Election broadcast borrowed Eurovision production techniques

The production of Sweden’s 2026 election night broadcast drew comparisons with the Eurovision Song Contest, and the connection was deliberate, SVT reported. Daniel Jelinek, who worked on the broadcast, has also worked on Melodifestivalen and Eurovision.

The election production used a similar approach by revealing information gradually rather than displaying all the results at once. It also focused on reactions from the parties’ election-night gatherings.

“It is a fantastic way to reflect the atmosphere and anticipation at all the gatherings,” Jelinek said.

There was, however, a major difference between the two broadcasts. Eurovision is largely planned and rehearsed in advance, while developments during an election night can change throughout the evening.

When the fourth-largest party was being decided, three parties were shown on screen at the same time. The production team had also considered making the parties’ bars grow alongside one another until a winner remained, as was done at Eurovision that year. The idea was ultimately dropped.

Jelinek said the broadcast had received both positive reactions and criticism. Some viewers felt it made a serious subject too glamorous and turned it into too much of a show.

He said the aim was not to make politics into entertainment, but to convey what was happening at the election-night gatherings and show the emotions of those waiting for the results.