Norway debuted in Eurovision in 1960 and has had a significant impact across the Song Contest and its cultural contests, with iconic victories and last-place finishes.
Norway in Eurovision
Norway debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 and have won the contest three times – in 1985, 1995 and 2009. The country has the dubious record of finishing last the most times, twelve in total, and have received nul points four times. Norway last won the contest in 2009 when Alexander Rybak broke all records with his song “Fairytale”. He scored 387 points in the final, receiving 16 sets of 12 points and scoring points from every country.
- 1960 – Nora Brockstedt – “Voi-voi” – 4th – 11 points
- 1961 – Nora Brockstedt – “Sommer i Palma” – 7th – 10 points
- 1962 – Inger Jacobsen – “Kom sol, kom regn” – 10th – 2 points
- 1963 – Anita Thallaug – “Solhverv” – 13th – 0 points
- 1964 – Arne Bendiksen – “Spiral” – 8th – 6 points
- 1965 – Kirsti Sparboe – “Karusell” – 13th – 1 point
- 1966 – Åse Kleveland – “Intet er nytt under solen” – 3rd – 15 points
- 1967 – Kirsti Sparboe – “Dukkemann” – 14th – 2 points
- 1968 – Odd Børre – “Stress” – 13th – 2 points
- 1969 – Kirsti Sparboe – “Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli” – 16th – 1 point
- 1971 – Hanne Krogh – “Lykken er” – 17th – 65 points
- 1972 – Grethe Kausland and Benny Borg – “Småting” – 14th – 73 points
- 1973 – Bendik Singers – “It’s Just a Game” – 7th – 89 points
- 1974 – Anne-Karine and the Bendik Singers – “The First Day of Love” – 14th – 3 points
- 1975 – Ellen Nikolaysen – “Touch My Life with Summer” – 18th – 11 points
- 1976 – Anne-Karine Strøm – “Mata Hari” – 18th – 7 point
- 1977 – Anita Skorgan – “Casanova” – 14th – 18 points
- 1978 – Jahn Teigen – “Mil better mil” – 20th – 0 points
- 1979 – Anita Skorgan – “Oliver” – 11th – 57 points
- 1980 – Sverre Kjelsberg and Mattis Hætta – “Sámiid ædnan” – 16th – 15 points
- 1981 – Finn Kalvik – “Aldri i livet” – 20th – 0 points
- 1982 – Jahn Teigen and Anita Skorgan – “Adieu” – 12th – 40 points
- 1983 – Jahn Teigen – “Do Re Mi” – 9th – 53 points
- 1984 – Dollie de Luxe – “Lenge level livet” – 17th – 29 points
- 1985 – Bobbysocks! – “La det swinge” – 1st – 123 points
- 1986 (Host) – Ketil Stokkan – “Romeo” – 12th – 44 points
- 1987 – Kate Gulbrandsen – “Mitt liv” – 9th – 65 points
- 1988 – Karoline Krüger – “For vår jord” – 5th – 88 points
- 1989 – Britt Synnøve Johansen – “Venners nærhet” – 17th – 30 points
- 1990 – Ketil Stokkan – “Brandenburger Tor” – 21st – 8 points
- 1991 – Just 4 Fun – “Mrs. Thompson” – 17th – 14 points
- 1992 – Merethe Trøan – “Visjoner” – 18th – 23 points
- 1993 – Silje Vige – “Alle mine tankar” – 5th – 120 points
- 1994 – Elisabeth Andreasson and Jan Werner Danielsen – “Duett” – 6th – 76 points
- 1995 – Secret Garden – “Nocturne” – 1st – 148 points
- 1996 (Host) – Elisabeth Andreassen – “I evighet” – 2nd – 114 points
- 1997 – Tor Endresen – “San Francisco” – 24th – 0 points
- 1998 – Lars A. Fredriksen – “Alltid sommer” – 8th – 79 points
- 1999 – Van Eijk – “Living My Life Without You” – 14th – 35 points
- 2000 – Charmed – “My Heart Goes Boom” – 11th – 57 points
- 2001 – Haldor Lægreid – “On My Own” – 22nd – 3 points
- 2003 – Jostein Hasselgård – “I’m Not Afraid to Move On” – 4th – 123 points
- 2004 – Knut Anders Sørum – “High” – 24th – 3 points
- 2005 – Wig Wam – “In My Dream” – 9th – 125 points
- 2006 – Christine Guldbrandsen – “Alvedansen” – 14th – 36 points
- 2007 – Gur Schanke – “Ven a bailar conmigo” – 18th in the Semi-Final – 48 points
- 2008 – Mari Haukaas Storeng – “Hold On Be Strong” – 5th – 182 points
- 2009 – Alexander Rybak – “Fairytale” – 1st – 387 points
- 2010 (Host) – Didrik Solli-Tangen – “My Heart Is Yours” – 20th – 35 points
- 2011 – Stella Mwangi – “Haba Haba” – 17th in the Semi-Final – 30 points
- 2012 – Tooji – “Stay” – 26th – 7 points
- 2013 – Margaret Berger – “I Feed You My Love” – 4th – 191 points
- 2014 – Carl Espen – “Silent Storm” – 8th – 88 points
- 2015 – Mørland and Debrah Scarlett – “A Monster Like Me” – 8th – 102 points
- 2016 – Agnete – “Icebreaker” – 13th in the Semi-Final – 63 points
- 2017 – Jowst – “Grab the Moment” – 10th – 158 points
- 2018 – Alexander Rybak – “That’s How You Write a Song” – 15th – 144 points
- 2019 – KEiiNO – “Spirit in the Sky” – 6th – 331 points
- 2020 – Ulrikke – “Attention” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
- 2021 – Tix – “Fallen Angel” – 18th – 75 points
- 2022 – Subwoolfer – “Give That Wolf a Banana” – 10th – 182 points
- 2023 – Alessandra – “Queen of Kings” – 5th – 268 points
- 2024 – Gåte – “Ulveham” – 25th – 16 points
- 2025 – Kyle Alessandro – “Lighter” – 18th – 89 points
- 2026 – Jonas Lovv – “Ya Ya Ya” – 14th – 134 points
Norway did not compete in 1970 in protest at the four-way tie for victory in 1969. Norway also missed the 2002 contest due to finishing last in 2001 and not meeting the qualifying requirements for 2002.
