🇳🇴 Melodi Grand Prix 2023 final to take place on February 4

As we gear up for national selections to commence in January, more countries countries continue to reveal their plans. This time, its Norway’s turn as they reveal that their Eurovision 2023 representative will be selected on February 4.

Three Semi-Finals and a Grand Final

NRK has confirmed that next year’s competition will commence on January 14, with three semi-finals and the final taking place on the 4th of February.

• Semi-Final 1 – Saturday 14 January
• Semi-Final 2 – Saturday 21 January
• Semi-Final 3 – Saturday 28 January
• Grand Final – Saturday 4 February

For the past few years, Melodi Grand Prix would usually have artists who have automatically qualified for the final. However, for 2023, there would be no direct finalists and everyone would compete for their spot in the final.

‘There were several good reasons for the solution with pre-qualified acts, but MGP is in constant development. We are now going for a competition model that is easier to understand, and where all the artists compete with the same starting point. More is at stake for everyone from day one’

Stig Karlsen, Norway’s Head of Delegation

Seven acts will be competing in each semi-final. After the acts have performed, the voting would then be opened. The three artists who have received the most votes would then advance to the final. In addition, its been confirmed that there will be last chance round, which was also implemented for the past few years.

More information revealed

As well as the reveal in the change of the format, NRK also confirmed that the final of Melodi Grand Prix 2023 final will take place in Trondheim Spektrum, the third time that the final will take place outisde of Oslo (the other two being in Stavanger in 1989 and in Trondheim in 2020).

After debating the inclusion of the jury, it’s been confirmed that at international jury will be added into the final, with Norway’s Eurovision 2023 representative being selected via 50/50 split of International Jury and televote.

The 21 competing artists and the Semi-Final in which they will appear in will be revealed on January 4, with the respective entries being released on a weekly basis.

As we have previously reported Arian Engebø and Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen will be the hosts of next year’s competition.

Norway’s Eurovision Journey

The Scandinavian nation made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, with Nora Brockstedt and the song “Voi Voi”, which placed 4th. Since their debut, they have participated 60 times, and made the grand final 57 of these. In addition, Norway has won the competition three times (1985, 1995, and 2009).

Norway’s latest Eurovision participation saw them being represented by Subwoolfer with the song “Give That Wolf a Banana”. During their participation, Norway placed 10th in the grand final, receiving 182 points from the jury and televoters.

Are you looking forward to MGP 2023? Who do you want to see represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. In addition, be sure to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok as we gear up for Eurovision 2023!

News source: NRK

Photo Credit: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett