Croatia Opens Submissions for Dora 2026 — No Auto-Tune Allowed!
Croatia’s road to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna has officially begun! Public broadcaster HRT has opened submissions for Dora 2026, the country’s long-running national selection show — and this time, they’re keeping it strictly real.
Applications are now open via the online form on HRT’s official website, with songwriters, performers and producers all invited to submit their entries.
A professional jury will select 24 songs to compete, along with four backups in case of withdrawals.
Key Rules — Keep It Pure, Keep It Croatian
The rules are clear — and refreshingly strict:
- Songs must be original, unpublished, and never performed publicly.
- Performers must be at least 16 years old and Croatian citizens.
- Entries may run for a maximum of three minutes.
- A maximum of six people are allowed on stage.
- No live animals (sorry, Eurovision dog lovers).
- And yes — no Auto-Tune whatsoever.
That last rule might sting a few pop divas, but HRT insists it’s all about authentic vocals and live performance integrity.
Video Deadline and Logistics
Artists whose songs are selected will be required to submit official photos, biographies, and a music video or lyric video by 5 January 2026.
The winner of Dora 2026 will earn the honour of representing Croatia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, with HRT covering travel and accommodation costs.
The broadcaster also reserves the right to determine the running order and make the final call on staging decisions for the winning entry.
Dora 2026: Live from Opatija (and Online!)
The competition will take place in February 2026, broadcast live on HRT1, HRTi and the official HRT website.
With the country’s recent string of strong results — and growing fan support — expectations are sky-high for Croatia’s next Eurovision hopeful.
So… who will take the stage this time? And, more importantly — who will dare to sing without Auto-Tune?
Source: HRT
