Dora 2026, the contest that selects Croatia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, is taking place for the 27th time from February 12 to 15 in Zagreb at the HRT studio. The first semi-final night will feature twelve performers, each vying for the prestigious Dora trophy and the opportunity to represent Croatia at the Eurovision event in May, held this year in Vienna.

The twelve contestants for the semi-final are announced, including artists such as Lima Len with 'Raketa', Jasmina Makota with 'Higher', and the band Cold Snap with 'MUCHO MACHO', among others. The competition is designed to bring forward diverse musical talent from Croatia and engage the public to participate in the decision-making process to determine the finalists.

Viewer voting is crucial in this phase of the contest, as the audience will decide which performers move on through televoting via SMS and calls. In the grand finale, the best song will be chosen through a combination of votes from the public and a jury, ensuring that both the audience and expert opinions shape Croatia's entry for the Eurovision stage.