Ylvis Were Ready for MGP — Until Israel Entered the Picture
For a while, it felt like one of those rumours that refuses to die.
Ylvis in Melodi Grand Prix. Again. A proper return. Something playful, clever, and very them.
Turns out it wasn’t just fan wishful thinking.
Ylvis had a song ready for Melodi Grand Prix this year. Not a half-idea, not a “maybe someday”. A finished track. A concept designed specifically for MGP. They were in talks. They were considering it seriously.
And then they walked away.
Not because the song didn’t work.
Not because MGP didn’t feel right.
But because of Israel’s participation in Eurovision.
This Wasn’t a Last-Minute Gesture
What makes this story hit differently is the timing.
Ylvis didn’t wait until the artist list was announced. They didn’t drop out dramatically. They didn’t tease a protest on stage. According to their own statement, they were clear with NRK early on: if Israel remained part of Eurovision, they did not want to be involved.
They hoped the European Broadcasting Union would exclude Israel. When it became clear in December that this wasn’t going to happen, they stepped back.
Quietly. Decisively. No show attached.
That alone says a lot.
Choosing Absence Over Performance
In a contest built on visibility, choosing not to show up is a strong move.
Ylvis didn’t want to use MGP as a platform to make a point. They didn’t want to stand on that stage knowing where it ultimately leads. So they removed themselves from the process entirely.
There’s something very Norwegian about that approach. No shouting. No grandstanding. Just: this doesn’t sit right with us, so we’re out.
You can agree or disagree with the stance, but it’s hard to argue it wasn’t thought through.
NRK Keeps It Calm, Almost Casual
From NRK’s side, the reaction has been deliberately low-key.
MGP project lead Mads Tørklep confirmed that talks with Ylvis did happen, but stressed that nothing was ever formally agreed. The discussions ended in early December, and both sides moved on.
No bitterness. No blame. Just one of those industry moments where ideas don’t line up with reality.
Still, this wasn’t a creative mismatch. It was a values one.
Israel, Eurovision, and the Decisions Artists Are Making
Israel’s presence in Eurovision this year has forced a lot of artists into uncomfortable territory. Some choose to participate and stay silent. Some speak up while competing. Others, like Ylvis, decide not to enter the room at all.
What’s interesting is that Ylvis didn’t frame this as a campaign. They didn’t ask fans to pressure anyone. They didn’t demand change. They simply adjusted their own involvement.
That doesn’t make headlines in the usual Eurovision way, but it lingers longer.
MGP Will Go On — But This Absence Will Be Noticed
Melodi Grand Prix 2026 will still be big, glossy and confident. NRK will reveal 16 artists next week, and the final on 28 February in Lillehammer will do exactly what MGP always does.
But there’s now a small “what if” attached to it.
What would Ylvis have brought this year?
What kind of song did we miss?
And how many other artists quietly asked themselves the same questions — and made different choices?
The Song We’ll Never Hear
Somewhere, there’s a finished Ylvis MGP entry that won’t see the light of day. No snippet, no rehearsal clip, no fan ranking.
And oddly enough, that feels fitting.
Because this wasn’t about being seen.
It was about not being there.
In a season where Eurovision keeps colliding with real-world lines people aren’t comfortable crossing, Ylvis chose the simplest option.
They stepped away.
Source: NRK
