The season began with games being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[1] On 20 May 2020, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2020–21 season was complete.
For the 2020–21 Prva HNL, ten clubs were issued a top level license: Dinamo Zagreb, Gorica, Hajduk Split, Istra 1961, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka, Slaven Belupo, Šibenik and Varaždin.
On 17 June 2020, Croatian Football Federation announced that the licensing procedure for 2020–21 season was complete.
Inter Zaprešić and Orijent 1919 were also issued a top level license after appeal process.