Melodifestivalen’s competition format 2025 – this is how it works!


27 January 2025 at 5:00 PM

By Raul Jac



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In brief 
In each round, six entries compete, meaning a total of 30 artists during the season. In each round, two entries go directly to the final. The entry that comes in third place remains in the competition and three entries leave in each round. This means that ten entries from the rounds directly qualify for the final.   
 
The final still has twelve competing entries. The last two finalists are selected in a final qualifying round that is broadcast live immediately following round 5. Viewers then have the opportunity to vote again, via the app and telephone, for their favorites among the remaining entries that came in third place in the rounds.  

All competing artists are in place and viewers get to see a quick replay of their previous performances. The result is then based on a total of the number of votes in the semi-finals and the number of votes in the final qualification in the fifth semi-final. 
 
The final looks like the previous one with twelve competing entries where the viewers account for half of the votes via app and phone and half of the votes are given by an international jury.

Facts about the competition formats – how the voting works 
There are three competition formats in Melodifestivalen 2025:  

  1. One for the semi-finals   
  2. One for the final qualification in round 5 
  3. One for the final  

The semi-finals and finals in program 5 are decided by viewer votes. The final is decided by viewer votes, via app or phone, and votes from an international jury.  

Votes via the app are divided into seven viewer groups: 3–9 years, 10–15 years, 16–29 years, 30–44 years, 45–59 years, 60–74 years, 75+.  

Votes via telephone constitute an eighth viewing group.  

Competition format Semi-competitions 1–5  
In each semi-competition, six entries compete and voting takes place in two rounds.   
In each voting round, it is possible to vote up to five times per entry in the app and per phone number. Only viewers vote in the semi-competitions.   

Voting Round 1: After the first round of voting has closed, a finalist will be chosen – the entry that has received the most points from the eight viewer groups. If two entries have the same points, the number of votes will decide. 

Voting Round 2: After the first finalist has been selected, the second voting round opens.   
At the end of the semi-final, the second finalist and one entry that remains in the competition (third in the semi-final) are selected. The result is based on the total number of votes in round 1 and round 2. 

Competition format final qualification 
Once both finalists in competition 5 have been selected, the five entries that placed third in the five competitions return to compete for the two remaining final spots. This takes place in a final qualification that is broadcast as an extension of competition 5.  

The final qualifying round is divided into two rounds. One qualifying entry will advance directly to the final, based on the total points they bring into the qualifying round from their own round. This will be presented first. Then, quick replays of the four remaining qualifying entries will be shown and viewers can then go in and vote, up to five times per entry in the app and per phone number, for their favorite.  

How it works 
Final qualifying round 1
:  
Each entry receives an initial point total based on how many votes they received in their round – in relation to how many people voted in it.  

Example: An entry that has received 1,000,000 votes in a competition where 500,000 people voted is given a value of 2. If another entry has also received 1,000,000 votes but only 400,000 people voted in that competition, that entry is given a value of 2.5 and thus receives a higher starting score in the final qualifier compared to the first entry.  

This initial score is reported first and the entry with the highest score goes directly to the final.  

Final qualifying round 2
The qualifying voting will then start and it will be possible to vote for the remaining four entries via app and phone. Once the voting has ended, an additional 1000 points will be distributed based on the number of votes per entry.  

The points are awarded in exactly the same way as in the final. The entry with the fewest points before the vote will have its new points reported first. When all points have been reported, the entry with the highest final points will advance to the final. Entries that have engaged more in relation to the number of voters will therefore receive more points. 

In the event of the same final score for two or more entries, the highest number of votes during the voting that took place during the broadcast will determine the winner. 

All third-place entries that have advanced from previous rounds will return to the competition and will be in the arena in Jönköping on Saturday evening. They will also participate in the press conference after the broadcast.  

Competition format final  
Twelve entries compete in the final and all entries can be voted on in two voting rounds. In each voting round, you can vote up to five times per entry in the app and per phone number. Viewers distribute the score booklet (464 points) and an international jury distributes the other half of the score (464 points).  

Round 1: The first round of voting ends before the jury groups’ votes are announced. Eight jury groups cast their votes as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 points are announced graphically and 8, 10, 12 are announced by the spokesperson. In total, the jury groups award 8 x 58 points = 464 points.  

Round 2: After the jury groups’ votes have been reported, viewers have the opportunity to react to the outcome and then voting round two begins. When the second voting round has ended, the number of votes per viewer group is converted into points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 and summed for all eight groups. In total, viewers award 8 x 58 points = 464 points.  

Viewers’ scores determine the competition and are reported in a combined total at the end of the program. This is to create the greatest possible excitement for viewers and artists.   

If two entries have received the same final score, the highest number of points from the viewer groups will decide. If two entries have received the same final score and also the same number of points from the viewer groups, the entry that has received the most votes in total from the viewer groups will win.  

Voting in the Melodifestivalen app  
In the Melodifestivalen app you can vote for free during all broadcasts. In one voting round you can vote five times per entry.  

Viewers’ votes via the Melodifestivalen app are divided into seven age groups, each with a color. Telephone votes count as an eighth group.  

Distribution of viewer groups: green: 3–9 years, turquoise: 10–15 years, blue: 16–29 years, purple: 30–44 years, pink: 45–59 years, red: 60–74 years, orange: 75+. Those who vote by phone belong to the eighth viewer group. This viewer group has no color.  

In all competitions, you can only vote in the app if you are located in Sweden.  

Voting by telephone  
Each competition entry has two different telephone numbers that can be used to vote. The telephone number for voting and at the same time supporting Radiohjälpen costs SEK 9.90 per call, of which SEK 9.20 goes to aid projects all over the world. The alternative number costs SEK 3.60 per call. Any traffic charges will apply.  
  
In one voting round, you can call Radiohjälpen’s number five times per entry and the alternative number five times per entry. It is not possible to vote from abroad.  
 
Telephone votes for sub-competitions 1-5 and the final:   
099-908 XX (XX = entry’s starting number). SEK 9.90 per vote, of which SEK 9.20 goes to Radiohjälpen.   
099-208 XX (XX = entry’s starting number). SEK 3.60 per vote.  

Telephone votes for the final qualifier, in the extension of round 5:   
099-908 11 – 099-908 15. SEK 9.90 per vote, of which SEK 9.20 goes to Radiohjälpen.   
099-208 11 – 099-208 15. SEK 3.60 per vote.  

The telephone number for the entries in the final qualifying round will therefore be: 

099-908 11, 099-208 11 

099-908 12, 099-208 12 

099-908 13, 099-208 13 

099-908 14, 099-208 14 

099-908 15, 099-208 15 


Category: 🇨🇭 Basel 2025


Raul Jac

Head of Social Media & Founder of Euro Alfa