WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg

We predicted last weekend’s Heat 1 100 per cent correctly but think Heat 2 covers such a vast array of different musical styles it’s far less easy to call.

• Read on for reasons including Arwin, Laila Adèle, Robin Bengtsson and Brandsta City Släckers

1. Arwin Glitter (Arwin Ismail, Axel Schylström, Dino Medanhodzic, Melanie Wehbe, Robert Skowronski) PREDICTION: Qualifier

A considerable song upgrade for Arwin Saman Ismail Osman, a Swedish actor/singer who competed last year with This Dream Of Mine missing out in the Andra Chanson. Glitter reminds these ears of the jagged guitar pop of Swedish powerhouses Roxette and should be in the mix for qualifying.

2. Laila Adèle Oxygen (Jonas Thander, Laila Adèle, Marcus Winther-John) PREDICTION: 3rd

Adèle’s phenomenal live vocal wasn’t really showcased well when she competed 20 years ago with Don’t Try To Stop Me going out in her heat. Oxygen‘s giving life and recalling for us the majesty of Whitney Houston at her anthemic Bodyguard ballad best. The Swedes normally love a strong vocal but hard to predict how this will go.

3. Robin Bengtsson  Honey, Honey (Gavin Jones, Pär Westerlund, Petter Tarland, Robin Bengtsson) PREDICTION: 4th

Bengtsson has made the final in each of his previous 4 appearances but diminishing returns suggest he may be lucky to do so this year. This is bluesy but a long way from I Can’t Go On which won MF in 2017 finishing 5th in Kyiv, Ukraine.

LISTEN to the 60-second clips at SVT Play

4. FELICIA My System (Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen, Emily Harbakk, Felicia Eriksson, Julie Bergan, Theresa Rex) PREDICTION: Qualifier

Felicia (main picture) is the former Fröken Snusk, who performed in a balaclava and competed with Unga & fria (Young & Free) in 2024, where she just missed out in the Andra Chanson. My System is captivating electronic dance music which might be too potent for MF overall but we think it might just triumph in this field.

5. Klara Almström Där hela världen väntar (Where the whole world is waiting) (Fredrik Sonefors, Jimmy Jansson, Klara Almström) PREDICTION: 6th

Reminds of the strong Beautiful Lie which just missed out last week. MF often finds ethereal anthems which don’t flower in competition but later bloom on radio and we think this might be 1 of those.

6. Brandsta City Släckers Rakt in i elden (Straight into the fire) (Anderz Wrethov, Elin Wrethov, Kristofer Strandberg, Robert Skowronski) PREDICTION: 5th

There’s something down-to-earth and charming about these singing firemen and Rakt in i elden has catchy handclaps and chanting for days which reminds of the schlager genre of Melfest’s glorious past.

• During February this site will predict how each heat will go on the Friday after we’ve heard the songs before the Saturday events. Heat 1 preview Heat 3 preview Heat 4 preview Heat 5 preview Heat 1 predictions Heat 2 predictions Heat 3 predictions Heat 4 predictions Heat 5 predictions Finalen predictions
• In March we’ll forecast how the finalen will go and how each of the 12 qualifiers would do in May in Vienna at Eurovision.
• Picture via Facebook courtesy Melodifestivalen and SVT
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this review? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook