PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 5 2026 starring Sanna Nielsen, Bladë & AleXa

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.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 4 2026 starring Meira Omar & Smash Into Pieces

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.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 3 2026 starring Saga Ludvigsson, Medina & Patrik Jean

By Aline Mahrud

WHERE? Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad WHEN? Saturday 14 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

Saga Ludvigsson made last year’s final on her debut finishing 12th with Hate You So Much.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 2 2026 starring Robin Bengtsson, Arwin, Brandsta City Släckers, Felicia & Laila Adèle

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.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this show’s 6 acts
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Heat 1 2026 starring A-Teens, Greczula & Jacqline

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.

  • Read on for reasons including more detail about this opening show’s 6 acts
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PREDICTIONS/PREVIEW: Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Final starring Erika Vikman, KAJ, Claude, Remember Monday & Melody

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?

  • Read on for reasons including how we predict the finalists will perform on 17 May
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GIG REVIEW: Olly Alexander at the London Palladium

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.

  • Read on for reasons including how Alexander has been rejuvenated by this tour and meeting his audience again
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2025 starring Kylie Minogue

  1. Kylie brings Tension tour to The 02

Ms Minogue’s Tension show arrives in London for 4 gigs at The 02 this and next month as part of a world tour which runs through 26 August 2025. Tickets We 1st saw her live on the Enjoy Yourself tour at London’s now-no-more London Arena in 1990 and have seen her since at the old Wembley Arena, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, new Wembley Arena and many times at The 02 – but not since 2014. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Eurovision Song Contest predictions, Scissor Sisters reunite and Imelda Staunton
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest finalists 2025 starring Melody, Remember Monday & Louane

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 17 May 2025

WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT

Former child star Melody (above and below) threw everything including the kitchen sink at her victorious Benidorm Fest, Spain’s national selection, performance and below we predict how it and the other pre-qualified finalists will fare in the Eurovision Song Contest final.

  • Read on for reasons including how we predict the directly qualified countries will do in 2025’s Eurovision Song Contest final
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