Croatia will be eager to take home the win for the first time as they go up against 24 other countries in the Eurovision grand final.
Their best result in the Eurovision Song Contest was a second-place finish in 2024 by Baby Lasagna with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”. Croatia have been in the competition 29 times after debuting in Dublin back in 1993.
Prior to this, they competed as part of Yugoslavia and won with the song “Rock Me” by the band Riva in 1989 in Lausanne. They have reached the Top 10 seven times, but have failed to qualify for the finals nine times.
Lelek are described as an ethno-pop group that formed fairly recently in 2024. They gained a lot of attention upon the release of their debut single Tanani Nani, and even more so following their performance at Dora 2025 with the song The Soul of My Soul, with which they placed fourth in the competition.
However, it was their song Andromeda which placed first this time around, kickstarting their Eurovision journey. They performed in the first semi-final on 12 February 2026 and qualified for the grand final. With a combined total of 173 points, they ultimately won the contest and the Croatian spot for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
The group consists of five members: Inka Večerina Perušić, Judita Štorga, Korina Olivia Rogić, Lara Brtan and Marina Ramljak. There were two previous members who left in 2024.
At the time of writing, according to Betway Croatia have just missed out on the top ten spots of potential winners, with their odds currently sitting at 66/1.
Croatia first debuted in 1993 in Dublin(Image: Getty Images)
What are the lyrics for Andromeda?
Dok pališ svijeću pitaj svoju baku
When you light a candle, ask your grandmother
Zašto je kćeri rađala u strahu
Why she gave birth to daughters in fear
Zašto su mnogi odabrali groblje?
Why did so many choose the grave?
Nisu naše majke iznjedrile roblje
Our mothers did not give birth to slaves
Mnoge su suze potekle k’o rijeka
So many tears have flowed like rivers
Zašto se piše povijest ispočetka?
Why is history written all over again?
Sinovi naši nisu podanici
Our sons are not subjects nor servants
Da l’ vas noću bude iz kolijevke krici?
Do their cradle-cries still haunt you at night?
Uzmi me sebi
Take me as yours
Kraljice zemljo
Queen of this land
Tvoja je duša
Your soul is mine
Njima sam tijelo
To them I am just flesh
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Porušenih gnijezda
To shattered nests afar
Tamo gdje uz krike
Where soldiers are sent away
Isprate vojnike
With screams that echo and stay
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Daleko od pogleda
Far from watching eyes
Andromeda
Sve urezane ožiljke do kosti
All the scars carved to the bone
Nijedna majka neće vam oprostit’
No mother will forgive what you’ve done
Na stolu srama zlato sa đerdana
On the table of shame lies gold from torn necklaces
Dok peru ruke krvlju naših rana
While you wash your hands in the blood of our wounds
Izdajice
Izdajice
Izdajice
Izdajice
Traitors
Traitors
Traitors
Traitors
Uzmi me sebi
Take me as yours
Kraljice zemljo
Queen of this land
Tvoja je duša
Your soul is mine
Njima sam tijelo
To them I am just flesh
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Porušenih gnijezda
To shattered nests afar
Tamo gdje uz krike
Where soldiers are sent away
Isprate vojnike
With screams that echo and stay
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Daleko od pogleda
Far from watching eyes
Andromeda
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Porušenih gnijezda
To shattered nests afar
Tamo gdje uz krike
Where soldiers are sent away
Iѕprate vojnike
With screams that echo and stay
Vodi me do zvijezda
Lead me to the stars
Daleko od pogleda
Far from watching eyeѕ
Andromeda
Andromeda
Andromeda
Andromeda
Andromeda
Andromeda
Andromedа