Melodifestivalen (1959)
Sweden's beloved annual music competition, crowning the country's Eurovision Song Contest representative since 1959.
Melodifestivalen - Series Information
- Original Title: Melodifestivalen
- First Air Year: 1959
- Last Air Year: 2026
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Reality, Family
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 90 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 65
- Number of Episodes: 191
- Status: Returning Series
- Original Language: Swedish
- Spoken Languages: Swedish
- Networks: SVT1
- Alternative Titles: Mello (SE), Melfest (UK), Melfest (US)
- Production Companies: SVT
- Production Countries: Sweden
Melodifestivalen - Plot
Melodifestivalen (direct translation: The Melody Festival) is an annual music competition organised by Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT). The competition is a six part tour (5 heats + the final) with stops in cities across Sweden to determine the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. Melodifestivalen is also known informally as "Mello", or internationally as "Melfest".
Melodifestivalen - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Gina Dirawi
- Sarah Dawn Finer
- David Lindgren
- Charlotte Perrelli
- Danny Saucedo
- Sanna Nielsen
- Andreas Lundstedt
- Lena Philipsson
- Lina Hedlund
- Björn Gustafsson
Writers
- Edward af Sillén
- Daniel Réhn
- Pål Ströbaek
- Christer Svensson
- Anna Vnuk
Executive Producers
- Christer Björkman
- Anders Wistbacka
- Christel Tholse Willers
- Ebba Adielsson
Melodifestivalen - FAQs
What is Melodifestivalen and how does it work?
Melodifestivalen is Sweden's annual national music competition organised by public broadcaster SVT. It consists of five regional heats and a grand final, held in cities across Sweden. The winner earns the right to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest.
How many times has Sweden won Eurovision through Melodifestivalen?
Sweden is one of Eurovision's most successful countries, having won the contest seven times. Artists selected through Melodifestivalen have claimed victory in 1974 (ABBA), 1984, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2012, and 2015, making Sweden a dominant force in the competition's history.
When did Melodifestivalen first air?
Melodifestivalen first aired in 1959, making it one of the longest-running music competition programmes in television history. Organised by Swedish public broadcaster SVT, it has been selecting Sweden's Eurovision entry for over six decades and continues to air annually.
Who are some of the most famous Melodifestivalen participants?
Melodifestivalen has featured numerous celebrated performers over the years, including Charlotte Perrelli, Sanna Nielsen, Danny Saucedo, Lena Philipsson, Andreas Lundstedt, and Eric Saade. ABBA famously launched their international career after winning the contest in 1974 with 'Waterloo'.
How many seasons and episodes does Melodifestivalen have?
Melodifestivalen has 65 seasons and 191 episodes in total. Since the early 2000s, each season typically consists of six episodes — five qualifying heats held in different Swedish cities followed by a grand final broadcast live on SVT1.
What network airs Melodifestivalen in Sweden?
Melodifestivalen airs on SVT1, the flagship channel of Sveriges Television, Sweden's public service broadcaster. The competition is one of SVT's most-watched annual events, consistently drawing millions of viewers across Sweden and a significant international audience online.
Is Melodifestivalen still ongoing or has it ended?
Melodifestivalen is a returning series and is still actively in production. It continues to air annually on SVT1, with the most recent seasons running through 2026. As Sweden's primary Eurovision selection show, it remains one of the country's most beloved and enduring television events.
What are some shows similar to Melodifestivalen?
Viewers who enjoy Melodifestivalen may also like other competition-format programmes such as The Challenge, America's Next Top Model, Who Wants to Be a Superhero?, and Adam zkt. Eva. These shows share a similar competitive, live-event format with audience participation and elimination rounds.
More About Melodifestivalen
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