Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest

1990s

Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia became an independent country, and Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) became an EBU member in 1993.

In February 1993, HRT organised HTF - Hrvatski televizijski festival (Croatian television festival),^[4] which was to select the country's debut entry as an independent state for the 1993 contest. The band Put won performing the song "Don't Ever Cry" which was, despite the English title, also partially performed in Croatian. The song came third in the Kvalifikacija za Millstreet pre-selection event, which allowed their participation in the 1993 contest. HTF was also held in 1994 for the 1994 contest, until being renamed to Dora in 1995, the name which is still to this day used for the Croatian pre-selection event. The new name for the contest was inspired by the Croatian composer Dora Pejačević.^[5]

Along with Cyprus, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, Croatia was never relegated in the 1990s, and, unlike Cyprus, Norway, and Portugal, it was never relegated in the beginning of the 21st century. Relegation meant that the country would have to sit out the subsequent contest due to poor placement.

2000s

Croatia continued selecting its participants through Dora for the entirety of the decade. After Vanna's song "Strings of my Heart" finished 10th at the 2001 contest, the country has not achieved a Top 10 placement until placing second at the 2024 contest. The 2007 edition of the contest saw Croatia failing to qualify for the finals for the first time ever. The country qualified for the finals again at the 2008 and 2009 contests, achieving their lowest placements at the time, placing 21st and 18th respectively.

2010s

Both 2010 and 2011 Dora winners, Feminnem and Daria Kinzer respectively, failed to quality for the finals at the 2010 and 2011 contests. In 2012, Dora was cancelled,^[6][7] and for the first time ever since the country's debut in 1993, no pre-selection contest was held. An internal selection was made by HRT instead, with Nina Badrić and Klapa s Mora selected to represent Croatia at the 2012 and 2013 contests respectively. Both entries ultimately continued Croatia's non-qualification streak.

HRT announced on 19 September 2013 that they would not participate in the 2014 contest, citing the financial difficulties, as well as a string of poor results between 2010 and 2013 influencing their decision to take a year's break. The last time Croatia qualified for the grand final at the time was in 2009.^[1] Croatia would not return to the contest in 2015,^[2] and on 5 May 2015, HRT announced that it wouldn't broadcast the 2015 contest either.^[8] It was the first time since 1992 for HRT to not broadcast the contest.

On 26 November 2015, it was announced that Croatia would return to the contest in 2016.^[9] It was also reported that the entry would possibly be the winner of the first season of The Voice – Najljepši glas Hrvatske.^[10] Nina Kraljić won The Voice and was selected to represent Croatia with the internally selected song "Lighthouse". The entry qualified for the final, making it the first time Croatia had made it to the final since 2009. After the successful return in 2016, Croatian national broadcaster HRT confirmed on 17 September 2016 that they would also participate in 2017.^[11] Jacques Houdek, the coach of Nina Kraljić in The Voice, was internally selected to represent the country on 17 February 2017, exactly five months after they confirmed the participation.^[12] Franka Batelić was internally selected to represent the country at the 2018 contest.

On 30 October 2018, it was announced by HRT that the national final, Dora, would return in 2019, traditionally taking place in Opatija, a famous summer resort.^[13] Roko won the first renewed edition of Dora with "The Dream", ultimately failing to qualify for the finals at the 2019 contest.

2020s

In March 2021, it was confirmed that HRT and Opatija had signed a three-year long contract regarding the organization of HRT Music Days and Dora, meaning both of these events were held in the city annually until 2024.^[14] Damir Kedžo won the 2020 edition of Dora with "Divlji vjetre", but did not represent Croatia due to the 2020 contest's cancellation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[15] Albina and Mia Dimšić won the subsequent Dora editions, both failing to qualify for the finals at the 2021 and 2022 contests. Let 3 won Dora in 2023 and went on to secure the country's first finale qualification since 2017, ultimately finishing 13th. The following year's 2024 edition of Dora was held in Zagreb through two semi-final shows on 22 and 23 February, and the final show on 25 February 2024.^[16] Baby Lasagna won with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" and achieved the country's best result to date, having placed second at the 2024 contest. Marko Bošnjak won Dora 2025 and represented Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025; however, the country did not qualify for the Grand Final. Dora 2026 is scheduled to be held to select the Croatian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

Marcel Bezençon Awards

More information Year, Category ...

Year	Category	Song	Performer	Composer(s) lyrics (l) / music (m)	Final result	Points	Host city	Ref.
2024	Press Award	"Rim Tim Tagi Dim"	Baby Lasagna	Marko Purišić	2	547	Malmö	[17]

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Winners by OGAE members

More information Year, Song ...

Year	Song	Performer	OGAE Result	Points	Final Result	Points	Host city	Ref.
2024	"Rim Tim Tagi Dim"	Baby Lasagna	1	356	2	547	Malmö	[18]

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Barbara Dex Award

More information Year, Performer ...

Year	Performer	Host city	Ref.
2016	Nina Kraljić	Stockholm	[19]

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You're a Vision Award

More information Year, Performer ...

Year	Performer	Host city	Ref.
2024	Baby Lasagna	Malmö	[20]

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Conductors

Heads of delegation

Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the contestants, songwriters, composers and backing vocalists, among others.^[21]

Jury members

Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals for the Eurovision Song Contest, ranking all entries except for their own. The modern incarnation of jury voting was introduced beginning with the 2009 contest, and as of 2023^[update], the juries' votes constitute just under 50% of the overall result in the final alongside televoting.^[29]

Commentators and spokespersons

For the show's broadcast on HRT, various commentators have provided commentary on the contest in the Croatian language. At the Eurovision Song Contest after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting country to invite each respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote on-screen.^[39]

From 1961 until 1991, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia and TV Zagreb, the affiliate of JRT in the socialist republic, broadcast the contest with Croatian commentary.