Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Returns to Lillehammer

The Melodi Grand Prix 2026 marks a historic moment for Norway's Eurovision national selection, taking place on Saturday, 28 February 2026, at the legendary Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. This is the first time Lillehammer has hosted the MGP final, bringing Norway's most prestigious music competition to the city that captivated the world during the 1994 Winter Olympics. Nine talented acts compete for the honour of representing Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.

The show is broadcast live on NRK1 and NRK TV from 19:45 CET, with full international streaming available via nrk.no/mgp. The hosts are Ronny Brede Aase, Marte Stokstad, and Markus Neby.

Official Running Order

The nine competing acts perform in the following order, as confirmed by NRK. According to MGP project manager Mads Tørklep, the running order was set with consideration for the overall flow of the broadcast — balancing variety in tempo, expression, and mood — alongside technical factors such as stage design, rigging, and pyrotechnic effects:

Skrellex – "Into the Wild"
Hedda Mae – "Snap Back"
Storm – "Lullaby"
Mileo – "Frankenstein"
Silke – "Forevermore"
Alexander Rybak – "Rise"
Emma – "Northern Lights"
Leonardo Amor – "Prayer"
Jonas Lovv – "Ya Ya Ya"

The Nine Competing Acts

1. Skrellex – "Into the Wild"

Skrellex opens MGP 2026, earning their place in the final through the innovative MGP-cup format — a series of radio duels with public online voting on NRK's website between January 20–26, 2026. Their song "Into the Wild" has an adventurous energy that promises visually striking staging. But beyond the music, Skrellex carries an extra layer of significance: as a drag artist, they have the chance to make MGP history as the first ever drag performer to win Melodi Grand Prix — a potential milestone noted by NRK themselves.

2. Hedda Mae – "Snap Back"

Hedda Mae brings contemporary pop energy with "Snap Back." The punchy title suggests an upbeat, resilient message that could translate into dynamic staging and a memorable performance.

3. Storm – "Lullaby"

Storm competes with "Lullaby," a gentle title that contrasts intriguingly with the artist's powerful name — suggesting a song that subverts expectations, perhaps combining soft melodic elements with unexpected intensity.

4. Mileo – "Frankenstein"

Mileo brings "Frankenstein" to the MGP stage. A former MGP finalist returning to the national stage, Mileo's bold title references Mary Shelley's literary classic, suggesting themes of creation, transformation, or modern identity.

5. Silke – "Forevermore"

Silke performs "Forevermore," a romantic title evoking timeless love and eternal commitment — potentially a classic ballad approach showcasing vocal ability and emotional delivery.

6. Alexander Rybak – "Rise"

Alexander Rybak returns to the Melodi Grand Prix stage with "Rise," seventeen years after his legendary 2009 Eurovision victory with "Fairytale." Rybak's win in Moscow remains one of Eurovision's most dominant performances, earning 387 points and receiving 16 sets of the maximum 12 points — a record that stood for years. He also represented Norway again at Eurovision 2018. His return to MGP 2026 is a full-circle moment for Norwegian Eurovision history, as the artist who brought Norway its most recent victory seeks to represent the country once again.

7. Emma – "Northern Lights"

Emma Gunnarsen performs "Northern Lights," evoking Norway's most iconic natural phenomenon. Emma is the sister of Marcus & Martinus, the Norwegian twin duo who represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö — making this a particularly notable family presence in the MGP lineup. Both Emma and Storm are 17 years old and have become close friends during MGP week. Adding some extra drama: Emma is performing on crutches after an injury before the final, with her participation confirmed by NRK — "we'll see how it goes," she said.

8. Leonardo Amor – "Prayer"

Leonardo Amor presents "Prayer," a title suggesting emotional depth and spiritual themes — a potentially powerful ballad that could showcase vocal prowess and emotional connection, qualities that have historically performed well at both MGP and Eurovision.

9. Jonas Lovv – "Ya Ya Ya"

Jonas Lovv closes the show with "Ya Ya Ya," a title featuring the kind of repetitive, catchy phrasing that often proves effective in Eurovision contexts — creating memorability in the fast-paced Eurovision environment where entries must make immediate impressions.

The MGP-Cup Format

MGP 2026 introduced the MGP-cup, an innovative selection format replacing traditional semi-finals with a series of radio duels conducted between January 20–26, 2026. Public online voting on NRK's website determined the duel winners, with Skrellex ultimately emerging victorious to earn the ninth and final spot in the Grand Final. This dual selection approach balances NRK's professional judgment in pre-selecting eight finalists with grassroots democratic participation.

The Venue: Håkons Hall, Lillehammer

Håkons Hall opened on 1 February 1993, built specifically to host the ice hockey tournament at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Named after the medieval Norwegian king Haakon Haakonarson, it has a capacity of up to 11,500 spectators and is the largest handball and ice hockey venue in Norway. Beyond the Olympics, the hall has hosted the 1999 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, multiple World and European Handball Championships, and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2004. This is the first time Lillehammer has hosted the MGP final.

Norway's Eurovision Legacy

Norway holds three Eurovision victories: Bobbysocks! (1985, "La det swinge"), Secret Garden (1995, "Nocturne"), and Alexander Rybak (2009, "Fairytale" — 387 points, 16 sets of 12 points). Despite these victories, Norway also holds the record for the most last-place finishes (12) and has received nul points four times, making its Eurovision journey one of the competition's most dramatic narratives. The MGP winner will represent Norway at Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. For more information, visit the official NRK MGP website and Eurovision.com. See the Events Calendar for all upcoming Eurovision 2026 events.

Final Results

This event concluded on 28 February 2026 at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. The winner was determined by 60% public televote and 40% international jury. Congratulations to the winner!

🏆 Winner: Norway's Eurovision 2026 Representative

Jonas Lovv – "Ya Ya Ya"
Total Points: 265 (96 jury + 169 televote)

Jonas Lovv delivered a clean sweep — winning both the international jury and the public televote, leaving no doubt about Norway's choice. The victory was particularly striking as Jonas Lovv closed the show in the final running order slot, performing last of the nine acts.

Full Results

Jonas Lovv – "Ya Ya Ya" — 265 pts (96 jury + 169 televote) 🏆 Winner
Alexander Rybak – "Rise" — 192 pts (66 jury + 126 televote)
Emma – "Northern Lights" — 127 pts (28 jury + 99 televote)
Mileo – "Frankenstein" — 89 pts (54 jury + 35 televote)
Leonardo Amor – "Prayer" — 73 pts (60 jury + 13 televote)
Storm – "Lullaby" — 50 pts (14 jury + 36 televote)
Skrellex – "Into The Wild" — 45 pts (15 jury + 30 televote)
Hedda Mae – "Snap Back" — 15 pts (11 jury + 4 televote)
Silke – "Forevermore" — 4 pts (0 jury + 4 televote)

View the full official coverage on the official NRK Melodi Grand Prix page.

What's Next for Norway?

Jonas Lovv will represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – Semi-Final 2 in Vienna in May 2026. Visit the Events Calendar for all upcoming Eurovision 2026 events.