Is Alexander Rybak Coming Back to Melodi Grand Prix? All Signs Point to “You Know the Answer”
Norway hasn’t even finished unwrapping the Melodi Grand Prix calendar and already the rumour mill is doing cardio. In under two weeks, the artists competing to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed, and while nine of the ten acts will be announced on 19 January, one name is already hovering in the air like a very familiar violin riff.
And yes, it’s that name.
According to increasingly unsubtle hints, Alexander Rybak appears to be circling Melodi Grand Prix once again. Not confirmed. Not denied. Just strongly implied, with the kind of wink that makes eurofans sit upright.
When the Artist Breaks the Silence (Sort Of)
Rybak hasn’t officially said “I’m doing MGP”. That would be far too straightforward. Instead, he welcomed the new year with an Instagram post casually announcing a new album coming in 2026, followed by the tantalising line:
“Get ready for 2026 (coming 19 January).”
Pure coincidence, obviously. Except that 19 January is the exact day NRK will unveil the MGP line-up. Subtlety has never been Eurovision’s strongest skill, and Rybak knows the game better than most.
TV 2 reports that his name has been mentioned multiple times, by multiple sources, within the MGP ecosystem. No confirmation, no denial, just enough smoke to make everyone start checking fire exits.
A Return Nobody Would Be Shocked By
Let’s be honest. This wouldn’t be just any comeback. Rybak is not a nostalgic wildcard or a “remember him?” booking. He’s a Eurovision winner, a two-time Norwegian representative, and one of the contest’s most recognisable faces.
If Norway were to roll him out again, it wouldn’t feel desperate. It would feel… calculated. Safe, but exciting. Familiar, but still capable of surprising. The kind of move that says “we’d quite like to win again, actually”.
And if he is involved, he’d be heading to a very specific battleground.
Lillehammer, High Stakes and One Golden Ticket
This year’s Melodi Grand Prix final will take place in Håkons Hall, in the former Olympic city of Lillehammer, on Saturday 28 February.
The prize is simple and brutal: victory means a direct ticket to Vienna, where the winner will face 34 other countries at Eurovision 2026. No pressure. Just Europe.
So far, TV 2 has not managed to get a comment from Rybak himself, which somehow makes the whole thing louder. Silence, in Eurovision terms, is rarely accidental.
Meanwhile, MGP music manager Tarjei Strøm has leaned into the moment, admitting that rumours are already flying and calling it “great fun”. Which is bureaucratic code for “we see you, and we’re enjoying this”.
The Date Everyone’s Watching
Right now, everything hinges on 19 January. Either the rumours collapse politely, or Norway pulls the lever and lets chaos bloom.
If Rybak’s name appears, nobody will pretend to be surprised. If it doesn’t, eurofans will immediately start analysing whyhe chose that caption, that date, and that tone.
Either way, one thing is certain:
Melodi Grand Prix 2026 hasn’t even announced its artists yet, and Alexander Rybak has already stolen the spotlight.
Some habits never leave you.
Source: TV2
