View source for Croatia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox song contest country
| Name = Croatia
| Contest = JESC
| Broadcaster = {{lang|hr|[[Croatian Radiotelevision|Hrvatska radiotelevizija]]|i=unset}} (HRT)
| Apps = 6
| First = {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| Highest = 1st: {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| Current = 2025
}}

Croatia has been represented at the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]] five times, winning the inaugural edition in {{Escyr|2003|J}}. The Croatian participating broadcaster in the contest is {{lang|hr|[[Croatian Radiotelevision|Hrvatska radiotelevizija]]|i=unset}} (HRT). It participated in the first four editions, from 2003 to 2006, organising a national final to select its entrant. The first Croatian entry was "{{lang|hr|[[Ti si moja prva ljubav]]|i=unset}}" by [[Dino Jelusić]], which finished in first place out of sixteen participants, with a score of 134 points. HRT was absent from the contest between 2007 and 2013, but it decided to return to the contest in {{Escyr|2014|Junior}} and selected its entry internally. In 2014, "[[Game Over (Josie Zec song)|Game Over]]" by [[Josie Zec|Josie]] finished in last place, after which HRT again withdrew from competing the following year.

HRT returned in {{Escyr|2025|Junior}}, with [[The Voice Hrvatska#Kids version|The Voice Kids Hrvatska]] winner [[Marino Vrgoč]] to represent the country.

==History==
Croatia are one of the sixteen countries to have made their debut at the inaugural [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003]], which took place on 15 November 2003 at the Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|last1=García|first1=Belén|title=#BestOfJESC – Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003|url=http://www.esc-plus.com/bestofjesc-junior-eurovision-song-contest-2003/|website=esc-plus.com|publisher=ESC+Plus|accessdate=26 August 2016|date=7 September 2015}}</ref> After problems occurred with the prospective host for the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004|2004]] contest, Croatian broadcaster [[Croatian Radiotelevision|Hrvatska radiotelevizija]] (HRT) stepped in to host the contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/2838/junior_2004_in_croatia_update/|title=Junior 2004 in Croatia!|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|date=2004-06-01|publisher=ESCToday|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> However, this was later abandoned after it was revealed the venue HRT had planned on using for the contest was to be in use during the period of the contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/2873/junior_contest_moves_to_norway/|title='Junior contest moves to Norway'|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|date=2004-06-17|publisher=ESCToday|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> HRT was one of six other broadcasters to enter a bid to host the 2005 contest, however this was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/2299/belgium_organises_junior_eurovision_song_contest_in_2005/|title=Belgium organises Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2005!|last=Philips|first=Roel|date=2004-03-04|publisher=ESCToday}}</ref> Croatia also expressed an interest in hosting the 2006 contest<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116054119/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/3231|url-status=dead|title=Exclusive! 'Croatia and Romania want to host junior 2006'|date=15 October 2004|archivedate=November 16, 2006|website=ESCToday}}</ref> and made another unsuccessful bid to host the 2007 contest.<ref>{{cite web|last=West-Soley|first=Richard|title=Dutch JESC decision 'took ten minutes'|url=http://www.esctoday.com/?p=6396|publisher=ESCToday.com|accessdate=27 September 2013|date=17 September 2006}}</ref>

HRT withdrew from the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007|2007]] contest, due to expense and difficulties in broadcasting the contest live.<ref name="Withdrawal">{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/7303/croatia_hrt_withdraw_from_jesc_2007/|title=HRT Withdraw from JESC 2007|last=Klier|first=Marcus|date=2007-01-20|publisher=ESCToday|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> In October 2007, the broadcaster was fined 10,000 Swiss francs for breaching the rules of the 2006 contest by not broadcasting the show live on one of their main terrestrial channels despite initially declaring it would do so,<ref name="HRT fined">{{Cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/9373/croatia_fined_for_breaking_rules/|title=Croatia fined for breaking rules |website=ESCToday.com|first=Benny|last=Royston|date=4 October 2007|accessdate=6 November 2024}}</ref> and instead decided at the last minute to broadcast it only on satellite channel [[HRT Plus]] which was not widely available in the country;<ref name="HRT Plus">{{Cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/7186/exclusive_hrt_to_learn_fate_within_a_month/|title=Exclusive: HRT to learn fate within a month|website=ESCToday.com|first=Benny|last=Royston|date=8 January 2007|accessdate=6 November 2024}}</ref> consequently a reserve jury had to take the place of the televoting.<ref name="Broadcast issues">{{Cite web|url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2022/recordando-eurovision-junior-bucarest-2006-el-festival-viaja-hacia-el-este/|title=Recordando Eurovisión Junior: Bucarest 2006, el festival viaja hacia el este|trans-title=Remembering Junior Eurovision: Bucharest 2006, the festival travels eastwards|first=José Miguel|last=Mancheño|date=15 July 2022|website=ESCplus España|accessdate=6 November 2024}}</ref> A recording of the contest was later aired, in a late evening slot, on a main channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurosong.hr/hrvatska-se-vraca-na-djecji-eurosong/|title=Hrvatska se vraća na Dječji Eurosong!|trans-title=Croatia returns to the Children's Eurosong!|first=Ivan|last=Horvat|date=26 September 2014|website=eurosong.hr|accessdate=6 November 2024}}</ref> The broadcaster had sent several requests to the EBU to move the show to an earlier time slot, using 17:00 as an example and also asked for permission to broadcast the contest in a delayed time slot more convenient for its programming schedule but these requests were declined.<ref name="Broadcast issues"/><ref name="Withdrawal"/> The EBU would later relax the rule ahead of the 2007 contest.<ref name="HRT fined"/>

