The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2006 in order to select its entry for the contest.

Eight entries ultimately qualified to compete in the final on 4 February 2006 where the winner was determined over two rounds of public televoting.

In the second round of public televoting, "Alvedansen" performed by Christine Guldbrandsen was selected as the winner with 77,568 votes.

As one of the ten highest placed finishers in 2005, Norway automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

[2] NRK has traditionally organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix to select its entry for the contest in all but one of its participation.

All shows were hosted by Synnøve Svabø and Stian Barsnes Simonsen and televised on NRK1 with commentary by Jostein Pedersen as well as streamed online at NRK's official website nrk.no.

In each semi-final the top two directly qualified to the final, while the third and fourth placed songs proceeded to the Last Chance round.

In the Gold Final, the results of the public televote were revealed by Norway's five regions and led to the victory of "Alvedansen" performed by Christine Guldbrandsen with 77,568 votes.

Melodi Grand Prix project manager Stian Malme stated that there were many songs written by Swedes because "they were simply among the better ones".

[15][16] On 3 March, NRK held a debate with Norwegian songwriters to raise their participation in future editions of Melodi Grand Prix.

[17] According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the 2005 contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final.