One of Europe’s most iconic music festivals is saying goodbye to its homeland. EXIT Festival, born 25 years ago from a student-led movement for peace and freedom in Serbia and the Balkans, has just announced that its 2025 edition will be its last on Serbian soil. The reason? Mounting political and financial pressure for publicly supporting student protests and advocating for a freer society.
What began as a symbol of hope and resistance in post-war Serbia grew into a globally respected cultural movement — winning numerous European festival awards, attracting international artists and fans, and bringing hundreds of millions in tourism revenue. But now, the very values EXIT was founded on are being tested like never before.
“Ever since we publicly stood with the students of Serbia… we have been subjected to immense financial and political pressures,” the festival’s official statement reads. “Despite being completely cut off from public funding… and with some sponsors forced to withdraw under state pressure, we refuse to be silenced.”
EXIT’s founder and director, Dušan Kovačević, called the decision “the hardest in our 25-year history,” but emphasized that freedom has no price. He invited cultural figures and institutions worldwide to stand in solidarity with EXIT’s stance against censorship and repression.
One Last Dance at the Fortress
EXIT 2025 will still take place from July 10–13 in Novi Sad, at the Petrovaradin Fortress — the site that has become synonymous with the festival’s vibrant and defiant spirit. Organizers promise the most emotional and unforgettable edition yet, turning what could be a swan song into a statement of unity, resilience, and love.
“EXIT is not just a festival,” the team says. “EXIT is all of us who believe we can make a change. And just as we ignited the spark of change together a quarter of a century ago, today we once again defend the right to live freely.”
With EXIT forced to leave the country it helped reshape, the announcement sends shockwaves through the global festival community. It raises urgent questions about freedom of expression, the politicization of culture, and the role of festivals as platforms for activism.
Whether this truly is the last EXIT at Petrovaradin or a new beginning elsewhere, one thing is certain: the 2025 edition won’t just be a party — it’ll be a powerful moment in music and political history.
Tickets & Info: exitfest.org
Dates: July 10–13, 2025
Location: Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad, Serbia
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