Preparations for Dora 2025 are in full swing in Croatia, as broadcaster HRT confirms it received 221 submissions for next year.
Record submissions for Dora 2025
Following Baby Lasagna’s impressive second place in Malmö, HRT has been keen to capitalise on his success. As a result, the broadcaster opened its submissions window earlier than usual, encouraging artists to send in their songs.
The submissions window closed last Friday (November 15th), with HRT confirming 221 songs were sent to the broadcaster. This is the highest number of submitted entries since Dora returned as a national selection in 2019.
Only artists could submit entries that had not been performed for the public or released in any way. Authors must have also had the full rights to the song’s music and lyrics, in accordance with Dora’s regulations.
HRT’s internal committee will now listen to all 221 songs and evaluate how many can advance to the televised selection. Dora 2025 will take place in the second half of February, but the location has not been confirmed. Previously, the show has been held in the coastal town of Opatija, but in 2024 was moved to HRT studios in Zagreb.
Croatia’s Eurovision journey
Croatia has been a part of the Eurovision family since 1961, as part of Yugoslavia. Ten Croatian artists went on to represent Yugoslavia in the Contest – the most famous of which being Riva, who gave Yugoslavia its only win in 1989. The 1990 Contest was held in Zagreb as a tribute to their Croatian heritage.
Croatia debuted in the Contest as an independent nation in 1993 with the band Put and their song “Don’t Ever Cry”. Since then, Croatia has gone on to score as high as 2nd place in 2024. For 2024, Croatia chose Baby Lasagna to represent the nation in Malmö with their song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”. Performing in the first semi-final, Croatia qualified for the Grand Final, winning the semi-final in the process. In the Grand Final, Baby Lasagna finished in 2nd place, with a total of 547 points – 210 of which coming from juries, whilst another 337 came from the televote. This was the highest televoting score in the Grand Final of the 2024 contest.
What do you make of the number of submissions for Dora 2025? Who would you like to see represent Croatia next year? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2025!
News Source: HRT
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson / EBU
Giwrgos Oiko