The first round of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2022 will be held with capacity restrictions at Avicii Arena in Stockholm on February 4-5, Live Nation has confirmed.

The annual competition, which determines the country’s contribution to the maize Eurovision Song Contest, toured throughout Sweden before the pandemic but live shows were held without audiences in 2021.

Live events in the country are currently subject to a capacity limit of 500 people (or 500 per section if the organizer divides the room so that people from different sections do not come into contact with each other).

Live Nation, which organizes the Melodifestivalen with All Things Live, says that the shows will be held in front of an audience “in accordance with restrictions and recommendations at a given time”.

“We follow the development closely and since the situation can change quickly, we now choose to focus on the first part of the competition,” says project manager Peter Uksila at Live Nation.

“The first round will be held in front of an audience, but it will be a tailor-made and tailor-made solution”

“The [first round] will be held in front of an audience, but it will be a tailor-made and tailor-made solution with a permitted number of 500 people [per] section ”, says an email from the organizer, which was reported by SVT.

The last stages of the melody festival are planned for Stockholm’s Friends Arena 11-12.

“At the moment, the event remains as planned,” the statement added. “If it changes we will inform about it”

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held at the PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy on May 14 after Maneskin’s triumph in last year’s competition.

It has also been announced that the Eurovision Song Contest has been postponed. Originally, the event would start in February and now the event premieres with a two-hour TV special on March 21.

Produced by Propagate in collaboration with Universal Studio Group’s Universal Television Alternative Studio, the competition will feature “original music performances representing all 50 states, five US territories and the country’s capital”.

“An incredible solo artist, duo or band will represent each venue and perform a new original song, which pays homage to the different styles and genres that exist across America,” says a press release.

The live competition consists of three qualifying rounds, followed by the semifinals and final, which will be broadcast on 9 May.

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