparent” while getting “closer to the audience” – presumably without literally knocking on their doors with a clipboard.
When to enter – and how
Artists can submit entries between 18 August 2025 at 09:00 and 12 September 2025 at 11:59 via Melodifestivalen’s online system. So if you’ve got Sweden’s next pop anthem in your back pocket, it’s time to dust it off and give it a key change or three.
Source: Göteborgs Posten
