Melodi Grand Prix 2009 , the Norwegian national final , selected the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 . The entire contest was to be hosted by last year 's Norwegian entry Maria Haukaas Storeng and past MGP host and Eurovision commentator Per Sundnes . For 2009 , at least 50 % of the songwriting team must be Norwegian or live in Norway which is due to the success of Norway in the 2008 contest with Norwegian songwriter Mira Craig . Additionally , NRK has announced that foreign singers will not be allowed to compete . More than 350 songs were submitted , less than the more than 600 in 2007 , but a respectable figure when the new songwriter rules are taken into consideration . The 21 artists selected to compete in Melodi Grand Prix 2009 will be announced over three weeks : the artists of the first semi-final will be announced on the week beginning 22 December , and the artists in the second and third semi-final will be revealed in the weeks commencing 29 December and 5 January respectively . The three semi-finals of the contest were held on 24 January , 31 January and 7 February 2009 , along with a second chance round , which was held on 14 February , and the final of the contest , held on 21 February 2009
2008 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009