TV viewers in Sweden — and all across Europe — can now count down the precise number of days until Melodifestivalen 2021. SVT has confirmed that Semi-Final 1 will take place on February 6 and that the grand final, which will gift us their Eurovision 2021 singer and song, will conclude on March 13.
The broadcaster has also, for the first time, confirmed the news that the show will not travel to different cities this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking of the tour cancellation, they said:
“It will be Melodifestivalen as usual for TV viewers next year. But the pandemic has put sticks in the tour wheels, so all six programs will be broadcast from one place in Stockholm.”
Anette Helenius, project manager for Melodifestivalen, explained that the ever-changing restrictions regarding coronavirus and public events means it is impossible to plan a travelling show.
“An intermediate tour requires long planning. At present, it is not allowed to arrange events for a larger audience and no one knows what it will look like after the turn of the year. Therefore, it is not possible for SVT, host cities or tour coordinators to plan for a tour in 2021.”
SVT have also confirmed that Melfest 2021 will be held without a live audience — though naturally enough, there will still be an audience of millions watching from home. Under current Covid restriction, the Swedish government does not allow more than 50 people at such events, though the government is looking at revising this.
“It’s been 20 years since the modern Melodifestivalen started and we will celebrate that even more this year. If there’s ever a time we need something to gather around and think differently about, it is now. Despite the situation, we are happy that we will be able to offer an exciting music competition and great show as usual. Melodifestivalen is and continues to be our common tradition and a party for all of Sweden.”
The Stockholm venue for Melodifestivalen 2021 has not been confirmed. However, two potential locations have previously been rumoured: the Annex hall of Globe Arena and the large television studio at NEP Studios.
Aftonbladet notes that NEP is where the new series of Swedish Idol is being filmed. The show is using a large LED wall called the “Sweden Wall”, that lets viewers be part of the show.
But while there will be millions of Swedes watching the Melodifestivalen shows from home, it is unclear whether there will also be a live audience in the studio.
Who will host Melodifestivalen 2021?
Previously it was reported that 2020 host David Sunden was coming back to host in 2021. However, SVT has confirmed that this won’t be the case.
Anette Helenius hasn’t given any clues as to who will be hosting, but has hinted there may be a variety of different hosts each week. She said, “David will not host the program. But I want viewers to see many different faces and different types of entertainment every week.”
This may be a similar format to Mello 2016 where Gina Dirawi was joined each week by different co-hosts.
Melodifestivalen 2021 dates
- February 6 — Semi-Final 1
- February 13 — Semi-Final 2
- February 20 — Semi-Final 3
- February 27 — Semi-Final 4
- March 6 — Second Chance
- March 13 — Final
As ever, you can watch the show on SVT Play and on SVT 1 from 20:00 CET.
What do you think about the news? Are you surprised? Let us know your thoughts below!
Common discussion at coffe breaks at work to speak about your favourites. Normally around 4 different favourites. The songs are played on radio a lot. There is usually one song you like the most but normally you listen to several. I have some time between the final and esc to start rooting for the winning song wich is not normally my favourite. Most swedes discover the other esc songs in the broadcast, but I have a split focus also following what’s happening in other selection processes. Always snacks or dinner with family sometimes other relatives or friends are invited. Past… Read more »
A final thought: This is more sad for the towns hoping to host. It gives them much needed promotion and boost. For mid-sized and small towns this is probably the biggest event they will have. Now they will loose another income in a time where they need it. 2021 could have been the perfect year to support..
No town was hoping to host, they know it’s impossible. This is how SVT are supporting them, by not having them waste their money.
Well, not accordign to this article: https://www.svt.se/kultur/kommuner-kommer-sakna-melodifestivalen
Off-topic: Damir Kedžo has Covid-19, he has just published it on Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/p/CGALkRhpZuU/?utm_source=ig_embed)
Aw man. Poor guy. Wishing him the best.
Iveta from ESC 2016 just posted a message on her Instagram account explaining that she has been asked to represent Germany at Esc2021 and that she was keen at first but the proposal won’t apparently achieve to something because of the tragics event we all know and her position about all of that. You can read her full explanation, very complete, on her last post.
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I mean…she has about as much of a connection to Germany as Ben Dolic. The exact same connection, actually. Lots of homegrown talent in Germany, obviously, but if they had to shop around, Voice of Germany veterans at least have that kind of exposure there regardless of national origin. (Ball’s in their court to try for Natia Todua again).
In the sense that they found their fame on The Voice of Germany (her in 2012, him in 2018).
Germany? Does she live in Germany or something?
They should try to make it very compact and maybe they can use the other artists along with dancers and backing vocalists as ‘audience’.
They did a similar thing on the masked singer in Australia where staff members where the audience. It could work.
In my family we have lists. We rank each entry and every member gives points.
Snacks and ice-cream. Ben & Jerry’s, nothing cheap:)
I rarely vote but rarely get upset if my favourite dont win. No point in it and it is what people wanted after all. The only years I got upset was 2009 and 2010 because I knew they wouldnt do well and they didnt
Are eveyone in your family big fans?
We are fans yes. Though all are different levels. I am perhaps the more die hard fan..
We do the same for ESC:)
You should see our discussions. it’s serious…
It’s not really a big surprise honestly.
I’m really looking forward to see Melfest in this format. The tour around the country is fun but it’s time Melfest change it’s format and invent a new feeling, covid or not.
Obviously understand the need for no audience, but if they wanted to keep the regional aspect of the show, why not host all the shows in Gothenburg? It seems obvious that ESC will be hosted there following Sweden’s (at this point inevitable) seventh victory.
