Oscar Zia returns to Melodifestivalen after previously hosting the competition in 2021 and 2022, and after competing twice. In 2016, he finished second in the final with "Human".
Now he is looking forward to leading the competition again:
It is Sweden's biggest TV show by far. I like to sing, dance, host and joke around - you get to do that on this stage and it's wonderful. It's a show that, no matter how old I get, I will continue to watch and get involved in, he says.
Actor Björn Kjellman has long been associated with Melodifestivalen, as a devoted schlager fan. In 2006, Kjellman also competed in Melodifestivalen himself with the ballad "Älskar du livet", which came ninth in the final.
Focus on the artists
Having competed in Melodifestivalen himself is an advantage for a presenter, Kjellman believes:
We understand what the artists are going through, and then you can hold a warm hand around them and not think so much about yourself. As a host, we can focus completely on the artists - which is what it's really about, he says.
Kjellman was for many years an assistant and expert on Sveriges Radio's broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, Sveriges Radio stopped his participation when he began making commercials such as Ica-Stig in 2021, an assignment he left earlier this year.
But now he can come back to Melodifestivalen.
It feels fun, exciting and challenging! But at the same time it's very nice to have worked for so long, then you know that it usually works out, that it never gets worse than embarrassing, he says.
“Ultimate guides”
Planning for Melodifestivalen 2027 is in full swing. SVT is currently collecting entries from the public. Songwriters must submit their songs by September 11th before the selection jury selects the 30 entries.
Project manager Anders Wistbacka sees Zia and Kjellman as “the ultimate guides” for the competition.
"We have managed to attract two multi-faceted entertainers who have themselves successfully competed in Melodifestivalen," he notes.
The cities hosting next year's competition will be revealed later. Melodifestivalen begins on Saturday, February 6, on SVT.
2026: Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold.
2025: Edvin Törnblom and Kristina “Keyyo” Petrushina.
2024: Carina Berg.
2023: Farah Abadi and Jesper Rönndahl.
2022: Oscar Zia.
2021: Christer Björkman was joined by new presenters in each program: Lena Philipsson, Oscar Zia and Anis Don Demina, Jason Diakité, Per Andersson and Pernilla Wahlgren, as well as Måns Zelmerlöw and Shima Niavarani.
2020: Lina Hedlund, Linnea Henriksson and David Sundin.
