Melodifestivalen 2026 Final Qualifier: How It Works

THE PANEL INFORMS. As is known, SVT will once again decide the Final Qualifier in the Melodifestivalen directly after the fifth part of the competition is decided on Saturday. But how is the moment going this year? That’s what we thought we’d tell you about now.

The layout

During each of the five sub-competitions, the viewers vote for two entries that go directly to the final and one more entry that they want to give another chance to reach the final. The five entries that are, so to speak, total threes must settle for the two final places that remain when the sub-competitions have been decided. Like last year, this takes place in two rounds, the first of which is determined by how it has been voted in the sub-competitions, while in the second the viewers get the chance to vote again to answer how it was voted before.

Round 1

In the first round, we get to see the five who progressed to the qualifiers in pictures and then points will be awarded to the contributions. The points are based on a mathematical calculation where SVT weights how many votes a contribution received in its sub-competition with how many units voted in that sub-competition. Based on the values ​​that arise, a percentage distribution takes place, which together form the sum of one thousand. The entry that receives the highest sum wins the round and is ready for the final.

During the sub-competitions, SVT has, as is well known, already revealed how many total votes were cast on the entries that competed for the final qualifying places in each broadcast. Therefore, we already know what values ​​these contributions have – but not what value the third in Saturday’s sub-competition will get (yet). However, this is not the whole truth as SVT will count out the votes the contributions received from people who called in their votes and those who voted by heart via Radiohjälpen in the app. Therefore, the numbers may be adjusted a little before Saturday.

Round 2

In the second round, viewers get to vote again on the four entries that remain in the competition during a shorter instant replay. Here it will be possible to vote both via the heart vote in the app and to call in your votes (and donate part of the sum to Radiohjälpen’s collection Children of the World). Then the same procedure as in the first round is done, i.e. each contribution’s new votes are weighted against how many voted in the second round and new average values ​​are obtained. These values ​​are used to award an additional total of 800 points which are added to the points the entries received in the first round. The entry with the highest total score when the entries have received their new points and these have been added wins the round and becomes the twelfth and last finalist for the finals in the Strawberry Arena.

Final qualifiers from sub-competition 1–4

Note that the last qualifying spot goes to one of the 6 entries competing in this week’s sub-competition. Who it will be will be decided around 21.25 on Saturday (February 28).

All photos below belong to the ESC Panel.