https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition. https://www.thelocal.se/20260426/geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200 geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Felicia, the pop star who will represent Sweden in Eurovision in Vienna in May, is in hot water after saying that she didn't think Israel should be in the competition. https://www.thelocal.se/20260310/swedens-eurovision-entry-in-hot-water-after-israel-comments Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:35:11 +0100 swedens-eurovision-entry-in-hot-water-after-israel-comments A court in Luxembourg on Thursday handed a Swedish white supremacist a two-year jail sentence for plotting several "terrorist" attacks, including against the Eurovision Song Contest. https://www.thelocal.se/20251127/swedish-white-supremacist-jailed-for-plotting-eurovision-terror-attack Thu, 27 Nov 2025 17:23:00 +0100 swedish-white-supremacist-jailed-for-plotting-eurovision-terror-attack Finland-Swedish comedy trio Kaj in the end finished fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest, but not before their sauna-themed song Bara Bada Bastu had become a viral hit all over Europe. Did you know it has an unusual Indian connection? https://www.thelocal.se/20250519/what-does-swedens-bizarre-eurovision-hit-have-in-common-with-india Mon, 19 May 2025 17:01:23 +0200 what-does-swedens-bizarre-eurovision-hit-have-in-common-with-india Austria's JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday, with his operatic song "Wasted Love" triumphing at the world's biggest live music television event. https://www.thelocal.se/20250518/austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Sun, 18 May 2025 09:56:32 +0200 austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Swedish-Finnish humour trio KAJ's 'Bara Bada Bastu' has emerged as an unexpected favourite to win the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. The Local has done a line-by-line translation of the lyrics, so that you know what you're singing about when it's stuck in your head. https://www.thelocal.se/20250502/what-do-the-lyrics-of-swedens-eurovision-entry-bara-bada-bastu-actually-mean Fri, 02 May 2025 13:05:53 +0200 what-do-the-lyrics-of-swedens-eurovision-entry-bara-bada-bastu-actually-mean Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes. But what are the voting patterns, and what external factors help explain them? https://www.thelocal.se/20250515/what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics Thu, 15 May 2025 13:40:51 +0200 what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics Sweden could claim a record number of Eurovision victories if its humorous sauna act manages to win the competition this year – which according to the bookies may just happen. https://www.thelocal.se/20250417/why-swedens-bizarre-sauna-hit-could-actually-win-eurovision Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:23:25 +0200 why-swedens-bizarre-sauna-hit-could-actually-win-eurovision Sweden's prosecution authority said on Monday that it had closed an investigation into Dutch Eurovision contestant Joost Klein, who was excluded from the contest's final following an incident with a camerawoman. https://www.thelocal.se/20240813/swedish-prosecutor-drops-case-against-dutch-eurovision-contestant Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:57:28 +0200 swedish-prosecutor-drops-case-against-dutch-eurovision-contestant Despite concerns that tension in the run-up to Eurovision could escalate into violence, Swedish police said they were pleased with how the week went. https://www.thelocal.se/20240513/swedish-police-pleased-with-calm-eurovision-weekend-all-things-considered Mon, 13 May 2024 08:51:12 +0200 swedish-police-pleased-with-calm-eurovision-weekend-all-things-considered Malmö in southern Sweden may be more well known for cheap falafel than upmarket wine bars, but that doesn't mean there's nowhere in the city for you to enjoy a glass (or two...). https://www.thelocal.se/20240416/five-malmo-bars-to-enjoy-a-glass-of-wine-in-the-sun Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:36:16 +0200 five-malmo-bars-to-enjoy-a-glass-of-wine-in-the-sun Malmö may not be the first city that comes to mind when you picture a swanky cocktail bar, but Sweden's third-largest city boasts its fair share of spots to grab a drink or two. https://www.thelocal.se/20240423/five-cocktail-bars-in-malmo-to-try-for-pre-dinner-drinks Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:32:17 +0200 five-cocktail-bars-in-malmo-to-try-for-pre-dinner-drinks Planning a trip to Malmö soon and looking for somewhere a bit more interesting than the local pub? The city has a wide selection of craft beer places, many of which have great food, too. Here are five of them. https://www.thelocal.se/20240405/five-great-bars-in-malmo-for-lovers-of-craft-beer Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:42:58 +0200 five-great-bars-in-malmo-for-lovers-of-craft-beer The Local's editor Emma Löfgren rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. https://www.thelocal.se/20240504/inside-sweden-will-eurovision-bring-party-cheer-to-malmo-or-is-it-too-late Sat, 04 May 2024 10:10:31 +0200 inside-sweden-will-eurovision-bring-party-cheer-to-malmo-or-is-it-too-late Swedish passports are more expensive, but on the other hand the economy could be on the road to recovery depending on what happens on a few crucial dates in May. The Local rounds up the main points you need to know. https://www.thelocal.se/20240429/tax-deadline-and-eurovision-tension-what-changes-in-sweden-in-may Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:59:18 +0200 tax-deadline-and-eurovision-tension-what-changes-in-sweden-in-may As the Eurovision Song Contest gets closer, how will people who don’t have tickets to the actual shows be able to celebrate in the host city, Malmö? https://www.thelocal.se/20240430/eight-unmissable-free-events-in-malmo-during-eurovision Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:47:33 +0200 eight-unmissable-free-events-in-malmo-during-eurovision The Swedish Eurovision host city Malmö on Wednesday promised heightened security for this year's song contest, which faces protests over Israel's participation during the war in Gaza. https://www.thelocal.se/20240417/malmo-to-bring-in-reinforcements-from-norway-and-denmark-ahead-of-eurovision Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:53:34 +0200 malmo-to-bring-in-reinforcements-from-norway-and-denmark-ahead-of-eurovision With less than a month until Eurovision week kicks off, artists and musicians are dropping out of events in Malmö in protest at Israel’s participation. https://www.thelocal.se/20240410/swedish-musicians-cancel-eurovision-performances-over-israels-participation Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:47:23 +0200 swedish-musicians-cancel-eurovision-performances-over-israels-participation Malmö in southern Sweden is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest in early May under high security, amid protests over Israel's participation during its ongoing war with Hamas. https://www.thelocal.se/20240328/malmo-prepares-for-high-security-eurovision-amid-israel-protests-and-terror-threat Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:42:11 +0100 malmo-prepares-for-high-security-eurovision-amid-israel-protests-and-terror-threat Two thirds of all Eurovision tickets have been snapped up by foreign visitors, with new figures revealing the top ten countries which will have the most fans in the audience in Malmö. https://www.thelocal.se/20240320/which-nationalities-have-bought-the-most-tickets-for-eurovision-in-malmo Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:53:48 +0100 which-nationalities-have-bought-the-most-tickets-for-eurovision-in-malmo