Saga Ludvigsson makes it to the final with the country-pop song "Ain't today." The 20-year-old from Örby in Västergötland promised more energy after Friday's rehearsal and now it is clear that her entry has won over the viewers.
Everyone sings so terribly well, so you get so nervous. But it worked out," she tells TT after the competition.
I feel like I can take it one more step to the final.
Ludvigsson debuted with the entry "Hate you so much" last year, won her semi-final, and finished in twelfth and last place in the final. This year, she describes her entry as a little more cocky, mature and darker.
Most votes
Hip hop duo Medina, featuring veterans Sami Rekik and Ali Jammali, predicted their chances were good with the entry "Viva l'amor" on Valentine's Day. It also went down well with the audience, and the entry received the most votes.
"It was fitting, but I don't know how much it affected the vote," Rekik says, and continues:
"We hope people like the song, even if it's not Valentine's Day."
The duo has previously come in third and second place in Melodifestivalen and have said that it would be like a "fairy tale" if they won the entire competition this year.
Sami Rekik took a timeout as recently as January due to physical and mental exhaustion. It wasn't noticeable. With a massive shower of red hearts, a torchlight parade and dancers with maximum energy, Medina has lived up to expectations.
Youngest
Eva Jumatate came out on top and took third place, advancing to the finals with her entry "Selfish".
The 18-year-old from Kristianstad is the youngest participant in Melodifestivalen 2026 and has previously said that it feels nerve-wracking to debut, but that the fact that she is participating in her hometown of Kristianstad has calmed her nerves.
What do you think about your chances in the qualifiers?
"I'm just going to be who I am and have fun," she says.
"To be a debutant with a ballad and beat the odds to a final qualification, when you're the youngest, that goes without saying."
How are you going to celebrate tonight?
"I'm going to party with my friends. I'll see if I can get some more people in for the afterparty."
Underpants shock
The third round of Melodifestivalen began with an underpants shock.
Host Hampus Nessvold joked that this year's competition has not featured any scandals so far, and then took off his pants. Wearing only his underwear, he tried to persuade his partner Gina Dirawi to invite herself, but she refused.
Directly to the final:
Medina – "Long live love"
Saga Ludvigsson – "Ain't today"
For the final qualifiers:
Eva Jumatate – "Selfish"
Eliminated:
Patrik Jean – "Dusk till dawn"
Emilia Pantic – "Nothing"
Crossed – "King of rock 'n' roll"
