[2] Rosenborg were the defending champions, while Bodø/Glimt, Start and Ranheim entered as the promoted teams from the 2017 1. divisjon.

Rosenborg started the season poorly with no win in the first three games, but managed to tighten the gap to Brann.

Head coach Kåre Ingebrigtsen was sacked on 19 July[4] although Rosenborg was placed second in the league, two points behind Brann at the time.

That goal made sure Strømsgodset retained their spot in the next season's Eliteserien, while Stabæk were forced to play relegation play-offs.

They replaced Sogndal, Aalesund and Viking ending their top flight spells of two, eleven and twenty-nine years respectively.