Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Last updated

Croatia in the
Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Participating broadcaster Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT)
CountryFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Selection processDora2026
Selection date15 February 2026
Participation chronology
◄20252026

Croatia is set to be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The Croatian participating broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), will organise the national final Dora 2026 in order to select its entry for the contest.

Contents

Background

Prior to the 2026 contest, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Croatia 30 times since its first entry in 1993. Its best result in the contest was second, achieved in 2024 with the song "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" performed by Baby Lasagna. This was also its first top-five finish since "Marija Magdalena" by Doris Dragović in 1999. Following the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, Croatia had thus far featured in nine finals. [1] In 2025, Croatia failed to qualify to the final with Marko Bošnjak and the song "Poison Cake". [1]

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, HRT organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. HRT confirmed its participation in the 2026 contest on 22 September 2025. [2] Between 1993 and 2011, HRT organised the national final Dora in order to select its entry. In 2012 and 2013, the broadcaster opted to internally select its entry and continued the internal selection procedure from 2016 to 2018 after missing the contest in 2014 and 2015. Since 2019, it returned to use Dora to select its entry, a method that will be continued for its 2026 participation. [2] [3]

Before Eurovision

Dora 2026

Dora 2026 will be the twenty-seventh edition of the national selection Dora organised by HRT to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The competition will take place at the HRT studios in Zagreb and will consist of two semi-finals and a final in February 2026. [4] [5]

Competing entries

On 22 September 2025, HRT opened a submission period where artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster with the deadline on 15 November 2024. [3] 251 entries were received by the broadcaster during the submission period, a new record since Dora was relaunched in 2019. [6] [7] A seven-member expert committee consisting of Tihomir Preradović (composer and music producer), Denis Mujadžić (composer and music producer), Ivana Kindl (singer), Mia Negovetić (singer, composer, voice actress), Monika Lelas Halambek (radio host and editor), Jelena Balent (music editor and singer) and Davor Medaković (music editor) reviewed the received submissions and selected twenty-four artists and songs as well as four backup entries for the competition. [8] HRT announced the competing entries on 3 December 2025. [9] On 10 December 2024, HRT announced that Karolina Ilić was disqualified from the competition due to not being a Croatian citizen, and that she would be replaced by Gabrijel Ivić. [10] [11]

  Entry disqualified   Replacement entry

Dora2026 contestants
ArtistSongSongwriter(s)
Alen Đuras"From Ashes to Flame"
  • Alen Đuras
  • Siniša Reljić Simba
Ananda"Dora"
  • Ananda Đuranović
  • Diogo Guerra
  • Dora Pejačević
  • Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman
  • Ynke Dingenen
Cold Snap  [ hr ]"Mucho Macho"
Devin"Over Me"Devin Juraj
Ema Bubić"Vrijeme za nas"Lara Pilepić
Fenksta  [ hr ]"Memento mori"
  • Abby Dank
  • Emma Gale
  • Saša Stević
Fran Uccellini"Ako bolje bude sutra"Fran Uccellini
Gabrijel Ivić"Light Up"
  • Gabrijel Ivić
  • Jun Ishida
Irma"Ni traga"
  • Anja Grabovac
  • Jan Jakovljev
Ivan Sever"Crying Eyes"
  • Aidan O'Connor
  • Ivan Sever
  • John Doherty
Jasmina Makota"Higher"
  • Jasmina Makota
  • Marin Hraščanec
Kandžija"3 ujutro"Stjepko Galović
Karolina Ilić"Breathe Her In"
  • Karolina Ilić
  • Gabriel Ottosson
Lana Mandarić"Tama"
  • Lana Mandarić
  • Zorana Šiljeg
Lara Demarin"Mantra"
  • Ananda Đuranović
  • Lara Demarin
  • Luka Demarin
Lelek"Andromeda"
Lima Len"Raketa"
  • Alen Kozić
  • Damir Božanić
Marko Kutlić "Neotuđivo"Marko Kutlić
Noelle"Uninterrupted"
  • Bonnie Max
  • Filipe Nicolau
  • Ivana Crnković
  • Larissa Tormey
  • Rebecca Lane
Ritam Noir"Profumi di mare"Moris Orbanić
Sergej"Scream"
Stela Rade"Nema te"
  • Anja Grabovac
  • Jan Jakovljev
ToMa "Ledina"
  • Jan Jakovljev
  • Tomislav Marić
Toni Sky"O ne!"Toni Volar
Zevin"My Mind"
  • Jernej Drnovšek
  • Nives Cilenšek
Backup entries
#ArtistSongSongwriter(s)
1Gabrijel Ivić"Light Up"
  • Gabrijel Ivić
  • Jun Ishida
2Dorian Stipčić"Loved"
  • Ema Dujmović
3Bria"Soho"
  • Lukša Vučlč
  • Montana
  • Branimir Ančlć
4Vanessa Kralj"Tišina prije kiše"
  • Vanessa Kraij
  • Hrvoje Domazet
  • Ante Domazet

References

  1. 1 2 "Croatia". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (22 September 2025). "Croatia: HRT confirms participation at Eurovision 2026". ESCToday. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Otvoren natječaj za DORU 2026". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. "Croatia prepares for Eurovision selection as Dora 2026 finalists revealed". Croatia Week. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. "Croatia: Dora 2026". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  6. Conte, Davide (24 November 2025). "🇭🇷 Croatia: Record Number of Applications for Dora 2026". Eurovoix. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  7. "Croatia's 'Dora' lineup revealed". Eurovision Song Contest. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  8. "Dora 2026.: 24 pjesme u utrci za Eurosong". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. De-re, Julien (3 December 2025). "🇭🇷 Croatia: Dora 2026 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. Conte, Davide (10 December 2025). "🇭🇷 Croatia: Karolina Ilić Disqualified from Dora 2026". Eurovoix. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  11. "Gabrijel Ivić na Dori 2026. s pjesmom "Light Up" umjesto Karoline Ilić". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 January 2026.