Norway and other Eurovision family events
Norway has hosted multiple Eurovision family events from Junior Eurovision 2004 to Eurovision Young Musicians in 2024, the country is one of the most active participants in the wider contests.
Eurovision Choir
Norway debuted in Eurovision Choir in 2019 with Volve Vokal selected through a televised selection. In Gothenburg, they performed “Ønskediktet” but did not make it through to the Superfinal. NRK also broadcast the 2017 contest but did not take part.
Eurovision Young Dancers
Norway participated in thirteen editions of the contest and both hosted and won the 2011 contest in Oslo. Norway’s results were:
- 1985 – Arne Fagerholt – 2nd
- 1987 – Halldis Ólafsdóttir
- 1989 – Hilde Olsen – Did not qualify for the final
- 1991 – Ingrid Trøite Lorentzen – Did not qualify for the final
- 1993 – Kristine Oren – Did not qualify for the final
- 1995 – Maria Mikalsen – Did not qualify for the final
- 2001 – Tale Dolven – Did not qualify for the final
- 2003 – Caroline Roca – Did not qualify for the final
- 2005 – Fransiska Sveinall – Did not qualify for the final
- 2009 (Host) – Norway were due to host but contest cancelled due to lack of interest
- 2011 (Host) – Daniel Sarr – 1st
- 2013 – Julie Dokken
- 2015 – Trine Lise Moe
- 2017 – Anna Louise Amundsen
Watch the 2011 contest in full below:
Eurovision Young Musicians
Norway has participated in nearly every edition of Eurovision Young Musicians having debuted in 1982 and only missed the 1984 contest. NRK hosted the 2000 contest in Bergen and the 2024 contest in Bodø.
- 1982 – Atle Sponberg (Violin)
- 1986 – Ellen Margrete Flesjo (Cello) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1988 – Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano) – 2nd
- 1990 – Gudrun Skretting (Piano) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1992 – Henning Kaggerud (Violin)
- 1994 – Rolf-Erik Nystrøm (Saxophone) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1996 – Gunilla Süssmann (Piano)
- 1998 – Kirstian Lindberg (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2000 (Host) – David Coucheron (Violin)
- 2002 – Vilde Frang Bjærke (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2004 – Vilde Frang Bjærke (Violin)
- 2006 – Tine Thing Helseth (Trumpet) – 2nd
- 2008 – Eldbjørg Hemsing (Violin) – 3rd
- 2010 – Guro Kleven Hagen (Violin) – 2nd
- 2012 – Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad (Viola) – 1st
- 2014 – Sonoko Miriam Shimano Welde (Violin)
- 2016 – Ludvig Gudim (Violin)
- 2018 – Birgitta Elisa Oftestad (Cello)
- 2022 – Alma Srafin Kraggerud (Violin) – 3rd
- 2024 (Host) – Sebastian Egebakken Svenøy (Piano)
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Norway was one of sixteen countries to participate in the first edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. In 2004, NRK hosted the contest after both ITV of the UK, and HRT of Croatia withdrew from hosting the contest. Norway withdrew in 2006 citing excess pressure put on the participants.
- 2003 – 2U – “Sinnsykt gal forelsket” – 13th – 18 points
- 2004 (Host) – @lek – “En stjerne skal jeg bli” – 13th – 12 points
- 2005 – “Sommer og skolefri” – 3rd – 123 points
Other Programs
The following shows were also broadcast in Norway:
- Songs of Europe – 1981
- Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest – 2005
- Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits – 2015
- Eurovision Europe Shine a Light – 2020
Norway & Other European Broadcasting Union Competitions
Let the Peoples Sing
The contest was first held in 1961 by the BBC as an annual choral contest for choirs in the United Kingdom, since 1966 it has been a choral competition for choirs across Europe. Since the late 1970s, the European Broadcasting Union has organised the event with choirs allowed to compete from across the globe.
Norway’s history in the contest is
- 1972 – NRK Jentekor – Winner
- 1975 – NRK Jentekor – Winner
- 1981 – NRK Studio Chorus – Winner
- 1985 – Bergen Cathedral Choir – Winner
- 1988 – Bergen Cathedral Choir – Winner
- 1995 – Det Norske Solistkor – Overall winner
- 1997 – Participant unknown
- 1999 – Embla – “Equal Voice” Winner & Overall Winner
- 1999 – Grex Vocalis – Mixed Choir Finalist
- 2003 – Grex Vocalis – Adult Choir Finalist
- 2005 – Voci Nobili – Adult Choir Finalist
- 2007 – Schola Cantorum – Adult Category & Overall Winner
- 2009 (Host – Oslo) – Nova Chamber Choir – Adult Category Finalist
- 2009 (Host – Oslo) – The Norwegian Girls’ Choir – Semi-finalist
- 2009 (Host – Oslo) – Nidaros Cathedral Choir – Semi-finalist
- 2011 – Kvindelige Studenters Sangforening – Finalist
- 2013 – The Sirens – Finalist
- 2017 – The Norwegian Girls Choir – Children / Youth Category finalist
- 2024 – NRK Klassik aired the final with a Norwegian participant
During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.
Image source: EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett