WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026 8pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
WHERE?: Saab Arena, Linköping
Melodifestivalen 2026 kicks off in fine style in its 66th year with the promising reunion of A-Teens who had UK hits with Upside Down and Halfway Around The World as well as 2 ABBA covers a quarter of a century ago.
Erivo won our 2024 Best TV/Film Actress monsta for Wicked and recently starred in its sequel which was our 2025 Best Film. Here she is the sole focus of attention in a 1-woman Dracula directed by Kip Williams (The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Theatre Royal Haymarket) which runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 4 February through 30 May 2026. Tickets The 1st 3 preview performances have now been cancelled.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Gärdehov, Sundsvall WHEN? Saturday 28 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
Nielsen is the 2nd former Melodifestivalen winner competing in its 66th year and finished 3rd in Copenhagen in 2014 singing the gorgeous Undo.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Malmö Arena, Malmö WHEN? Saturday 21 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
Omar made it out of last year’s Andra Chansen to finish 10th with Hush Hush, an attempt to bring the Bollywood to Melodifestivalen.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
There are 2 returning winners to the 66th Melodifestivalen this year and the 1st is Robin Bengtsson who won MF in 2017 finishing 5th in Kyiv, Ukraine with I Can’t Go On.
Estonia’s all-female rock band Vanilla Ninja next year attempt to return to the Eurovision Song Contest for the 1st time in 21 years with this anthemic delight.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Saab Arena, Linköping WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
A-Teens had UK hits with Upside Down and Halfway Around The World as well as 2 ABBA covers a quarter of a century ago and mark their reformation in Melodifestivalen’s 66th year.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 8pm (UK time) 17 May 2025
WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 in the UK SVT Also eurovision.tv
2025 appears very much to be the year of Finland but will it be the country’s Erika Vikman (pictured) who triumphs or the Finns singing a sauna song for favourites Sweden?
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Last date of tour Monday 7 April 2025
Setlist: Polari; I Know; Make Me A Man; If You’re Over Me; Whisper In The Waves; Cupid’s Bow; Archangel; King; Dizzy; Starstruck; Worship/Breathe; Desire; All For You; It’s A Sin; Eyes Shut; When We Kiss; Sweet Talker; Heal You; Shine
The voice of Sir Ian McKellen (Player Kings, Noel Coward Theatre) opens the show explaining Polari, the title of Alexander’s debut album, and the actor’s here tonight waving at the delighted crowd from the box above us.
