After four competitions and a semi-final, it is time for the final of the Melodifestivalen 2022. It takes place in Friends arena in Solna north of Stockholm and will have 27,000 spectators in the audience.

- It will be like before the pandemic with packed chairs and a festive audience, it feels completely surreal and you have really missed it, says Anette Brattström, project manager for the Melodifestivalen.

At the same time, she admits that it will feel strange with so many people after such a long time.

The artists also notice a certain difference.

During Friday's genre rehearsal, Cornelia Jakobs, who competes with the contribution Hold me closer, got a shock.

- In my competition there were about 500 people and now on the rope there were several thousands.

But I think it's good because then I have to prepare, when it's sharp there will be even more.

Something special happens in the body when there is a large audience, she says.

Here we go

For those who have followed all the competitions this year, it may have felt like something was missing.

The traditional Melodifestivalen phrase "Now we drive" has not been uttered at any time in the program's start minutes.

Now it will change.

The finale is opened by presenters Oscar Zia and Farah Abadi with just those words.

Anette Brattström believes that the phrase has not been something the production wanted to waste.

- It's such a fun thing that we felt we wanted to save for the end, she says.

Voting money for war victims in Ukraine

In the final, the international jury, consisting of eight countries, represents one half of the voting and the viewers the other.

As a viewer, there are usually two telephone numbers to choose from.

One of them costs SEK 9.90 per call and supports Radiohjälpen, the sum goes in the final in full to war victims in Ukraine because all operators forgive the service fees.

The concept was introduced in the semifinals but thus continues into the finals.

There is also an alternative number, which does not donate to the fundraiser, which costs SEK 3.60 per call.

Both numbers can be called five times per contribution.

In the clip below, you can hear this week's snack talk.

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Klara Hammarström is allowed to sit and the arena is full - Here is the week for snacks.

Photo: Annika Berglund / SVT