Exit could move to Germany, neighboring countries, or even Egypt

Serbian media reported a few days ago that this year's edition of the Exit festival could be the last one held in Serbia.

The Guardian, however, also revealed where Exit could move:

- One of the biggest music festivals in Europe will no longer be held in Serbia and could go "to exile" to Germany or one of the neighboring Balkan countries.

The Exit festival, which takes place every July in the fortress in Novi Sad, was founded in 2000 by student activists from the protest movement which contributed to the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic, the Guardian reminds, adding that last year the festival was visited by 210,000 people from over 80 countries.

However, on Friday, the organizers of Exit announced that this year's 25th anniversary edition, which takes place from July 10 to 13, "will be the last to be held" in Serbia, citing "undemocratic pressures" from the authorities of President Aleksandar Vucic, the Guardian reports.

The British newspaper wrote that Novi Sad has become the center of protests that have shaken Serbia since last year, after the collapse of the canopy at the main railway station in that city, when 16 people died.

"On its social media accounts, Exit supported the demands of the student protesters, demanding the resignation of the responsible minister and a full investigation into this tragedy. The festival donated food and sleeping bags to protesters blocking access to universities and city institutions, and plans to provide student activists with their own stage at this year's festival. The festival's publicly expressed position apparently angered the authorities, who withheld around EUR 1.5 million in national and regional tourism subsidies, and some sponsors pulled out", the Guardian reports..

- The only way to continue the festival after this year, would be to decide not to be free from political influence - said the founder of Exit, Dusan Kovacevic, explaining that the festival needs around 15% of direct state aid to remain affordable, even though it brings about EUR 25 million to the Serbian economy every year.

He also adds that "The authorities claim that their 'strategic reorientation' is not politically motivated, they say it is due to financial pressures that prevent them from providing support".

Kovacevic said he is in talks about holding versions of the "Exit in Exile" festival starting from 2026, upon receiving invitations to organize music events in Germany and several Balkan countries, as well as in Egypt. - Maybe it will last for one year, maybe two, maybe five - he added.

This year's festival includes performances by bands and acts such as The Prodigy, Sex Pistols, French producer DJ Snake and Russian DJ Nina Kraviz.

When asked whether Exit will permanently leave its home country, the festival organizers answered: "It is still too early to say whether and under what conditions the festival will return to Serbia."

EXIT Festival Novi Sad

Exit festival

Dusan Kovacevic

relocation from Serbia

where is Exit moving to