Melodifestivalen 2023 was the 63rd edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen, which was organised by (SVT) and took place over a six-week period between 4 February and 11 March 2023. The winner of the competition was Loreen with the song "Tattoo", who went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 for . All shows were hosted by Farah Abadi and Jesper Rönndahl.
Format
After the cancellation of the traditional tour around six cities of the country (namely Malmö, Gothenburg, Linköping, Lidköping, Örnsköldsvik and Stockholm) for the previous edition due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, SVT subsequently announced that the six cities would host the tour in 2023 instead, with new dates. As usual, a total of 28 entries took part in the competition, 12 of which progressed to the final. Farah Abadi and Jesper Rönndahl were revealed as the presenters of Melodifestivalen 2023 on 24 September 2022.
Proceeds from the voting were, like in the last three shows of the previous edition, donated to aid relief efforts during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Starting from the second heat, proceeds were also donated to aid relief efforts in the aftermath of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.
+ Competition schedule Show Date City Venue Heat 1 4 February 2023 Gothenburg Scandinavium Heat 2 11 February 2023 Linköping Saab Arena Heat 3 18 February 2023 Lidköping Sparbanken Lidköping Arena Heat 4 25 February 2023 Malmö Malmö Arena Semi-final 4 March 2023 Örnsköldsvik Hägglunds Arena Final 11 March 2023 Stockholm Friends Arena
Semi-final format changes
Changes to the format of the semi-final show were announced on 23 November 2022. As opposed to the third- and fourth-placed songs from each of the previous four heats (eight songs in total) being allotted into two separate semi-finals in the previous edition, all of those songs now compete against each other in a single semi-final, with the top four songs advancing to the final, similar to the preceding heats. Viewers are presented with the preliminary top four songs (in a random order) midway through the voting window, and are then provided with new votes in order to continue influencing the result. After the window is closed, the full breakdown of the results, including points given out by each age group, is shown on screen.
Competing entries On 26 August 2022, SVT opened a public submission window (with the deadline on 16 September 2022) to select one half of the contestants, the other half being made up of artists specially invited by the broadcaster. Upon closing the submission period, SVT announced that over 2,800 applications had been received, to be reviewed by a professional jury chaired by producer Karin Gunnarsson.
The first half of contestants were officially announced by SVT on 29 November 2022, while the second half was revealed on the following 30 November. Several participants had previously competed at Melodifestivalen: Axel Schylström (2017), Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos (2021), Jon Henrik Fjällgren (2015, 2017, and 2019), Loreen (2011, 2017, and winner in 2012), Loulou Lamotte (2021, and winner in 2020, both as part of The Mamas), Mariette (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020), duo Nordman (2005 and 2008), band Panetoz (2014 and 2016), Paul Rey (2020 and 2021), Theoz (2022), Tone Sekelius (2022), Victor Crone (2015 and 2020) and Wiktoria (2016, 2017, and 2019).
Artist Song Songwriter(s) Axel Schylström "Gorgeous" Axel Schylström, , Jonas Thander, Malin Halvardsson Casanovas "" , Mikael Karlsson Eden "Comfortable" Benjamin Rosenbohm, Eden Alm, Emil Adler Lei, Julie Aagaard "" Johan Werner, Kristian Wejshag, Mattias Elovsson, Oscar Kilenius, Tim Larsson "" Emil Henrohn, , Ji Nilsson, Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos "" Emil Vaker, Henric Pierroff, Ida-Lova "" Andreas "Giri" Lindbergh, Ida-Lova Lind, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North Adam Woods "Where You Are (Sávežan)" Calle Hellberg, Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Joy Deb, Oliver Belvelin, Oscar Christiansson, Richard Lästh, Tobias Lundgren, William Segerdahl Kiana "Where Did You Go" Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb Laurell "Sober" Anderz Wrethov, , Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard Loreen "Tattoo" Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Lorine Talhaoui, Moa Carlebecker, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son Loulou Lamotte "" Jonas Thander, Loulou Lamotte Marcus & Martinus "Air" Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Marcus Gunnarsen, Martinus Gunnarsen Maria Sur "Never Give Up" Anderz Wrethov, Laurell Barker Mariette "One Day" Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son, Mariette Hansson Melanie Wehbe "For the Show" David Lindgren Zacharias, Herman Gardarfve, Melanie Wehbe Nordman "" Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son Panetoz "On My Way" Anders Wigelius, Daniel Nzinga, Jimmy Jansson, Nebeyu Baheru, Njol Badjie, Pa Modou Badjie, Robert Norberg Paul Rey "Royals" , Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Liam Cacatian Thomassen, Paul Rey "Haunted" Albin Johnsén, Mattias Andréasson, Pontus Söderman, Tilde "Ronia" Wrigsell "" Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy Jansson, Myra Granberg Smash Into Pieces "Six Feet Under" Andreas "Giri" Lindbergh, Benjamin Jennebo, Chris Adam, Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Per Bergquist Tennessee Tears "Now I Know" Anderz Wrethov, Jonas Hermansson, Thomas Stengaard, Tilda Feuk Theoz "" Axel Schylström, Jakob Redtzer, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son Tone Sekelius "Rhythm of My Show" Anderz Wrethov, Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Tone Sekelius "" Uje Brandelius Victor Crone "Diamonds" David Lindgren Zacharias, , Victor Crone Wiktoria "" Herman Gardarfve, Melanie Wehbe, Patrik Jean, Wiktoria Johansson
Contest overview Heats Heat 1 The first heat took place on 4 February 2023 in Scandinavium, Gothenburg. 2,912,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 9,852,321 votes were cast, using 525,532 devices.
