The Norwegian participating broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix 2003 in order to select its entry for the contest.

Twelve entries competed in a show that took place on 1 March 2003 and the winner was determined over two rounds of public televoting.

In the second round of public televoting, "I'm Not Afraid to Move On" performed by Jostein Hasselgård was selected as the winner with 78,460 votes.

The broadcaster has traditionally organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix to select its entry for the contest in all but one of its participation.

Songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit entries, and NRK reserved the right to directly invite certain artists and composers to compete in addition to the public call for submissions.

[11] The interval act of Melodi Grand Prix 2003, performed by the group Cheezy Keys, caused a considerable amount of controversy in Latvia.

Despite intending to incorporate Latvian culture into their performance, the group wore Cossack uniforms and used Russian matryoshka dolls and balalaikas.

Criticism was also made by the Norwegian ambassador in Latvia, Jan Wessel Hegg, who described it as "painfully embarrassing" and "unfortunate for Norway as a country".