Na Petrovaradin Fortress officially begins Exit, marking the jubilee 25th year in a row since it has been held.
From July 10 to 13, over 30 world-famous performers will perform at the Exit, including Lauryn, the double winner of Eurovision, Sex Pistols, DJ Snake, The Prodigy as the main stars who will perform on the last day and many others.
Although the Petrovaradin Fortress will once again host some of the biggest names in the world music scene, this year's Exit will be the last to be held in Serbia.
Festival which arose from a student rebellion will now close a 25-year tradition in Novi Sad. Having provided open support to the student protests, the organizers were left without financial support, which resulted in the decision to hold Exit 2025 as the last edition of this musical phenomenon.
The beginnings of the Exit festival - Zero edition
The first years of Exit, including the Zero edition in 2000, were crucial for shaping the festival as a social and cultural movement.
"Exit was not created only as a musical event, but as a platform for the fight of young people for freedom, primarily as a student movement," it was stated on the festival's official website.
Already in the first years, from 2000 to 2005, Exit brought to the Petrovaradin Fortress some of the most famous names of those times, including Moloko, Massive Attack, Cypress Hill and The White Stripes.
The zero edition of Exit lasted almost 100 days, and there were more than 200.000 visitors.
This festival ended just a few days before the presidential elections on September 24, which was the first step towards the change of power of Slobodan Milošević, on October 5 of the same year.
As pointed out on the website, the name "Exit" remained as a legacy of the slogan "Exit from decade-long madness". It is a reminder of the power of young people eager to change the world for the better, after the wars in Yugoslavia and general isolation from the whole world.
However, after 25 years, the festival organizers announced that this year's Exit will be the last on our stage.
Solidarity penalty
On the official Instagram page, the organizers of the festival explained why they were denied public co-financing, which is why it will no longer be held in Serbia.
As they stated, despite the fact that "through music, creativity and activity, they connected generations, mended broken ties and built bridges where others were tearing them down", since last year they publicly stood by the students and their fight for a free and just society in Serbia, they became exposed to various pressures, with the aim of "abolishing their right to freedom of thought and speech".
On the festival's official website, videos from the student protests were regularly posted, with clear support for the students, with messages like "We stand together. Always."
As they stated, regardless of the fact that they were completely denied public co-financing, without which "in the limited Serbian economic framework it is not possible to realize the festival in the long term", they do not agree to be "silenced".
"We believe that freedom has no price, and for that reason, this year's jubilee edition of the festival will be the last that takes place in Serbia like this. However, we owe our city and our audience the last dance at the Petrovaradin Fortress, which is why our entire team is more determined than ever to make this year's edition the most emotional and unforgettable so far," they announced on Instagram, adding that from July 10 to 13 in Novi Sad, together with the students, they will mark 25 years of togetherness.
"If this is the last Exit at the Fortress, let it be unforgettable. Let it be the strongest so far. A festival that is remembered not for the end, but for unity. For love. For freedom!"
From fortress to pyramids
After 25 years of being held in Novi Sad, Exit is moving to Egypt, where next year it will be the first festival in the world ever organized in front of the Egyptian pyramids, writes Nova.
Many concerts and parties have been held at this ancient place, but it is Exit that brings a new era of festivals, which will be held in front of the pyramids themselves.
The partner in this project is the renowned global event organization Venture Lifestyle, known as one of the leaders in the production of events at historical locations in the Middle East.
Exit confirmed for the aforementioned media that they signed an agreement with an Egyptian company to organize a new festival in front of the pyramids next year.
The official presentation of this project will be held after the 25th anniversary of Exit, which began in Novi Sad.
