The new restrictions, which will be introduced on 19 January, mean an audience ceiling of a maximum of 500 people and a distance of one meter between the companies.

On Friday, the news came that Melodifestivalen is canceling its planned tour of Sweden.

The four competitions and the two finals will instead take place in Stockholm and for a limited audience.

- We will do everything we can to make it a really fun and exciting program for everyone in Sweden, says SVT's CEO Hanna Stjärne.

"Not been responsible"

From the beginning, the plan was for the Melodifestivalen to visit Malmö, Gothenburg, Linköping, Lidköping, Örnsköldsvik and Stockholm.

The ambition is to hold the competition in the same cities next year.

- In theory, it would have been possible to carry out competitions around the country with restrictions, but it would not have been so responsible, I think this is the best solution, says Hanna Stjärne.