# Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest

Norway has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 62 times since making its debut in 1960 and has only been absent twice since then. In 1970, the country boycotted the contest over disagreements about the voting structure, and in 2002, they were relegated. The Norwegian participant broadcaster in the contest is Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), which select its entrant with the national competition Melodi Grand Prix.
Before 1985, Norway's best result in the contest was a third-place with "Intet er nytt under solen" by Åse Kleveland in 1966. Norway's three victories in the contest were achieved by "La det swinge" by Bobbysocks in 1985, "Nocturne" by Secret Garden in 1995, and "Fairytale" by Alexander Rybak in 2009. Norway also finished second at the 1996 contest, with "I evighet" by former Bobbysocks member Elisabeth Andreassen. Norway has finished last in twelve Eurovision finals, of which four times with "nul points". Norway has a total of 12 top-five results in the contest, the latest being a fifth place with "Queen of Kings" by Alessandra in 2023.

## History

Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Norway since its fifth edition in 1960.
NRK's first entrant in the contest was "Voi Voi" performed by Nora Brockstedt in 1960, who finished fourth; Brockstedt would return the next year with "Sommer i Palma", this time placing seventh. "Intet er nytt under solen" by Åse Kleveland then finished third in 1966, following which Norway would fail to reach the top ten in fourteen out of their next fifteen attempts, with the exception being seventh place finish with "It's Just a Game" by the Bendik Singers in 1973. Before 1985, Norway had only received a top-ten score in six out of twenty-four attempts, and had finished last the same number of times.
Bobbysocks gave the country its first victory in 1985, with the song "La det swinge". Norway went on to achieve two more top five results over the next ten years, with Karoline Krüger in 1988 and Silje Vige in 1993, who both finished fifth.
Norway's second victory came in 1995 with Secret Garden's mainly instrumental Celtic-influenced ethno-piece "Nocturne". In 1996, Elisabeth Andreassen, who had won the contest as one half of Bobbysocks, returned to the contest as a solo artist, finishing in second place. In 2003, Jostein Hasselgård came fourth.
Norway won for the third time in 2009, with Alexander Rybak and his song "Fairytale". The song's score of 387 points was the highest ever winning total under the 1975-2015 voting system, and also achieved the biggest ever margin of victory: 492 points in total were distributed between the competing countries in 2009, meaning "Fairytale" received 78.7% of the points that could be rewarded. Rybak later returned to the contest in 2018, performing "That's How You Write a Song"; he received the highest number of votes of the second semi-final, but ultimately placed fifteenth. He remains the only Norwegian entrant to have won a semi-final, as well as the only two-time semi-final winner in the history of the contest.
In 2024, Norway finished last in the final for the twelfth time. Norway has the dubious distinction of finishing last in the Eurovision final more than any other country, and along with Austria, has received "nul points" (zero points) in the contest on four occasions; in 1963, 1978, 1981 and 1997.
Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Norway has finished in the top ten eight times. Wig Wam finished ninth in 2005, Maria Haukaas Storeng was fifth in 2008, Alexander Rybak won in 2009, Margaret Berger was fourth in 2013, Carl Espen finished eighth in 2014, Mørland and Debrah Scarlett finished eighth in 2015, Jowst finished tenth in 2017, Keiino won the public vote and finished sixth overall in 2019, Subwoolfer finished tenth in 2022, and Alessandra finished fifth in 2023. In total, Norway has 12 top-five and 27 top-ten finishes in the contest.

## Participation overview

| Year | Artist | Song | Language | Final | Points | Semi | Points |
| 1960 | Nora Brockstedt | "Voi-voi" | Norwegian | 4 | 11 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1961 | Nora Brockstedt | "Sommer i Palma" | Norwegian | 7 | 10 |
| 1962 | Inger Jacobsen | "Kom sol, kom regn" | Norwegian | 10 | 2 |
| 1963 | Anita Thallaug | "Solhverv" | Norwegian | 13 ◁ | 0 |
| 1964 | Arne Bendiksen | "Spiral" | Norwegian | 8 | 6 |
| 1965 | Kirsti Sparboe | "Karusell" | Norwegian | 13 | 1 |
| 1966 | Åse Kleveland | "Intet er nytt under solen" | Norwegian | 3 | 15 |
| 1967 | Kirsti Sparboe | "Dukkemann" | Norwegian | 14 | 2 |
| 1968 | Odd Børre | "Stress" | Norwegian | 13 | 2 |
| 1969 | Kirsti Sparboe | "Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli" | Norwegian | 16 ◁ | 1 |
| 1971 | Hanne Krogh | "Lykken er" | Norwegian | 17 | 65 |
| 1972 | Grethe Kausland and Benny Borg | "Småting" | Norwegian | 14 | 73 |
| 1973 | Bendik Singers | "It's Just a Game" | English, French | 7 | 89 |
| 1974 | Anne-Karine and the Bendik Singers | "The First Day of Love" | English | 14 ◁ | 3 |
| 1975 | Ellen Nikolaysen | "Touch My Life with Summer" | English | 18 | 11 |
| 1976 | Anne-Karine Strøm | "Mata Hari" | English | 18 ◁ | 7 |
| 1977 | Anita Skorgan | "Casanova" | Norwegian | 14 | 18 |
| 1978 | Jahn Teigen | "Mil etter mil" | Norwegian | 20 ◁ | 0 |
| 1979 | Anita Skorgan | "Oliver" | Norwegian | 11 | 57 |
| 1980 | Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta | "Sámiid ædnan" | Norwegian | 16 | 15 |
| 1981 | Finn Kalvik | "Aldri i livet" | Norwegian | 20 ◁ | 0 |
| 1982 | Jahn Teigen and Anita Skorgan | "Adieu" | Norwegian | 12 | 40 |
| 1983 | Jahn Teigen | "Do Re Mi" | Norwegian | 9 | 53 |
| 1984 | Dollie de Luxe | "Lenge leve livet" | Norwegian | 17 | 29 |
| 1985 | Bobbysocks | "La det swinge" | Norwegian | 1 | 123 |
| 1986 | Ketil Stokkan | "Romeo" | Norwegian | 12 | 44 |
| 1987 | Kate Gulbrandsen | "Mitt liv" | Norwegian | 9 | 65 |
| 1988 | Karoline Krüger | "For vår jord" | Norwegian | 5 | 88 |
| 1989 | Britt Synnøve Johansen | "Venners nærhet" | Norwegian | 17 | 30 |
| 1990 | Ketil Stokkan | "Brandenburger Tor" | Norwegian | 21 ◁ | 8 |
| 1991 | Just 4 Fun | "Mrs. Thompson" | Norwegian | 17 | 14 |
| 1992 | Merethe Trøan | "Visjoner" | Norwegian | 18 | 23 |
| 1993 | Silje Vige | "Alle mine tankar" | Norwegian | 5 | 120 | Kvalifikacija za Millstreet | Kvalifikacija za Millstreet |
| 1994 | Elisabeth Andreasson and Jan Werner Danielsen | "Duett" | Norwegian | 6 | 76 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1995 | Secret Garden | "Nocturne" | Norwegian | 1 | 148 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1996 | Elisabeth Andreassen | "I evighet" | Norwegian | 2 | 114 | Host country | Host country |
| 1997 | Tor Endresen | "San Francisco" | Norwegian | 24 ◁ | 0 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1998 | Lars A. Fredriksen | "Alltid sommer" | Norwegian | 8 | 79 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1999 | Van Eijk | "Living My Life Without You" | English | 14 | 35 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2000 | Charmed | "My Heart Goes Boom" | English | 11 | 57 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2001 | Haldor Lægreid | "On My Own" | English | 22 ◁ | 3 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2003 | Jostein Hasselgård | "I'm Not Afraid to Move On" | English | 4 | 123 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2004 | Knut Anders Sørum | "High" | English | 24 ◁ | 3 | Top 11 in 2003 contest | Top 11 in 2003 contest |
| 2005 | Wig Wam | "In My Dreams" | English | 9 | 125 | 6 | 164 |
| 2006 | Christine Guldbrandsen | "Alvedansen" | Norwegian | 14 | 36 | Top 11 in 2005 final | Top 11 in 2005 final |
| 2007 | Guri Schanke | "Ven a bailar conmigo" | English | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 18 | 48 |
| 2008 | Maria | "Hold On Be Strong" | English | 5 | 182 | 4 | 106 |
| 2009 | Alexander Rybak | "Fairytale" | English | 1 | 387 | 1 | 201 |
| 2010 | Didrik Solli-Tangen | "My Heart Is Yours" | English | 20 | 35 | Host country | Host country |
| 2011 | Stella Mwangi | "Haba Haba" | English, Swahili | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 17 | 30 |
| 2012 | Tooji | "Stay" | English | 26 ◁ | 7 | 10 | 45 |
| 2013 | Margaret Berger | "I Feed You My Love" | English | 4 | 191 | 3 | 120 |
| 2014 | Carl Espen | "Silent Storm" | English | 8 | 88 | 6 | 77 |
| 2015 | Mørland and Debrah Scarlett | "A Monster Like Me" | English | 8 | 102 | 4 | 123 |
| 2016 | Agnete | "Icebreaker" | English | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 13 | 63 |
| 2017 | Jowst | "Grab the Moment" | English | 10 | 158 | 5 | 189 |
| 2018 | Alexander Rybak | "That's How You Write a Song" | English | 15 | 144 | 1 | 266 |
| 2019 | Keiino | "Spirit in the Sky" | English | 6 | 331 | 7 | 210 |
| 2020 | Ulrikke | "Attention" | English | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X |
| 2021 | Tix | "Fallen Angel" | English | 18 | 75 | 10 | 115 |
| 2022 | Subwoolfer | "Give That Wolf a Banana" | English | 10 | 182 | 6 | 177 |
| 2023 | Alessandra | "Queen of Kings" | English | 5 | 268 | 6 | 102 |
| 2024 | Gåte | "Ulveham" | Norwegian | 25 ◁ | 16 | 10 | 43 |
| 2025 | Kyle Alessandro | "Lighter" | English | Upcoming † | Upcoming † | Upcoming † | Upcoming † |

