The line-up for Dora 2026, Croatia’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, has undergone an unexpected change well ahead of the competition. Karolina Ilić, who was initially announced as one of this year’s participants with the song “Breathe Her In”, has been disqualified after it was confirmed that she does not hold Croatian citizenship — a requirement outlined in the contest’s official regulations.
With Ilić no longer eligible to compete, the Croatian broadcaster followed standard procedure and activated its reserve system. Stepping into the open slot is Gabrijel Ivić, the first artist on the reserve list, who will now compete with his entry “Light Up”.
Ivić’s addition adds fresh momentum to the evolving Dora 2026 narrative. Although “Light Up” has yet to be publicly previewed, the unexpected change has already caught the attention of fans eager to see how this shift might influence the dynamics of the upcoming competition.
Dora 2026 is scheduled to take place in February in Zagreb, continuing the long-running tradition of selecting Croatia’s Eurovision representative through one of the region’s most established national finals. With a diverse roster of artists already confirmed, the upcoming edition promises a competitive and closely watched show — and now, all eyes will be on Ivić as he prepares to make the most of this sudden opportunity on one of Croatia’s biggest musical stages.
Source: HRT
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