On 23 September 2014, it was announced that Croatia could possibly return to the 2014 contest in [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014|Marsa, Malta]] due to a tweet composed by the Executive Supervisor of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Vladislav Yakovlev.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esc-plus.com/junior-eurovision-looks-like-croatia-is-back/|title=Junior Eurovision: Looks like Croatia is back!|last=Garcia|first=Belen|date=23 September 2014|publisher=ESC+Plus|accessdate=23 September 2014}}</ref> Their return was officially confirmed by the [[European Broadcasting Union|EBU]] on 26 September 2014, with the 2014 contest being scheduled to be broadcast on [[HRT 2]].<ref name=Croatia1>{{cite web|last1=Fisher|first1=Luke James|title=Croatia returns to Junior Eurovision!|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=croatia_returns_to_junior_eurovision|website=junioreurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|accessdate=26 September 2014|date=26 September 2014}}</ref> On 23 June 2015, it was announced that HRT would withdraw from the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015|2015 contest]], leaving Croatia out of the edition which took place in [[Bulgaria]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=Croatia withdraws from Junior Eurovision|url=http://eurovoix.com/2015/06/23/croatia-withdraws-from-junior-eurovision/|website=eurovoix.com|publisher=Eurovoix|accessdate=23 June 2015|date=23 June 2015}}</ref> On 17 August 2016, HRT ruled out a return to the 2016 contest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=Croatia will not return Junior Eurovision 2016|url=http://eurovoix.com/2016/08/17/croatia-will-not-return-junior-eurovision-2016/|website=eurovoix.com|publisher=Eurovoix|accessdate=17 August 2016|date=17 August 2016}}</ref> On 20 May 2017, the Croatian broadcaster announced their ambitions to return to the 2017 contest in Tbilisi. However, Croatia was not on the final list of participants released by the EBU and did not compete in the contest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=
Croatia HRT considering a return to Junior Eurovision |url=https://eurovoix.com/2017/05/23/croatia-hrt-considering-return-junior-eurovision/|website=eurovoix.com|publisher=Eurovoix|accessdate=23 May 2017|date=23 May 2017}}</ref>

On 3 November 2024, the broadcaster published a programme schedule for the day of the 2024 contest which shows that HRT intends to broadcast the contest live on HRT 2 for the first time in a decade. A few days later the Croatian Head of Delegation for Eurovision, Tomislav Štengl confirmed on ''{{ill|Dobro jutro, Hrvatska|hr}}'' that the broadcaster was evaluating a potential return to the contest in 2025 and invisioned that the inaugural winner of the [[The Voice Kids Hrvatska|upcoming kids version]] of ''[[The Voice Hrvatska]]'' would be the chosen representative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazin.hrt.hr/zabava/za-tjedan-dana-zavrsava-natjecaj-za-doru-evo-sto-treba-znati-11849832|title=Za tjedan dana završava natječaj za Doru, evo što treba znati|trans-title=The competition for Dora ends in a week, here's what you need to know|website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija|language=hr|access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref>

On 16 April 2025 during ''[[Kod nas doma]]'' it was officially confirmed that Croatia will return to the contest in 2025. It was also confirmed that [[Marino Vrgoč]] will represent Croatia in the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=The Voice Kids otvara novu sezonu, a prošlogodišnji pobjednik ide na Eurosong |trans-title=The Voice Kids opens a new season, and last year's winner goes to Eurovision |url=https://magazin.hrt.hr/zabava/the-voice-kids-otvara-novu-sezonu-a-proslogodisnji-pobjednik-ide-na-eurosong-12113743 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=[[Hrvatska radiotelevizija]] |language=hr}}</ref>

== Participation overview ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Table key
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFD700;" | 1
| First place<!--
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 2
| Second place-->
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 3
| Third place
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | ◁
| Last place<!--
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#A4EAA9;" | '''X'''
| Entry selected but did not compete-->
|-
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDF;" | '''†'''
| Upcoming event
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Artist
! scope="col" | Song
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Place
! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Points
|- style="background-color:#FFD700;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
| [[Dino Jelusick|Dino Jelusić]] 
| "{{lang|hr|[[Ti si moja prva ljubav]]|i=unset}}" 
| Croatian
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | 134
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2004|Junior}}
| [[Nika Turković]]
| "{{lang|hr|Hej mali|i=unset}}"
| Croatian
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 3 
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 126 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2005|Junior}}
| Lorena Jelusić
| "Rock Baby" 
| Croatian
| style="text-align:center;" | 12
| style="text-align:center;" | 36 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2006|Junior}}
| Mateo Đido
| "Lea" 
| Croatian
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 
| style="text-align:center;" | 50
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2014|Junior}}
| Josie
| "Game Over"
| Croatian, English
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 16 ◁
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 13
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2025|Junior}}
| Marino Vrgoč
| "Snovi"
| Croatian
| colspan="2" {{TBA|Upcoming '''†'''}}
|}

==Commentators and spokespersons==
The contests are broadcast online worldwide through the official Junior Eurovision Song Contest website junioreurovision.tv and [[YouTube]]. In 2015, the online broadcasts featured commentary in English by junioreurovision.tv editor Luke Fisher and 2011 Bulgarian Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrant [[Ivan Ivanov (singer)|Ivan Ivanov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=tonight_junior_eurovision_song_contest_2015|title=Tonight: Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015!|last=Fisher|first=Luke James|work=Junior Eurovision Song Contest – Bulgaria 2015|date=21 November 2015|accessdate=21 November 2015}}</ref> The Croatian broadcaster, HRT, sent their own commentator to each contest in order to provide commentary in Croatian. Spokespersons were also chosen by the national broadcaster in order to announce the awarding points from Croatia. The table below list the details of each commentator and spokesperson since 2003.

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Channel
! scope="col" | Commentator
! scope="col" | Spokesperson
! scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2003|Junior}}
|rowspan="3"|[[HRT 1]]
|rowspan="4" {{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2004|Junior}}
|Buga
|{{center|<ref>{{cite news |title=tv program – subota, 20.11.2004 |trans-title=TV programme – Saturday, 20 November 2004 |url=https://digitalna.gkka.hr/?pr=iiif.v.a&id=12493&tify={%22pages%22:[22],%22view%22:%22info%22} |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Karlovački tjednik |date=18 November 2004 |page=22 |language=hr |location=[[Karlovac]], Croatia |via=Gradske knjižnice "Ivan Goran Kovačić" Karlovac}}</ref>}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2005|Junior}}
|Nika Turković
|{{center|<ref>{{cite news |title=TV program – Subota, 26. studenoga – HRT 1 |trans-title=TV program – Saturday, 26 November – HRT 1 |url=https://library.foi.hr/dbook/novine.php?B=1&C=20&godina=2005&broj=000046&page=022 |access-date=29 May 2024 |work=Glas Podravine |date=25 November 2005 |page=22 |language=hr |location=[[Koprivnica]], [[Croatia]]}}</ref>}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2006|Junior}}
|[[HRT Plus]]
|Lorena Jelusić
|{{center|<ref name="HRT Plus"/>}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2007|Junior}}–{{Escyr|2013|Junior}}
|colspan="2" {{N/A|No broadcast}}
|{{N/A|Did not participate}}
|{{N/A}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2014|Junior}}
| [[HRT 2]]
| Ivan Planinić and Aljoša Šerić
| Sarah
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/nasa-predstavnicu-na-djecjem-eurosongu-ima-tremu-ali-zna-kako-je-pobijediti-973459|title=Naša predstavnica na Dječjem Eurosongu ima tremu, ali zna kako je pobijediti|trans-title=Our representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is nervous, but she knows what it's like to win
|website=www.vecernji.hr|language=hr|date=15 November 2014|accessdate=Nov 6, 2024}}</ref>}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2015|Junior}}–{{Escyr|2023|Junior}}
|colspan="2" {{N/A|No broadcast}}
|rowspan="2" {{N/A|Did not participate}}
|{{N/A}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{Escyr|2024|Junior}}
| HRT 2
| [[Nika Turković]] and [[Duško Ćurlić]]
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-03 |title=Raspored emitiranja programa – HRT2 – Subota, 16. studenog 2024. |trans-title=Schedule of the programme – HRT2 – Saturday, 16. November 2024. |url=https://raspored.hrt.hr/?mreza=3&datum=2024-11-16 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=[[Hrvatska radiotelevizija]] |language=hr}}</ref>}}
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest]] &ndash; Senior version of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{List of Junior Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
{{Croatia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Countries in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]
[[Category:Croatian popular music|Eurovision, Junior]]