For a quarter of a century, the Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad was home Exit festival, and then they are the organizers of the most famous music festival of in Serbia decided to put an end to a 25-year long history.
Already during the duration of the festival in July 2025, it was known that it was the last one in Novi Sad Exit, and apparently, the music stages of the famous festival will occupy the beaches on the Montenegrin coast this summer.
The organizers of Exit announced that, after it was announced that it would not be held in Serbia this year due to a series of "financial and other" pressures due to support for student protests, "the EXIT festival is starting a new chapter of its development, and Montenegro will be one of the key destinations this summer".
Such announcements also come from the top of the state of Montenegro.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced that during the summer of 2026, Ulcinj and Budva will become the epicenter of the world music scene with the Exit Festival.
"In the year when we celebrate 20 years of independence, Montenegro becomes the new home of the EXIT festival. The project 'EXIT to Montenegro' in Ulcinj and Sea Dance in Budva will bring our tourism at least 210.000 overnight stays and over 40 million euros in revenue during 2026," Spajić announced.
Agreement between Exit and the Government of Montenegro
The fact that Exit is moving to Montenegro is confirmed by the agreement between the Government of that country and the festival organizers.
"As part of the agreement reached with the Government of Montenegro on the development of festival tourism and the creative industries sector, the EXIT 2 Montenegro project will be implemented, which foresees the organization of two major music events, as well as a number of smaller programs throughout the country. The events will be distributed in the first half of July and the end of August, while the exact dates and locations will be known soon", announced the festival organizers.
They added that "the new projects in Montenegro represent an important step in the further development of Exit, which, despite the challenges and pressures it has faced, continues to spread its festival energy around the world and connect the audience through music and the shared values it fosters."
Leaving due to pressure
The organizers announced their departure from Serbia before the beginning of last year's festival due to the pressure they have been suffering since they "publicly stood by the students and their struggle for a free and just society in Serbia".
"From the moment we publicly stood by the students and their struggle for a free and just society in Serbia last year, we have been exposed to enormous financial and other pressures, with the aim of revoking our right to freedom of thought and speech," the organizers stated on Instagram at the time.
As they added, they were completely denied public co-financing at all levels of government, without which, in the limited Serbian economic framework, it is not possible to realize a festival of the size and reputation of Exit in the long term.
After the announcement that Exit was indeed moving, potential locations lined up, and even the mayor of Skopje boasted that that city would be the new host of the festival. However, this was soon denied.
Movement for Peace and Freedom
26 years ago, in 2000, Exit was founded as a student movement for peace and freedom in Serbia and the Balkans.
After the general elections in Yugoslavia in 2000, Exit moved from the university park to the Petrovaradin fortress in 2001. However, social responsibility remained a key aspect of his activities.
A few years ago, the media wrote about the possible relocation of Exit from Serbia, and Istria in Croatia and Montenegro were mentioned as potential locations. However, Exit did not leave Novi Sad then.
Now the time has come for him to definitely play the end in Petrovaradin.
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