Sweden: Melfest 2021 dates confirmed; All shows to take place without audience
SVT, has announced the dates on which the next edition of Melodifestivalen will unfold, clearing out that all six shows will have no audience.
With or without covid-19 one thing is sure: Melfest 2021 will hit our screens next year adjusting itself to the extroadinary circumstances that the coranavirus pandemic has brought along.
A total of 28 acts will compete over six shows that are scheduled to take place in Stockholm, taking a break off the traditional Melodifestivalen Tour format, where the six shows took place in several Swedish cities and towns. This edition will see only one venue, which hasn’t been determined yet, and with out the presence of audience due to the covid-19 restrictions.
The six shows will run from March 6 to March 13, 2020. Melfest project manager , Anne Helenius, elaborates on the next Meldodifestivalen conditions:
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
It is 20 years since the modern Melodifestivalen started and we will celebrate this next year. If there is a time we need something to gather around, agree on 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 a great show. The Melodifestivalen is and will continue to be our common tradition and a great party for the whole of Sweden!
Melodifestivalen live shows will kick of on March 6 while the grand final is set for March 13, 2020. Check out the Melfest 2021 will unfold as below:
- 06/02/2021- Semifinal 1
- 13/02/2021- Semifinal 2
- 20/02/2021- Semifinal 3
- 27/02/2021- Semifinal 4
- 06/03/2021- Second Chance (Andra Chansen)
- 13/03/2021- Grand Final
The Eurovision story so far
Sweden has partaken in the Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976).
The Scandinavian country is one of the most successful nations in the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of 6 victories, just one win behind Ireland. The country has the most top five results of the 21st century, with thirteen. In total, Sweden has achieved 24 top five results in the contest. After finishing second with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson in 1966, Sweden went on to achieve its six victories with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson(1999), Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).
This year The Mamas won the Melodifestivalen 2020 with their entry “Move” and together the right to represent the Scandinavian country at Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam. Unfortunately for them the contest was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic depirving them the chance to perform in The Netherlands.
