Sweden Melodifestivalen 2024: Liamoo and Maria Sur to the Final

The second deltävling (heat) of Melodifestivalen 2024 took place tonight. The two winners were Liamoo and Maria Sur, who go straight through to the Final, with Dear Sara and Fröken Snusk qualifying for the "Final qual" in three weeks' time.

The second deltävling was held in Scandinavium Arena in Göteborg. It's the 28th time Melodifestivalen has visited Göteborg, mainly in Scandinavium.

After tonight’s second heat in Göteborg, the show will visit Växjö, Eskilstuna, and Karlstad before heading to Stockholm for the Final on 9 March.

Melodifestivalen 2024

• 3 February: Heat 1, Malmö
• 10 February: Heat 2, Göteborg
• 17 February: Heat 3, Växjö
• 24 February: Heat 4, Eskilstuna
• 2 March: Heat 5 + Final qual, Karlstad
• 9 March: Melodifestivalen Final, Stockholm

All shows are presented by Carina Berg.

The format for Melodifestivalen 2024 is modified a bit compared to previous years:

There are five heats with six entries in each. Two entries from each heat go straight to the Final, two remain in the competition, and two are eliminated.

Right after Heat 5, all the third and fourth place finishers from the five heats will compete in a "Final qual" round.

The heats and "Final qual" are 100% public vote, while the Final will be decided by 50% public vote and 50% jury vote.

Voting system

In all five heats of Melodifestivalen 2024 there are two rounds of voting:

First round of voting:

Viewers can vote for all six participants via app/telephone. The song that receives the most votes (Liamoo) qualifies directly for the Final of Melodifestivalen.

Second round of voting:

Viewers can vote on the remaining five participants via app/telephone. The votes from the first round are added. All the app votes are divided into seven voting groups determined by age, and in addition an eighth voting group consisting of votes from telephone. Each of the voting groups' votes are converted into points (12-10-8-5-3-1) for the remaining five artists.

The artist with most points (Maria Sur) qualifies for the Final, while the artists with the 2nd and 3rd most points qualify for the "Final qual" (previously known as "Second Chance") of Melodifestivalen.

Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest

Since 1958, Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 62 times, and with great success. Together with Ireland, they hold the record of most victories in Eurovision:

• 1974: ABBA – Waterloo
• 1984: Herreys – Diggi-loo Diggy-ley
• 1991: Carola – Fångad Av En Stormvind
• 1999: Charlotte Nilsson – Take Me To Your Heaven
• 2012: Loreen – Euphoria
• 2015: Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes
• 2023: Loreen – Tattoo

They came in last two times (1963 and 1977), and since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004 Sweden has managed to qualify for the Grand Final 18 out of 19 times (only failing to qualify in 2010)!