Shock Exit: Patrik Jean Knocked Out of Melodifestivalen 2026 with «Dusk Till Dawn»

Photo credit : Magnus Ragnvid - Patrik Jean 2026

Patrik Jean’s highly anticipated Melodifestivalen 2026 comeback with «Dusk Till Dawn» ended in a shock exit before the final. The openly gay Swedish pop star, known for hits, major songwriting credits, and a standout Stockholm Pride performance, returns with a new single as he prepares his upcoming 2026 album.

Patrik Jean’s long‑awaited Melodifestivalen comeback ended in disappointment as his new single «Dusk Till Dawn» failed to secure a place in the 2026 final — a shock outcome for one of Sweden’s most acclaimed openly gay pop voices. The track, co-written with hitmakers David Lindgren Zacharias, Joy Deb, and Melanie Wehbe, marks his first Mello entry since 2021’s fan‑favourite «Tears Run Dry», and is out now across all platforms.

The return was set to be a major moment. Since his debut, Patrik has become a fixture in Swedish pop culture, performing unapologetically and authentically on the country’s biggest stages. In 2025 he was one of the headline acts at Stockholm Pride, cementing his status as a leading queer artist in Scandinavia.
With more than 80 million streams as an artist and over 400 million as a songwriter, Patrik Jean has built a reputation as one of Sweden’s most versatile pop creators. His breakthrough came behind the scenes, penning winning songs for Idol in 2017 and 2019, before co-writing Melodifestivalen 2020 champion «Move» for The Mamas.

His solo catalogue has delivered streaming favourites including «Lean on Me», «Prosecco», and «The Talk», the latter landing on New Music Friday playlists in over 20 countries. His songwriting and vocal collaborations span global DJs such as Felix Jaehn, Topic, Sevenn and Ilkay Sencan, with arena tours across Germany further boosting his international profile.

As a songwriter, Patrik’s credits include radio No.1s in Germany, multiple gold and platinum certifications, and placements in American Idol and RuPaul’s Drag Race. He has written for major artists including James Arthur, Callum Scott, Chris Holsten, and Marcus & Martinus.

Despite the Melodifestivalen setback, Patrik Jean is far from slowing down. He is currently working on his next studio album, set for release in 2026 — and «Dusk Till Dawn» now stands as the first taste of what’s to come. We will see how next week if «Dusk Till Dawn» enters LGBTQ Music Chart.