Changes to the format were announced on 22 August 2024. A total of 30 entries will take part in the competition across five heats. Each heat consists of six songs, with the top two songs directly qualifying for the final. Unlike in the previous edition, only the third-placing song will proceed to a final qualification round at the end of the fifth heat, which will now feature five songs instead of ten. The top two songs in the final qualification will then progress to the final, which will comprise 12 songs.[3][4] The winner of the final will be determined by the usual 50/50 combination of votes from the public and an international jury.
For the first time since the multi-show Melodifestivalen format was introduced in 2002, the competing entries will be released on streaming platforms on the day preceding their respective heat. Previously, the entries which had qualified directly to the final could not be released before the conclusion of the last heat, while those qualifying for the repechage (known over the years under different names) and the eliminated entries could be released following the broadcast of the heat they competed in.[4]
A public submission window was open between 23 August and 14 September 2024 to select the competing entries.[3] Upon closing the submission period, SVT announced that 2,794 applications had been received, from which 15 competing entries will be selected by a professional jury chaired by Melodifestivalen producer and artistic director Karin Gunnarsson; the second set of 15 contestants were selected by a dedicated SVT board both from the received submissions and by direct invitation of artists.[6][7] The selected entries were announced on 26 November 2024.[8]
