EXIT Festival is returning to its Serbian home at Petrovaradin Fortress in July 2027, days after a student-backed list won Serbia's October 25 election. The festival left the country in 2026 after publicly supporting student-led protests.
Organisers have confirmed a special edition for next summer, ahead of a planned full-scale return in 2028.
From student movement to major festival
Founded in 2000 as a student movement campaigning for democracy and peace, EXIT began as a fight against the regime of Slobodan Milošević before growing into one of Europe's biggest music festivals. Since moving to Petrovaradin Fortress in 2001, it has attracted around 200,000 visitors across four days, welcoming major names including The Prodigy, Kraftwerk, Wu-Tang Clan, Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and the Sex Pistols.
Its electronic music line-ups have also featured some of the world's biggest DJs, including Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Eric Prydz, Nina Kraviz, Charlotte de Witte and Tiësto.
Why the festival left Serbia
But the festival's relationship with Serbia became increasingly difficult after it backed student protests following the Novi Sad railway station collapse. Organisers said political, security and financial pressures meant they could not stage their traditional event at the Fortress in 2026.
Founder and CEO Dušan Kovačević said the festival had stood by the students because of the values on which EXIT was founded. He said: "Last year, when a new student movement emerged to fight for freedom and justice, we simply had to stand with them and uphold the very values EXIT was built on, even if it meant sacrificing everything we had spent our lives building."
International events during the year away
During its year away, EXIT staged eight events across six countries, including Malta, Montenegro and Spain. Its international programme culminated in October with the Starlight Festival at Egypt's Great Pyramids of Giza, attracting more than 40,000 visitors from 114 countries.
The festival had initially planned to wait until 2028 for a full return, but said the response from fans prompted it to organise a special celebration next July. In an Instagram announcement, organisers said: "We always said that EXIT would return when freedom returned to our country, and thanks to the courage, determination, and incredible perseverance of Serbian students, that moment has finally arrived."
Kovačević added: "Now, thanks to the courage and perseverance of Serbia's students, freedom has returned to our country. And after taking EXIT's spirit around the world, we are finally coming home!" Further details of the 2027 event, including dates, the line-up and tickets, are expected to be announced soon.