## Hostings

| Year | Location | Venue | Presenters |
| 1986 | Bergen | Grieghallen | Åse Kleveland |
| 1996 | Oslo | Oslo Spektrum | Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket |
| 2010 | Oslo | Telenor Arena | Nadia Hasnaoui, Haddy N'jie and Erik Solbakken |

### Songs of Europe

| Year | Location | Venue | Presenters |
| 1981 | Mysen | Momarken | Rolf Kirkvaag and Titten Tei |

## Awards
### Marcel Bezençon Awards

| Year | Category | Song | Composer(s) lyrics (l) / music (m) | Performer | Final | Points | Host city | Ref. |
| 2009 | Press Award | "Fairytale" | Alexander Rybak (m & l) | Alexander Rybak | 1 | 387 | Moscow | |
| 2015 | Composer Award | "A Monster Like Me" | Kjetil Mørland (m & l) | Mørland & Debrah Scarlett | 8 | 102 | Vienna | |

### Winner by OGAE members

| Year | Song | Performer | Place | Points | Host city | Ref. |
| 2009 | "Fairytale" | Alexander Rybak | 1 | 387 | Moscow | |

## Related involvement
### Conductors

| Year | Conductor | Musical director |
| 1960 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1961 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1962 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1963 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1964 | Karsten Andersen | N/A |
| 1965 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1966 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1967 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1968 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1969 | Øivind Bergh | N/A |
| 1971 | Arne Bendiksen | N/A |
| 1972 | Carsten Klouman | N/A |
| 1973 | Carsten Klouman | N/A |
| 1974 | Frode Thingnæs | N/A |
| 1975 | Carsten Klouman | N/A |
| 1976 | Frode Thingnæs | N/A |
| 1977 | Carsten Klouman | N/A |
| 1978 | Carsten Klouman | N/A |
| 1979 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1980 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1981 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1982 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1983 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1984 | Sigurd Jansen | N/A |
| 1985 | Terje Fjærn | N/A |
| 1986 | Egil Monn-Iversen | Egil Monn-Iversen |
| 1987 | Terje Fjærn | N/A |
| 1988 | Arild Stav | N/A |
| 1989 | Pete Knutsen | N/A |
| 1990 | Pete Knutsen | N/A |
| 1991 | Pete Knutsen | N/A |
| 1992 | Rolf Løvland | N/A |
| 1993 | Rolf Løvland | N/A |
| 1994 | Pete Knutsen | N/A |
| 1995 | Geir Langslet | N/A |
| 1996 | Frode Thingnæs | Frode Thingnæs |
| 1997 | Geir Langslet | N/A |
| 1998 | Geir Langslet | N/A |
Additionally, there was an orchestra present at the 1999 national final, conducted by Geir Langslet (the winning song, however, was presented without orchestral accompaniment) and at the 2015 national final, conducted by Anders Eljas.

### Heads of delegation

| Year | Head of delegation |
| 1998–2005 | Jon Ola Sand |
| 2006–2009, 2012–2015 | Stian Malme |
| 2010–2011 | Skjalg Solstad |
| 2016–2024 | Stig Karlsen [no] |
| 2025 | Mads Tørklep |

### Supervisors

List of supervisors of Melodi Grand Prix, better known as MGP-general or GP-general in Norway:
| Year | Head of delegation |
| c. 2007–2012 | Per Sundnes |
| 2013–2015 | Vivi Stenberg |
| 2016–2017 | Jan Fredrik Karlsen |
| 2018–2024 | Stig Karlsen [no] |
| 2025 | Tarjei Strøm |

### Commentators and spokespersons
## Photo gallery

* Anne-Karine Strøm performing "Mata Hari" in The Hague (1976)
* Bobbysocks performing "La det swinge" in Gothenburg (1985)
* Guri Schanke performing "Ven a bailar conmigo" in Helsinki (2007)
* Maria Haukaas Storeng performing "Hold On Be Strong" in Belgrade (2008)
* Didrik Solli-Tangen performing "My Heart Is Yours" in Oslo (2010)
* Margaret Berger performing "I Feed You My Love" in Malmö (2013)
* Carl Espen performing "Silent Storm" in Copenhagen (2014)
* Mørland and Debrah Scarlett performing "A Monster Like Me" in Vienna (2015)
* Agnete performing "Icebreaker" in Stockholm (2016)
* Jowst and Aleksander Walmann performing "Grab the Moment" in Kyiv (2017)
* Alexander Rybak performing "That's How You Write a Song" in Lisbon (2018)
* Keiino performing "Spirit in the Sky" in Tel Aviv (2019)
* Tix performing "Fallen Angel" in Rotterdam (2021)
* Subwoolfer performing "Give That Wolf a Banana" in Turin (2022)
* Alessandra performing "Queen of Kings" in Liverpool (2023)
* Gåte performing "Ulveham" in Malmö (2024)