Image credits: Julia Marie Naglestad/NRK The Melodi Grand Prix 2023 will have a renewed format. There will be fewer semi-finals and there are no more artists pre-qualified for the grand final… which will take place in Trondheim. The event is the Norwegian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
The broadcaster NRK announced that the 21 contestants will be presented on January 4th at Marienlyst. The format now comprises three semi-finals with seven competing songs each and the grand final. In the semifinals, the voting starts after all the performances and the three most voted songs go on to the final. The duels in the semifinals were abolished.
The dates of the Melodi Grand Prix were also revealed. The first semifinal is on January 14th, followed by the second semi-final on January 21st and the third semi-final on January 28th. The grand final is scheduled for February 4th in Trondheim, a city that will host once again the show it already hosted in 2020. It will be the third time that the final will not be held in Oslo.
Another new feature is the introduction of an international jury in the grand final. NRK aims to increase Norway’s chances of winning the ESC. Jurors will be professionals from the music industry in the selected countries and will count 50 per cent. The remaining 50 percent will be from the public vote.
The hosts will be Arian Engebø and Stian «Staysman» Thorbjørnsen.
Leave a Reply