Artist Song Round 1 Round 2 Result 1 Tone Sekelius "Rhythm of My Show" 1,087,127 2 803,948 94 1 Final 2 Loulou Lamotte "" 754,498 7 363,254 32 5 Out 3 Rejhan "Haunted" 884,660 4 460,003 32 4 Out 4 Elov & Beny "" 821,418 5 467,605 43 3 Semi‑final 5 Victor Crone "Diamonds" 1,012,655 3 625,862 80 2 Semi‑final 6 Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos "" 788,433 6 430,366 31 6 Out 7 Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North Adam Woods "Where You Are (Sávežan)" 1,352,492 1 colspan="3" Final
+ Round 2 detailed televoting results Song Age groups 39 1015 1629 3044 4559 6074 75+ 1 "Rhythm of My Show" 12 12 12 12 12 12 10 12 2 "" 1 1 1 5 8 8 5 3 3 "Haunted" 5 8 10 3 3 1 1 1 4 "" 8 3 3 8 5 5 3 8 5 "Diamonds" 10 10 8 10 10 10 12 10 6 "" 3 5 5 1 1 3 8 5
Heat 2 The second heat took place on 11 February 2023 in Saab Arena, Linköping. 2,830,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 10,108,443 votes were cast, using 527,368 devices.
Artist Song Round 1 Round 2 Result 1 Wiktoria "All My Life (Where Have You Been)" 1,057,852 4 520,646 47 4 Out 2 Eden "Comfortable" 608,948 6 218,298 12 6 Out 3 Uje Brandelius "" 585,684 7 277,599 22 5 Out 4 Panetoz "On My Way" 1,333,786 2 784,687 84 1 Final 5 Tennessee Tears "Now I Know" 1,001,348 5 500,652 69 3 Semi-final 6 Maria Sur "Never Give Up" 1,346,229 1 colspan="3" Final 7 Theoz "" 1,106,875 3 765,979 78 2 Semi-final
+ Round 2 detailed televoting results Song Age groups 39 1015 1629 3044 4559 6074 75+ 1 "All My Life (Where Have You Been)" 8 8 8 5 5 5 5 3 2 "Comfortable" 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 "" 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 5 4 "On My Way" 10 12 12 10 12 10 10 8 5 "Now I Know" 5 5 5 8 10 12 12 12 7 "" 12 10 10 12 8 8 8 10
Heat 3 The third heat took place on 18 February 2023 in Sparbanken Lidköping Arena, Lidköping. 2,598,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 9,522,729 votes were cast, using 512,158 devices.
Artist Song Round 1 Round 2 Result 1 Paul Rey "Royals" 1,151,609 2 693,857 85 1 Final 2 Casanovas "" 647,419 7 290,521 29 6 Out 3 Melanie Wehbe "For the Show" 903,976 4 477,315 57 3 Semi-final 4 Nordman "" 975,890 3 589,916 75 2 Semi-final 5 Laurell "Sober" 750,918 6 391,744 30 5 Out 6 Ida-Lova "" 792,432 5 450,391 36 4 Out 7 Marcus & Martinus "Air" 1,406,471 1 colspan="3" Final
+ Round 2 detailed televoting results Song Age groups 39 1015 1629 3044 4559 6074 75+ 1 "Royals" 12 12 12 12 12 10 12 3 2 "" 1 1 3 1 3 5 5 10 3 "For the Show" 5 10 5 8 8 8 8 5 4 "" 8 3 10 10 10 12 10 12 5 "Sober" 10 8 1 5 1 3 1 1 6 "" 3 5 8 3 5 1 3 8
Heat 4 The fourth heat took place on 25 February 2023 in Malmö Arena, Malmö. 2,814,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 9,932,645 votes were cast, using 542,205 devices. Loreen restarted her performance due to an environmental activist invading the stage.
Artist Song Round 1 Round 2 Result 1 Kiana "Where Did You Go" 1,105,369 3 610,462 69 2 Semi-final 2 Signe & Hjördis "" 744,902 7 328,700 27 5 Out 3 Smash Into Pieces "Six Feet Under" 1,120,307 2 701,606 79 1 Final 4 Mariette "One Day" 835,533 5 482,713 56 3 Semi-final 5 Emil Henrohn "" 760,793 6 382,224 26 6 Out 6 Axel Schylström "Gorgeous" 861,688 4 483,061 55 4 Out 7 Loreen "Tattoo" 1,515,287 1 colspan="3" Final
+ Round 2 detailed televoting results Song Age groups 39 1015 1629 3044 4559 6074 75+ 1 "Where Did You Go" 12 12 10 10 5 5 10 5 2 "" 5 1 1 3 3 3 8 3 3 "Six Feet Under" 10 8 12 12 12 10 3 12 4 "One Day" 1 3 5 5 10 12 12 8 5 "" 8 10 3 1 1 1 1 1 6 "Gorgeous" 3 5 8 8 8 8 5 10
Semi-final The semi-final took place on 4 March 2023 in Hägglunds Arena, Örnsköldsvik. 2,315,000 viewers watched the semi-final live. A total of 12,078,625 votes were cast (which is a record for a Second Chance round), using 541,460 devices.
Artist Song Votes Points Place Result 1 Theoz "" 2,104,689 70 2 Final 2 Mariette "One Day" 1,459,012 63 4 Final 3 Victor Crone "Diamonds" 1,225,614 28 6 Out 4 Tennessee Tears "Now I Know" 1,393,108 55 5 Out 5 Elov & Beny "" 1,083,924 18 8 Out 6 Melanie Wehbe "For the Show" 1,106,724 22 7 Out 7 Nordman "" 1,798,314 75 1 Final 8 Kiana "Where Did You Go" 1,907,240 69 3 Final
+ Detailed televoting results Song Age groups 39 1015 1629 3044 4559 6074 75+ 1 "" 12 10 12 12 6 6 6 6 2 "One Day" 2 6 7 6 10 12 12 8 3 "Diamonds" 6 7 2 2 2 4 4 1 4 "Now I Know" 4 2 6 7 8 10 8 10 5 "" 7 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 6 "For the Show" 1 4 4 1 4 2 2 4 7 "" 8 8 10 10 12 8 7 12 8 "Where Did You Go" 10 12 8 8 7 7 10 7
Final The final took place on 11 March 2023 in Friends Arena, Stockholm, where Loreen won with her song "Tattoo". 3,419,000 viewers watched the final live. A record-breaking total of 23,521,188 votes were cast, using 936,964 devices.
Artist Song Juries Public Total Place 1 Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North Adam Woods "Where You Are (Sávežan)" 23 58 81 4 2 Tone Sekelius "Rhythm of My Show" 15 5 20 12 3 Mariette "One Day" 35 16 51 8 4 Marcus & Martinus "Air" 71 67 138 2 5 Panetoz "On My Way" 22 25 47 10 6 Maria Sur "Never Give Up" 10 37 47 9 7 Smash Into Pieces "Six Feet Under" 53 59 112 3 8 Kiana "Where Did You Go" 37 39 76 6 9 Nordman "" 8 36 44 11 10 Loreen "Tattoo" 92 85 177 1 11 Theoz "" 42 36 78 5 12 Paul Rey "Royals" 56 1 57 7
+ Detailed international jury votes Song Total 1 "Where You Are (Sávežan)" 1 3 1 5 6 4 3 23 2 "Rhythm of My Show" 6 1 3 5 15 3 "One Day" 2 7 7 3 5 2 3 6 35 4 "Air" 7 8 8 10 10 10 10 8 71 5 "On My Way" 5 2 2 4 4 1 4 22 6 "Never Give Up" 2 6 1 1 10 7 "Six Feet Under" 3 6 6 6 7 8 7 10 53 8 "Where Did You Go" 4 10 3 5 8 7 37 9 "" 4 1 1 2 8 10 "Tattoo" 8 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 92 11 "" 12 5 5 7 2 3 6 2 42 12 "Royals" 10 10 4 8 8 7 5 4 56 International jury spokespersons Zlata Mück Marvin Dietmann Jānis Pētersons Birgit Simal Gordon Bonello Dale Roberts Alexandra Wolfslast Eva Mora