Sweden victory is not invevitable nor it’s “evitable”.
It’s perfectly possible that we finish the decade without a Swedish victory but given the hype Sweden has, the scope and quality associated with MelFest, SVT’s knack for staging and Sweden’s internationally renowned music industry (which causes juries to tend to be biased in their favour, if a juror is torn between Sweden and Moldova for their second and third place votes, chances are they’ll give 10 to Sweden on the basis of the Swedish music industry’s reputation) it seems very likely that at least one of the nine contests will be won by them. Not to mention that they… Read more »
The juries are biased in favour of Sweden as a rule, in the way that certain other countries can rely on a diaspora and neighbours for the televote, or how Azerbaijan and Belarus nearly always give their 12s to Russia….
I wasn’t condoning the bias but merely pointing out its existence. I wanted Latvia or Norway to win in 2015, not Sweden.
what does that even mean?
Because then Göteborgs stad (Gothenburg country) will have to pay for it as well. SVT headquarters are in Stockholm, hence cheaper to have it here so that there will be no transportations of equipment, no hotelrooms for staff etc.
That’s a good point.
Probably one of the most illogical comments here
I don’t know how to feel if it had to be without an audience. I feel as if I should be sadder, but does a typical melfest performance really showcase the audience after all?
Even if you hate Sweden at ESC you can’t deny that the Swedes are charismatic hosts, so more than any other nation I think they can still create an engaging show.
They showcase the audience. All the time. You mean you missed all shots of the audience? All the applause they do?
Swede plan, guys! Think we’re cooking with gas here. Ready for the Melfest train to start rolling again! Meanwhile, over in Montenegro, one of the people from the broadcaster made a quip about “not letting [them]selves be embarrassed again in 2021,” which would imply they’re hesitant to compete, but the Montenegrin Musicians’ Union is telling them to stop being jerks and give them a platform again. Who knew Montenegro had drama? Thought their whole deal was being, to put it in The Good Place terms, the Jason of the former Yugoslav countries. (Serbia is the Eleanor, Croatia is the Michael,… Read more »
my respect for you has absolutely increased astronomically with that good place reference, I see you are also a person of culture
Lord knows I try to be
Kosovo is Derek obviously
denis stop being negative challenge
Already knew this. With the uncertainty of covid and the crazy rise of cases this week here in Stockholm, SVT better take the safe road. Sad there won’t be a tour but glad they’ll be able to do it anyway.
OT but Swedish idol is sending live every Friday from the same studio this fall. Even though the artists were quarantined in their hotel rooms by themselves, there has already been 6 covid cases on 13 contestants and its only week 2! Imagine that happens with the melfest artists
I watch the show live and decide on my favorite(s) after everyone has performed. Snacks? Regular chips and Diet Coke lol. I vote on the app do maximum app votes on my favs and less on the songs I Just enjoy. I’m not downing anything voting, nobody got time for that on a student budget. I’m never sad if my fav don’t win. I was super disappointed when Robin won back in 2017 tho. I support Sweden no matter what ????
Why do you support Sweden if you dont like a song in ESC? Isnt that kind of stupid?
Because I’m swedish and would like to support my country? The hell is wrong with that`
bad
They’re so basic but so good. Craving some right now actually…
:). I watch all and prepare for the final by having my favourites. Yes i get sad if my fave dont win. I was a big fan of Anna Bergendahl this year and she was close to win. 3rd. In ESC i dont support Sweden if i dont like it. I did not Support Frans or Måns but still they did great.
Why even bother having six weeks then if it’s not a tour! Just have one mega final and that¨s it. The fun with tour is going on it, it’s not being six weeks in a empty studio in Stockhom. where sad depressed artists have to imagine an audience! Who honestly looks forward to that? Hela Sveriges fest, I think not..
I do and i dont agree. We cant just lie down and die for a pandemic. I support the shows and it will be different in every show.
Nobody got time to listen to 28 songs in a day. Melfest is a Swedish tradition where we for 6 weeks listen to and enjoy new music. One finale would ruin it, seeing as it is already ruined with almost no audience and no tour
If do you think that it’s possible to do a normal melodifestivalen during a pandemic without risking peoples lives so you’re wrong, but it’s still unclear if there is going to be a live audience, it’s still possible. No one knows how the world will look in February 2021 but the producers of the show already have to prepare themselves for the worst case scenario (at least let’s hope that in the time when the show takes place there will be an avalaible covid19 rapid test so it will be possible to fill the Stockholm venue with live audience and… Read more »
Government recently announced there can be a 500 person limit to events, despite corona because we need entertainment. Idol and several other shows have an audience so why can’t Mello?
Because melfest attracts an audience from all over Europe and beyond, whereas other shows only attract a limited audience from Sweden. It wouldn’t be safe.
All over Europe? Really? Most, if not all are Swedes travelling to Stockholm. Dont know any European travelling to it. I doubt most general European even knows about it
I work at friends arena and can tell you that there’s at least 1000 non swedes in the 30 000 people audience
Government conditioned the change on the development of the pandemic. Now the numbers are rising in Sweden. Government chose to stick to 50 people based on recommendations of our health authorities.
You can have all that in one big final evening.
With the uncertainty about the covid19, that was obvious that there won’t be tour this year. anyway, let’s hope that the situation will be better in next February that it will be possible to do mello with a full crowd and to invite other contestants to stockholm.
Sounds good. Really looking forward to this!
No one really looks forward to a non-tour audience less MF, let¨s not overdue it now..