diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c3b9c2adce..09d4c95155 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@
     "@vitejs/plugin-react": "^5.1.4",
     "babel-plugin-graphql-tag": "^3.3.0",
     "concurrently": "^9.2.1",
-    "esbuild": "^0.27.3",
     "eslint": "^9.39.4",
     "eslint-config-ndla": "^6.0.14-alpha.0",
     "jsdom": "^28.1.0",
@@ -126,6 +125,7 @@
     "oxfmt": "^0.36.0",
     "postcss": "^8.5.8",
     "postcss-preset-env": "^11.2.0",
+    "rolldown": "^1.0.0-rc.8",
     "tsx": "^4.21.0",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3",
     "typescript-eslint": "^8.56.1",
diff --git a/scripts/build-server.mjs b/scripts/build-server.mjs
index d614f60943..3822a0d928 100644
--- a/scripts/build-server.mjs
+++ b/scripts/build-server.mjs
@@ -6,26 +6,16 @@
  *
  */
 
-import * as esbuild from "esbuild";
+import { build } from "rolldown";
 
-await esbuild.build({
-  entryPoints: ["src/server.ts"],
-  bundle: true,
-  format: "esm",
+await build({
+  input: "src/server.ts",
   platform: "node",
-  target: "esnext",
-  ignoreAnnotations: true,
-  sourcemap: true,
-  sourcesContent: false,
   external: ["vite"],
-  outfile: "build/server.js",
-  // Vite automatically handles SSR env variables, covering most of our application.
-  // However, we also need to define it here to cover the small portion of our backend that runs outside of Vite.
-  define: {
-    "import.meta.env.SSR": "true",
-  },
-  // Mixing ESM and CJS is still a struggle. This is a workaround for now.
-  banner: {
-    js: `import { createRequire } from 'module';const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);`,
+  output: {
+    file: "build/server.js",
+    format: "esm",
+    codeSplitting: false,
+    sourcemap: true,
   },
 });
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 6288524733..246c3bd964 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -1151,6 +1151,34 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@emnapi/core@npm:^1.7.1":
+  version: 1.8.1
+  resolution: "@emnapi/core@npm:1.8.1"
+  dependencies:
+    "@emnapi/wasi-threads": "npm:1.1.0"
+    tslib: "npm:^2.4.0"
+  checksum: 10c0/2c242f4b49779bac403e1cbcc98edacdb1c8ad36562408ba9a20663824669e930bc8493be46a2522d9dc946b8d96cd7073970bae914928c7671b5221c85b432e
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@emnapi/runtime@npm:^1.7.1":
+  version: 1.8.1
+  resolution: "@emnapi/runtime@npm:1.8.1"
+  dependencies:
+    tslib: "npm:^2.4.0"
+  checksum: 10c0/f4929d75e37aafb24da77d2f58816761fe3f826aad2e37fa6d4421dac9060cbd5098eea1ac3c9ecc4526b89deb58153852fa432f87021dc57863f2ff726d713f
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@emnapi/wasi-threads@npm:1.1.0":
+  version: 1.1.0
+  resolution: "@emnapi/wasi-threads@npm:1.1.0"
+  dependencies:
+    tslib: "npm:^2.4.0"
+  checksum: 10c0/e6d54bf2b1e64cdd83d2916411e44e579b6ae35d5def0dea61a3c452d9921373044dff32a8b8473ae60c80692bdc39323e98b96a3f3d87ba6886b24dd0ef7ca1
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@envelop/core@npm:^5.4.0":
   version: 5.4.0
   resolution: "@envelop/core@npm:5.4.0"
@@ -2720,6 +2748,17 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@napi-rs/wasm-runtime@npm:^1.1.1":
+  version: 1.1.1
+  resolution: "@napi-rs/wasm-runtime@npm:1.1.1"
+  dependencies:
+    "@emnapi/core": "npm:^1.7.1"
+    "@emnapi/runtime": "npm:^1.7.1"
+    "@tybys/wasm-util": "npm:^0.10.1"
+  checksum: 10c0/04d57b67e80736e41fe44674a011878db0a8ad893f4d44abb9d3608debb7c174224cba2796ed5b0c1d367368159f3ca6be45f1c59222f70e32ddc880f803d447
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@ndla/article-converter@npm:^10.0.185-alpha.0":
   version: 10.0.185-alpha.0
   resolution: "@ndla/article-converter@npm:10.0.185-alpha.0"
@@ -3033,6 +3072,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@oxc-project/types@npm:=0.115.0":
+  version: 0.115.0
+  resolution: "@oxc-project/types@npm:0.115.0"
+  checksum: 10c0/47fc31eb3fb3fcf4119955339f92ba2003f9b445834c1a28ed945cd6b9cd833c7ba66fca88aa5277336c2c55df300a593bc67970e544691eceaa486ebe12cb58
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@oxfmt/binding-android-arm-eabi@npm:0.36.0":
   version: 0.36.0
   resolution: "@oxfmt/binding-android-arm-eabi@npm:0.36.0"
@@ -3430,6 +3476,113 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@rolldown/binding-android-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-android-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=android & cpu=arm64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-darwin-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-darwin-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=darwin & cpu=arm64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-darwin-x64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-darwin-x64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=darwin & cpu=x64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-freebsd-x64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-freebsd-x64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=freebsd & cpu=x64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-arm-gnueabihf@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm-gnueabihf@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=arm
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=arm64 & libc=glibc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-musl@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-musl@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=arm64 & libc=musl
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-ppc64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-ppc64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=ppc64 & libc=glibc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-s390x-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-s390x-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=s390x & libc=glibc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-gnu@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=x64 & libc=glibc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-musl@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-musl@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=linux & cpu=x64 & libc=musl
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-openharmony-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-openharmony-arm64@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=openharmony & cpu=arm64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-wasm32-wasi@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-wasm32-wasi@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  dependencies:
+    "@napi-rs/wasm-runtime": "npm:^1.1.1"
+  conditions: cpu=wasm32
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-win32-arm64-msvc@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-win32-arm64-msvc@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=win32 & cpu=arm64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@rolldown/binding-win32-x64-msvc@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/binding-win32-x64-msvc@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  conditions: os=win32 & cpu=x64
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@rolldown/pluginutils@npm:1.0.0-rc.3":
   version: 1.0.0-rc.3
   resolution: "@rolldown/pluginutils@npm:1.0.0-rc.3"
@@ -3437,6 +3590,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@rolldown/pluginutils@npm:1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "@rolldown/pluginutils@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  checksum: 10c0/a451e422ec1b5c867231e13c35f8ca9fda50f56340c76ef75e23c2ece0731ca2fe6393854ca874b0ba326421cced705c752cfb8592e8481397d3b23206b1e8ef
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@rollup/rollup-android-arm-eabi@npm:4.59.0":
   version: 4.59.0
   resolution: "@rollup/rollup-android-arm-eabi@npm:4.59.0"
@@ -3916,6 +4076,15 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@tybys/wasm-util@npm:^0.10.1":
+  version: 0.10.1
+  resolution: "@tybys/wasm-util@npm:0.10.1"
+  dependencies:
+    tslib: "npm:^2.4.0"
+  checksum: 10c0/b255094f293794c6d2289300c5fbcafbb5532a3aed3a5ffd2f8dc1828e639b88d75f6a376dd8f94347a44813fd7a7149d8463477a9a49525c8b2dcaa38c2d1e8
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@types/aria-query@npm:^5.0.1":
   version: 5.0.4
   resolution: "@types/aria-query@npm:5.0.4"
@@ -7103,7 +7272,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"esbuild@npm:^0.27.0, esbuild@npm:^0.27.3, esbuild@npm:~0.27.0":
+"esbuild@npm:^0.27.0, esbuild@npm:~0.27.0":
   version: 0.27.3
   resolution: "esbuild@npm:0.27.3"
   dependencies:
@@ -9807,7 +9976,6 @@ __metadata:
     babel-plugin-graphql-tag: "npm:^3.3.0"
     concurrently: "npm:^9.2.1"
     cross-env: "npm:^10.1.0"
-    esbuild: "npm:^0.27.3"
     eslint: "npm:^9.39.4"
     eslint-config-ndla: "npm:^6.0.14-alpha.0"
     express: "npm:5.2.1"
@@ -9833,6 +10001,7 @@ __metadata:
     react-hook-form: "npm:^7.53.2"
     react-i18next: "npm:^16.5.3"
     react-router: "npm:^7.12.0"
+    rolldown: "npm:^1.0.0-rc.8"
     rxjs: "npm:^7.8.2"
     serialize-javascript: "npm:^7.0.4"
     sirv: "npm:^3.0.2"
@@ -11423,6 +11592,64 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"rolldown@npm:^1.0.0-rc.8":
+  version: 1.0.0-rc.8
+  resolution: "rolldown@npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  dependencies:
+    "@oxc-project/types": "npm:=0.115.0"
+    "@rolldown/binding-android-arm64": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-darwin-arm64": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-darwin-x64": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-freebsd-x64": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm-gnueabihf": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-gnu": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-musl": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-ppc64-gnu": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-s390x-gnu": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-gnu": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-musl": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-openharmony-arm64": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-wasm32-wasi": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-win32-arm64-msvc": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/binding-win32-x64-msvc": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+    "@rolldown/pluginutils": "npm:1.0.0-rc.8"
+  dependenciesMeta:
+    "@rolldown/binding-android-arm64":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-darwin-arm64":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-darwin-x64":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-freebsd-x64":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm-gnueabihf":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-gnu":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-arm64-musl":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-ppc64-gnu":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-s390x-gnu":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-gnu":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-linux-x64-musl":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-openharmony-arm64":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-wasm32-wasi":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-win32-arm64-msvc":
+      optional: true
+    "@rolldown/binding-win32-x64-msvc":
+      optional: true
+  bin:
+    rolldown: bin/cli.mjs
+  checksum: 10c0/791354cc0248e4cd9c303b311041995a99631f6136bc3f63b080d840caff2519fbdad0ed3594f4667d50101859a887cddd265a5b3795193714e8ec8f3005f261
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "rollup@npm:^4.43.0":
   version: 4.59.0
   resolution: "rollup@npm:4.59.0"