Croatia’s public broadcaster HRT has officially opened submissions for Dora 2027, the national selection contest that will choose the country’s next representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas. Interested artists and composers have until November 29, 2026, to submit their original tracks for consideration in the February final.
HRT Opens Submissions and Sets Rules for the 2027 Contest
The road to the international stage is officially underway in Croatia. Broadcaster HRT has opened its application window for Dora 2027, inviting music creators to submit their material through the network’s official portal. The submission period runs until Sunday, November 29, 2026, giving talent across the country a strict window to lock in their potential entries.
🇭🇷 Croatia is officially back for Eurovision 2027! 🇭🇷HRT has confirmed Croatia’s participation in the contest in Burgas, while the submission window for Dora 2027 is now officially open! 🎶Who will represent Croatia at #Eurovision 2027? 👀https://t.co/a7uZY2uu5I
Rules for the competition remain tightly focused on originality and live performance quality. Submitted tracks must be completely original and unreleased prior to the contest, with a strict runtime cap of three minutes. Performers must hold Croatian citizenship and reach at least 18 years of age by the date of their semi-final appearance. Stage presence is also capped, allowing a maximum of six people in any single performance.
Vocal standards remain uncompromising. HRT mandates that lead vocals must be performed live, explicitly barring pitch-correction software such as Auto-Tune from the primary vocal track.
How the Professional Panel Will Shape the 24-Song Field
Once the submission window closes at the end of November, a professional selection panel steps in to evaluate the eligible entries. Out of the submitted pool, the panel will curate a 24-song competing field for the televised national final.
To safeguard against unexpected dropouts, the selection committee will also name four reserve songs. This system carries historical weight in the contest. For Dora 2024, Baby Lasagna’s track Rim Tim Tagi Dim originally secured a spot only as a reserve entry before stepping into the main lineup due to another participant’s withdrawal. The song went on to win Dora and finish in second place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Croatia was represented on the international stage by Dora champions LELEK. The five-piece ensemble performed Andromeda at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, advancing to the Grand Final and finishing in 15th place with 124 points.
What Lies Ahead for the February National Final
With the autumn submission deadline fast approaching, attention shifts to the jury-selection stage. HRT has confirmed that Dora 2027 will take place in February, though the broadcaster has not yet published the precise show dates.
The ultimate prize for whoever triumphs on the Dora stage is a direct ticket abroad. The winning artist and song will carry Croatia’s banner to the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, scheduled to take place in Burgas.
