From a new political platform to concrete changes in taxation, immigration and transport policy, there's a lot to unpack about the upcoming year in Norway.
Norway rarely changes direction overnight. Instead, the country tends to adjust gradually, through agreements, pilot schemes and budget compromises that only reveal their full impact over time.
In that sense, 2026 looks set to be a year where policy intentions begin to turn into everyday reality.
For people living in Norway, and for those considering a move, the coming year will bring noticeable changes to working life, taxation, transport and public services.
Many of these developments are connected, shaped by a new political framework that sets the tone for the years ahead.
This is what will actually feel different about living in Norway in 2026.
What Norway’s Government Is Trying To Do
At the heart of many changes coming in 2026 is the Labour government’s newly launched Plan for Norway.
Rather than a traditional coalition platform packed with detailed promises, the plan sets out broad priorities and major projects intended to guide policy for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has framed the plan around the idea of “security”, focusing on five areas: the economy, work and business, children and young people, health, and national security.
The idea is not to present hundreds of individual measures, but to concentrate political energy on a smaller number of strategic goals.
Employment sits at the centre of this approach. The government has set a target of increasing employment by 150,000 people by 2030, a goal that underpins many decisions on taxation, working conditions and welfare.
In practice, this means a growing emphasis on incentives to work, on keeping people in employment longer, and on making full-time work more attractive in sectors struggling with labour shortages.
Healthcare is one such sector. The plan also signals a pragmatic shift in how public services are delivered, including increased use of private providers within the public health system to reduce waiting times. This remains politically controversial, but reflects mounting pressure on hospitals and municipal services.
The plan also points toward a more restrictive tone on immigration, particularly when it comes to labour market regulation and welfare access. While few concrete changes have yet been implemented, the direction is clear and will likely influence future reforms affecting international workers.
At the same time, the government is betting heavily on digitalisation. One stated ambition is that 80% of public sector organisations should be using artificial intelligence by 2030, with the aim of improving efficiency and service delivery.
In 2026, this will increasingly be felt through pilot projects, new digital tools and changes in how public agencies operate.
Housing, education and defence also feature prominently in the plan, though most concrete measures in these areas will emerge later in the term.
Critics from opposition parties argue that the plan lacks detail and urgency, particularly on climate policy. Either way, it provides the political backdrop against which many of 2026’s practical changes should be understood.
Changes to Working Life in Norway
One of the most concrete changes arriving in 2026 affects working conditions in municipal healthcare, a sector that employs large numbers of both Norwegian and international workers.
From 1 March, 2026, a new central agreement will regulate the use of long shifts, typically defined as shifts lasting more than 12.5 hours. Long shifts have become increasingly common in healthcare.
For the first time, a nationwide agreement sets clear rules on compensation, rest and voluntariness. Employees working long shifts at weekends will receive a fixed bonus, while paid breaks are guaranteed during extended working hours. Strict rules on compensatory rest are also reinforced.
Crucially, participation in long shifts remains voluntary. Employers cannot impose 15-hour shifts unilaterally, and local agreements between unions and management are required before such working patterns can be introduced.
The unions involved have described the agreement as historic, reflecting how widespread long shifts have become despite previously weak regulation.
Taxes, Deductions and Who Pays Less in 2026
Taxes in Norway are another area where 2026 brings both immediate changes and longer-term experiments.
One of the most unusual developments is what has become known as Norway’s tax lottery. Around 100,000 people aged between 20 and 35 have been randomly selected to receive a work deduction on their income for up to five years.
Those chosen will see less tax deducted from their salary each month in 2026, with potential savings of up to 27,500 kroner per year depending on income.
The scheme is a government trial designed to study how tax incentives affect employment participation. Selection is complete and cannot be appealed. If you were not chosen, you will not be added later.
At the same time, the Norwegian Tax Administration has admitted it previously applied commuter deduction rules too strictly. As a result, cases from 2020 to 2023 are being reviewed, with affected taxpayers set to receive refunds automatically.
This is particularly relevant for international workers, especially those from the EEA. New interpretations make it easier to qualify as a commuter even if you share a family home with parents, rent out part of your permanent home, or have lower documented housing costs than previously required.
For many foreign workers, this correction could mean unexpected refunds arriving during 2026. It also highlights the importance of understanding Norway’s complex tax system, where interpretations can matter as much as written rules.
Even for those unaffected by these specific changes, the 2026 tax card is worth checking carefully. It has been redesigned to resemble the tax return, and errors in estimated income or deductions can still lead to unpleasant surprises later.
Getting Around Norway
Transport is another area where the effects of the 2026 state budget will be widely felt.
For public transport users, there is good news. Monthly ticket prices are set to fall by around 100 kroner nationwide, easing costs for commuters in cities and rural areas alike. Additional funding for county authorities is also intended to prevent cuts to bus routes that many regions had warned were imminent.
Looking further ahead, planning continues for a national monthly pass that would allow unlimited travel across trains, buses, trams and ferries. While this “Norgeskortet” is not expected before 2027, 2026 will be a key year for shaping how such a scheme might work.
In Oslo, commuters should brace for a mix of disruption and long-term improvement. The metro system is undergoing a major upgrade to a new digital signalling system that will allow more frequent and reliable services. Until the work is completed, passengers can expect disruption.
Drivers will also notice changes. Road toll charges continue to rise with inflation, and electric vehicles are gradually paying a higher share of standard toll rates as local authorities seek to protect revenue. In Oslo, new toll rates come into force from January.
Enforcement is also tightening. Police and road authorities will increase winter checks, and drivers caught using inappropriate tyres risk fines and licence suspension.
Fewer Electric Car Incentives
Norway remains the world leader in electric vehicle adoption, with nearly a third of all passenger cars now fully electric. However, 2026 marks a clear shift away from the generous incentives that drove the early transition.
From January 1st, buyers of new electric cars will pay VAT on the portion of the purchase price above 300,000 kroner, down from the previous threshold of 500,000 kroner. Over the following years, this exemption will be reduced further, with full VAT applying to all electric cars from 2028.
The government has softened earlier plans to remove the exemption abruptly, opting instead for a gradual phase-in that avoids a sudden cost shock. Even so, buying a new electric car in 2026 will be noticeably more expensive than in recent years.
There is some balance. Fuel taxes on petrol and diesel will not increase in 2026, easing pressure on drivers who have not yet switched. Charging is also set to become simpler, with proposed rules requiring all charging stations to accept standard bank cards, removing the need for multiple apps and subscriptions.
Cities may also gain the power to introduce zero-emission zones, banning fossil-fuel vehicles from certain areas. Oslo is widely expected to move first, though any implementation will follow further analysis and local decisions.
Norway in 2026 will feel familiar. But it will also feel subtly different, and those differences are unlikely to fade quickly.
