Måns Zelmerlöw

Måns Petter Albert Sahlén Zelmerlöw, born on June 13, 1986, in Lund, Sweden, is a renowned Swedish singer, songwriter, and television presenter. His parents, Birgitta Sahlén, a professor of speech therapy at Lund University, and Sven-Olof Zelmerlöw, a surgeon, nurtured his early interest in music. 

During his education , Måns focused on music, particularly choir singing. In 2002, he participated in a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, portraying one of Joseph’s eleven brothers. The following year, he played the lead role in “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Lund City Theatre.

Måns gained national attention in 2005 by securing fifth place in TV4’s “Idol”. He further showcased his versatility by winning the inaugural season of “Let’s Dance” in 2006, alongside dance partner Maria Karlsson. Later that year, he starred as Danny Zuko in the musical “Grease” in Malmö.

In 2007, Måns competed in Melodifestivalen with the song “Cara Mia”, achieving third place and topping the Swedish sales chart. He continued his musical theatre journey by playing the antagonist Tommy in “Footloose”, premiering in Gothenburg and later moving to Stockholm in early 2008.

Returning to Melodifestivalen in 2009, Måns performed “Hope & Glory”, finishing fourth in the final. That year, he also co-hosted “Sommarkrysset” from Gröna Lund and embarked on The MZW Tour, which spanned various Swedish cities. Additionally, he served as a guest judge on “Dansbandskampen”.

Transitioning into hosting roles, Måns co-presented Melodifestivalen 2010 with Dolph Lundgren and Christine Meltzer. He also portrayed Romeo in the musical “Romeo and Juliet”. In 2011, he began a three-year tenure as the host of “Allsång på Skansen”, a popular Swedish sing-along show.

In 2015, Måns returned to Melodifestivalen with “Heroes”, winning the competition and subsequently securing victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with 365 points. This triumph propelled him to international fame. The following year, he co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm alongside Petra Mede, delivering memorable performances, including the acclaimed sketch “Love Love Peace Peace”.

Beyond his Eurovision success, Måns has released several albums, including “Perfectly Damaged” in 2015 and “Chameleon” in 2016. He ventured into acting with a role in the Swedish series “Jordskott” in 2017. In 2021, he co-hosted the final of Melodifestivalen and joined the panel of the Swedish edition of “The Masked Singer”. The following year, he participated in TV4’s “Så mycket bättre” and embarked on a Christmas tour with Carola Häggkvist.

In 2023, Måns co-presented the Idrottsgalan, a major Swedish sports gala, and co-hosted the Eurovisioncast podcast on BBC Radio 5. He also released an EP titled “Nightcaps” with his band The Agreement. The same year, he reunited with comedian Per Andersson for the Swedish tour “Tomten och Bocken Rider Igen”.

In 2024, Måns participated in the interval act “Björnzone” during the Melodifestivalen final and released a Christmas single with the group. He also co-hosted the Idrottsgalan alongside Carolina Klüft. In July, he opened a coffee and wine trailer named “Beans and Grapes” in Båstad, Sweden.

Celebrating his 20th anniversary as an artist, Måns announced his return to Melodifestivalen 2025 with the song “Revolution”, set to compete in the fourth semi-final on February 22 in Malmö. He describes the track as an anthemic and uptempo piece, aiming to inspire listeners to contribute to making the world a better place.