Norway is substantially bolstering its national preparedness, initiating a series of large-scale military and civilian exercises culminating in 2026.Driven by a heightened security landscape and lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, the country is preparing for a range of potential crises, including the possibility of direct conflict. state Secretary Kristine Joy Nordenson Kallset confirmed the exercises – beginning with a cybersecurity drill this November – are designed to test the readiness of both state and private sectors, and ensure a coordinated national response to any future emergency.
Norway is preparing for a range of potential crises, including hybrid threats and outright war, according to a top government official. The announcement comes as the country plans a series of large-scale exercises in the coming years designed to test its readiness across both civilian and military sectors.
The exercises will culminate in 2026, but will begin with a preview this year on November 26 and 27 with “Digital 2025,” a drill involving around 60 public and private sector organizations focused on defending against cyberattacks.
How Norway Will Practice for War and Crises
Table of Contents
Cold Response 2026
In March, thousands of Norwegian and allied soldiers will train to defend Norway and its surrounding areas. Cold Response is a Norwegian-led winter exercise held every other year and represents the largest military exercise in Norway in 2026. Visible military activity will occur in Northern Norway before, during, and after the exercise.
“Norway Exercises”
The “Norway Exercises” will be conducted in the fall of 2026 and linked to National Preparedness Week. The ambition is for all Norwegian municipalities to conduct a discussion exercise about their responsibilities and roles in wartime. This exercise is planned for June.
National Preparedness Week 2026
National Preparedness Week 2026 is under planning and will take place in week 44. The main message is that everyone should consider what events could occur, such as the loss of critical infrastructure like electricity, water, and mobile networks, and plan to take care of themselves and those around them for at least one week.
TDX 2026
Exercise Total Defense 2026 (TDX 26) will be held in the fall of 2026 and is a so-called simulation exercise. DSB is planning the exercise in collaboration with companies from the public and private sectors. The exercise tests the authorities’ ability to make good and effective decisions in a pressured situation, as well as the consequences of such emergency decisions.
Digital 2025
From November 26 to 27 this year, the Digital 2025 exercise will be carried out, a simulation exercise. In a simulation exercise, the actors will often be in their usual locations, with the tools they normally have available. The opposing players are in other locations and control the exercise based on a list of inputs (script). This exercise is led by DSB in collaboration with the National Security Authority (NSM). Around 60 companies from the public and private sectors will participate. The purpose is to strengthen society’s ability to withstand cyberattacks.
Will Reach the Public
“This is not just about military defense, but about protecting the population, critical infrastructure, and the functions of society,” said State Secretary Kristine Joy Nordenson Kallset.
— How will the public notice the upcoming exercises?
“The goal is for as many people as possible to notice these exercises and for us to get all parts of society involved. The exercises ahead cover everything from the most specialized parts with exercises in the Armed Forces to state enterprises, directorates and municipalities. And during preparedness week, the goal is to reach the general public,” Kallset said.
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Nordic Cooperation
As Norway prepares to practice crisis management and preparedness in 2026, representatives from other Nordic countries have been invited to participate. The Haga Cooperation – which began in 2009 – provides the political framework for this work. The cooperation has become closer in recent years and gained even greater importance after Finland and Sweden joined NATO.
Kallset was in Helsinki on November 13 to discuss total preparedness and joint exercises with her Nordic colleagues.
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Learning from Ukraine
Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen hosted the meeting, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between Ukraine and the Nordic countries.
“Together, we will continue our strong support for Ukraine. We have much to learn from Ukraine, especially about the resilience of civil society, civil preparedness, rescue services, and civil-military cooperation,”
Rantanen stated regarding the Helsinki meeting.
Kallset explained what the war in Ukraine has taught them:
“There are many lessons to be learned and close, ongoing contact between European countries and Ukraine to learn from their experiences. We are reviewing, among other things, fire and rescue services, the volunteer rescue service, and what police tasks look like in a war situation.”
COOPERATION: Nordic ministers with responsibility for civil preparedness met in Helsinki on November 13. The meeting was part of the Haga Cooperation and was led by Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen.
Photo: Finnish Ministry of the Interior
Planning for War
In January, the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) approved a report on Norway’s total preparedness. The report outlined the measures needed to better equip Norway to handle crises and war.
“The Storting discussed the report in the spring. A key message is that we must plan for the most extreme end of the crisis spectrum, that is, plan for war. We want people to know what they must do if they find themselves in such a situation,” Kallset said.
She said much of the planning so far has been based on frameworks from the Cold War era.
“In 2025, we focused on getting the planning in place, and in 2026 we will practice these new plans. Then it is ultimately about who will have which tasks in a crisis and war.”
PRACTICE MORE: Norway will practice more on both military and civil preparedness.
Photo: Stian Olberg (DSB)
Municipal Responsibilities
— What is new for municipalities in Norway?
“Municipalities have important preparedness plans in place, much related to events in peacetime, such as natural disasters. Now we are working on guidelines for municipalities on what their tasks are in a war. This involves keeping civil society functioning, but perhaps with fewer resources, as some will disappear to serve in the Armed Forces. The challenge then becomes solving these tasks with fewer people.”
The State Secretary said the exercises in Total Defense Year 2026 aim to strengthen the interaction between civilian and military resources, between private and volunteer actors.
— Could there be war in Norway?
“We must have plans in place for the worst-case scenario. Although we do not consider it likely that there will be hostilities in Norway, being prepared, having plans and having practiced these scenarios is part of a credible deterrence,” the State Secretary said.
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