Norway has launched APA 2026, offering 70 offshore exploration blocks for competitive bidding across the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and North Sea.
The Awards in Predefined Areas round mainly covers mature exploration areas on the Norwegian continental shelf. The offering includes 38 blocks in the Barents Sea, 10 blocks in the Norwegian Sea and 22 blocks in the North Sea.
Bids are due on 1 September 2026, and the government aims to award the blocks in early 2027.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway’s oil and gas industry remains important to Norway and Europe. He said the new APA acreage is intended to support petroleum development, national employment, public welfare and Europe’s energy security.
The 2026 APA round also includes acreage nominated last autumn by oil and gas companies for the planned 26th licensing round. That round is more focused on frontier areas than APA, but the government said it will not be held in 2026.
Minister of Energy Terje Aasland said annual licensing rounds and stable, predictable framework conditions are important for Norway’s petroleum policy. He said the APA expansion should support both larger new opportunities and continued exploration near existing infrastructure.
