In the fifth and final semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2026 in Sundsvall, Lilla Al-Fadji and Sanna Nielsen advanced directly to the final. From the final qualification, Meira Omar with "Dooset daram" and Robin Bengtsson with "Honey honey" progressed. The final will be held on March 7 in Stockholm.
Melodifestivalen's fifth semi-final took place in Sundsvall on February 28, 2026, combined with the final qualification round, where four finalists were selected. Lilla Al-Fadji, a humor character played by Felipe Andres Leiva Wenger (known as Fille from Ison & Fille), surprised with the entry "Delulu", which he co-wrote with Edward af Sillén and Daniel Réhn. "In the song I sing 'We take ’Delulu’ to Eurovision' so I already know what's happening, but I have a short memory because I'm a short man", Lilla Al-Fadji told TT after being named the first finalist.
Sanna Nielsen, returning after twelve years, secured the second direct final spot with "Waste your love". This is her eighth participation in Melodifestivalen, 25 years after her debut at age 16. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, which inspired her comeback. "The feelings are everywhere", she commented to TT after the long wait in the greenroom.
In the final qualification, consisting of entries that placed third in previous semi-finals, five artists competed for two spots. Meira Omar, known from Netflix "Love is blind" 2024, advanced with "Dooset daram" from the Malmö semi-final – just like last year with "Hush hush". "It feels really, really fun. I'm so glad to do this again", she told TT, despite the nervousness in the greenroom.
Robin Bengtsson waited nearly 20 minutes for confirmation on "Honey honey" from Göteborg. This marks his fifth final appearance; he won in 2017 with "I can’t go on", finishing fifth in the Eurovision Song Contest. "I said it, I haven't been this nervous in the greenroom in Mello. Possibly 2017 the last ten seconds before I won", he told TT.
Eliminated from the semi-final were Vilhelm Buchaus with "Heart’s don’t lie", Juliett with "Långt från alla andra", and Blade with "Who you are". Alexa with "Tongue tied" advanced to final qualification but was eliminated, along with Eva Jumatate "Selfish" and Jacqline "Woman". Hosts Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold led the broadcast, which included a tribute to Caroline af Ugglas' "Snälla, snälla" in the Hall of Fame.
The other finalists are Greczula "Half of me", A-Teens "Iconic", Felicia "My system", Brandsta City Släckers "Rakt in i elden", Medina "Viva l’amor", Saga Ludvigsson "Ain’t today", Smash Into Pieces "Hollow", and Cimberly "Eternity". The final will be decided in Strawberry Arena in Stockholm.
