Could we see the return of the Croatian national selection, Dora, at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest? According to recent reports, it seems the most likely selection option for the nation!
Debuting at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993, Croatia had a long tradition of selecting their entries for the competition via the selection process: Dora.
With their best results being in both 1996 and 1999 – in which both entries placed in 4th position – the country saw a decline in results in later years, failing to qualify over 4 consecutive years, from 2010 right up until 2013.
The Croatian national broadcaster, HRT, decided to drop the country’s national selection in 2011 and has since opted to select Croatia’s entries via an internal selection, bringing mixed results over the years. The past 2 years, however, has seen the country getting back on track in the contest, their most recent entry placing in 13th position in Kyiv.
Return of Dora for 2018?
Seeing in improvement in results since their return to the competition in 2016, it has been reported that HRT is looking to revert back to the country’s selection for 2018. This follows a 6-year break from the national selection process for Croatia.
Possibly set to be hosted in the traditional location of Opatija, Jutarnji reports that Dora will return and take place between the end of February to the start of March.
Whilst the broadcaster would like the selection to remain in Opatija, there is a possibility that the show will be hosted in a Zagreb studio due to costs. Sources have reportedly revealed that the host location for Dora will be known by mid-January.
Semi-final and final
Further reports suggest that Dora will consist of 2 shows: 1 semi-final and a grand final. It’s currently unknown how many acts will compete in the competition.
Each show results will be determined via a competed public and jury vote, the winner of which will go on to represent Croatia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in the host city of Lisbon.
These reports have yet to be confirmed by the Croatian national broadcaster, however official details about the country’s selection process for Eurovision 2018 are expected to be revealed in due course.
Last Dora selection in 2011
The last time Croatia opted to select their entry via Dora was in 2011, in which Croatian-Austrian singer Daria was selected to represent her nation in the German city of Düsseldorf.
With her entry Celebrate, Daria competed in the first semi-final and received a total of 41 points, finishing in 15th place and failing to qualify to the Eurovision 2011 final.
