Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-four times since its first entry in . Norway had won the contest on three occasions: in 1985 with the song "La det swinge" performed by Bobbysocks!, in 1995 with the song "Nocturne" performed by Secret Garden and in 2009 with the song "Fairytale" performed by Alexander Rybak. Norway also had the two dubious distinctions of having finished last in the Eurovision final more than any other country and for having the most "nul points" (zero points) in the contest, the latter being a record the nation shared together with Austria. The country
Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Slovakia returned to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 after an 11-year absence in the Eurovision Song Contest. After withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest after three poor results from 1994 to 1998, Slovenská Televízia (STV) was reluctant to return to the contest due to budget problems in the broadcaster, however, after 11 years, Slovakia returned to the contest in Moscow. The program director of STV stated that pressure from local artists was the driving force behind the country's return. The fourth Slovak entry at Eurovision was chosen through a national final, held between