The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most magical, fun and entertaining events of the year, musical or otherwise…and we’re definitely not the only ones who think so. (In case you can’t tell by the content of this page – we’re MASSIVE Eurovision fans!) But what’s the performance of Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest been like over the years? We’ll gladly take a look here to see how the country has fared.
Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest – First entry in 1993
Croatia’s first entry in Eurovision came in 1993. Back in those heady days of the early 1990s, when the contest suddenly expanded with the existence of all sorts of new countries, Eurovision required a qualification contest. Named “Kvalifikacija za Millstreet” (“Qualification for Millstreet” – the tiny Irish town that was hosting the event), this qualifying contest was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia in April 1993. Seven countries competed – Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia (the top three in the qualifying contest who then went on to compete at Eurovision), Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary and Romania.
Croatia’s entry was Don’t Ever Cry by the band Put, sung in Croatian and English. The entry finished in 15th place out of 25 countries.
Croatia at Eurovision – Best ever placing
Croatia has, sadly, never won Eurovision – although it hosted a contest! (As Yugoslavia – see below.)
We are, however, very excited to say that in 2024, Croatia finished 2nd overall with the truly excellent Rim Tim Tagi Dim by Baby Lasagna. Not only that, but Croatia actually finished first in the popular vote! (The portion of the vote by viewers all over Europe.) Take a look at Baby Lasagna’s spectacular performance in the final below:
Baby Lasagna returned to the 2025 contest to perform a truly excellent mash-up (and new song Eurodab) with the 2023 runner-up, Käärijä from Finland:
Prior to that, the country’s best-ever placing was 4th, and it achieved that twice; in 1996 with the song Sveta ljubav by Maja Blagdan and in 1999 with the fan-favourite Marija Magdalena by Doris Dragovic.
Here is Doris’s excellent performance at the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest:
Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest – Famous acts and famous performances
The country has been represented by some of its most famous singers over the years. As well as Maja and Doris, mentioned above, very famous acts such as Tony Cetinski (1993), Magazin (1994), Goran Karan (2000), Vanna (2001), Boris Novkovic (2005), Severina (2006), and Nina Badric (2012) have all taken to the Eurovision stage.
There have, of course, been some very memorable Croatian performances at the Eurovision Song Contest over the years. I mean, let’s face it – there have been some very memorable performances all around, so some are bound to have come from Croatia!
Who can forget Jacques Houdek performing a duet…with himself!…at the 2017 contest:
Or what about Nina Kraljic and her spectacular outfit at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest?
And some of you may remember the slightly bonkers entry in 2008 – Kraljevi Ulice and 75 Cents. 75 Cents was the stage name of the older gentleman (real name: Ladislav Demeterffy) who came on to “rap”; his stage name referred to his age then, which was 75. He was, in fact, the oldest ever Eurovision performer at that time.
And you may also remember this very spirited performance by Severina in 2006. She gives an amazing song and dance performance despite wearing very high heels. (That’s what she’s singing about – well, a high heel.)
But if we’re talking bonkers, nothing can beat 2023’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool – Rijeka band Let 3 with Mama ŠČ. It really has to be seen to be believed! The rest of Europe seemed to think so, as their performance from the first semi-final was the most-watched of any country on YouTube. In the end, Let 3 finished in 13th place overall having been placed a very lowly 25th by the juries but saved by the televoting public, who positioned them 7th. This was Croatia’s best result since 2017 when Jaques Houdek (above) also finished 13th.
Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest – As Yugoslavia
Croatia was obviously part of Yugoslavia prior to 1991, and that country started competing in Eurovision as far back as 1961. (Ahead of countries such as former Eurovision powerhouse Ireland, which first competed in 1965, and Greece and Iceland.)
Yugoslavia was the only Eastern European entrant in Eurovision until the break-up of countries such as Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in the 1990s. Having said that, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia were subsequently the “second” Eastern European entrants to the contest, all first competing in 1993.
We’re sure that viewers of Eurovision in the past enjoyed watching the “unusual” Eastern European entrant – a communist one at that – that was Yugoslavia.
The Yugoslavian entry was chosen each year with Jugovizija, a televised sort of mini-Eurovision contest with the different Yugoslavian republics and provinces competing to send a song to Eurovision. (The hosting of Jugovizja also rotated around the different republics.) Croatia was the most successful Yugoslav republic in Jugovizija, winning 13 times.
Yugoslavia wins Eurovision
Yugoslavia did actually win Eurovision once – in 1989, when Croatian band Riva won with their song Rock Me. That meant that the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Zagreb. Who remembers the mascot that year, Eurocat?!
More on Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest
The official Eurovision website has gone through A ‘Tick-Tock’ through 30 years of Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest. (Tick Tock is the excellent entry by Albina in 2021, which – outrageously – failed to qualify for the final.)