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Croatia’s broadcaster HRT has officially opened the call for entries to Dora 2026, the competition that will decide the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. From 22 September until 23 November 2025, artists, composers and producers can submit songs through HRT’s dedicated online portal. The chosen acts will compete in live shows scheduled for February 2026, broadcast on HTV, HRTi and hrt.hr.
The regulations, published by HRT, confirm that a professional jury will select 24 competing songs from the submissions, alongside four reserve entries in case of withdrawals. All songs must be original, no longer than three minutes, and unpublished prior to submission. Performers must be Croatian citizens aged at least 16 at the time of entry, and each stage performance will be limited to a maximum of six people. HRT has also imposed clear restrictions: the use of Auto-Tune is banned, live animals are not permitted on stage, and artists cannot alter their song’s title, lyrics, language or performers after selection.
For the first time, the rules also stipulate language requirements: entries must be sung either in Croatian or in another official European language. Alongside their audio tracks, selected acts must provide official photographs, biographies, and a music video or lyric video. Technical deliverables such as additional audio stems and stage plans will be required closer to the live shows.
When it comes to voting, the Dora 2026 winner will be chosen through a combined system of jury evaluation and public televoting. The precise composition of juries and the weight of the televote will be confirmed by 23 January 2026, ahead of the televised competition. The winning artist will go on to represent Croatia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, with HRT covering travel and accommodation costs while retaining authority over staging and running order.
With the submission window now open, Croatian artists have two months to prepare their entries. The 24 finalists will be revealed once the jury concludes its assessment of artistic merit, paving the way for February’s live shows. Dora’s long history as Croatia’s Eurovision gateway continues, but with tighter rules and a renewed emphasis on professionalism, HRT hopes to build on recent successes and make a strong impression in Vienna.
Sources: HRT Magazine – “Otvoren natječaj za DORU 2026” (22 Sept 2025); HRT Dora 2026 Official Rules PDF (16 Sept 2025).
