The Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, has announced the eight artists competing in Norway’s “Melodi Grand Prix 2026”, scheduled to February 28th. The winning entry will represent Norway in Vienna.
The Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, revealed today nine of the ten artists and song titles set to compete in the Norwegian national selection, “Melodi Grand Prix 2026.” The winner of this prestigious competition will earn the right to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria. Consistent with last year’s format, the selection process will proceed directly to a grand final without semi-finals. The tenth participant and the official song releases are scheduled for January 26th, leading up to the main event on February 28th, where the Norwegian entry for the upcoming Eurovision will be crowned.
List of Competing Artists and Songs
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Alexander Rybak – “Rise“
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Emma Gunnarsen – “Northern Lights”
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Hedda Mae – “Snap Back”
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Jonas Lovv – “Yayaya”
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Leonardo Amor – “Prayer”
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Mileo – “Parasite”
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Silke – “Forevermore”
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Storm – “Lullaby”
Notable Returning Stars and Rising Talents
Alexander Rybak – The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with his iconic song “Fairytale“, notably set a historical record at the time with 387 points. In 2018, Rybak returned to “Melodi Grand Prix” and won for a second time with the entry “That’s How You Write a Song“. At the main contest in Lisbon, he won the second semi-final but ultimately finished 15th in the Grand Final.- Emma – The younger sister of the famous twin duo Marcus & Martinus, who began their journey in 2012 by winning the Junior Melodi Grand Prix. After securing second place in the Swedish national selection in 2023 with the song “Air“, they were chosen to represent Sweden in Eurovision 2024 with “Unforgettable“, which achieved a top-ten finish in the Grand Final.
- Mileo – A prominent fan favorite during “Melodi Grand Prix 2024” national selection with the song “You’re Mine“, though he did not qualify to the final that year.
- Leonardo Amor – Participated last year in the “San Marino Song Contest” with the song “Calling For You“, where he reached the second chance round but failed to qualify for the final.
What should you know about “Melodi Grand Prix”?
As mentioned, today eight out of the nine names of the contestants in the competition were announced. On January 26th, the final contestant will be revealed, and the songs will be released for listening.
The final of “Melodi Grand Prix 2026”, will take place on February 28th at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer – the large arena that hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. The move from Oslo is intended to bring new energy to the competition, create a more enjoyable and impressive experience, and provide both artists and the audience with a grand and welcoming event. According to NRK, Håkons Hall allows for ambitious technical infrastructure and can host thousands of spectators, providing an opportunity to renew and enhance the production of the contest. Toward the end of February, Lillehammer is expected to become a lively hub of events surrounding MGP 2026 and to serve as a focal point of Norway’s music scene.
Mads Tørklep, “Melodi Grand Prix 2026” director, shared his excitement and high expectations ahead of the national final:
“I think this might be the best MGP in history. I am convinced that we can truly win Eurovision with the songs submitted during the submission window”.
In addition, Tørklep revealed that no fewer than 1,500 songs were submitted to MGP 2026—a significant increase from last year. Last year, 1,193 songs were submitted to “Melodi Grand Prix 2025”, meaning 307 more songs were submitted this year than last year!
Norway at Eurovision 2025
“Lighter” was the song performed by Kyle Alessandro, who represented Norway in the Eurovision 2025 grand final. Norway finished in 18th place overall with 89 points – 67 points from the audience and 22 points from the juries. In the televote, Norway ranked 12th, while in the jury vote, it reached 23rd place.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Norway’s 64th participation in Eurovision. Norway joined the competition in 1960 and has won three times over the years. Their last win was in Eurovision 2009 with the song “Fairytale” performed by Alexander Rybak.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
