Christopher BarrettHaving been forced to cancel the event in its longstanding Serbian home, EXIT Festival’s promoters have announced a new edition in Montenegro.
Along with the new EXIT to Montenegro event taking place in July on Long Beach in Ulcinj, the EXIT team will also oversee the return of Sea Dance Festival in Budva, which has previously hosted acts including The Prodigy, Jamiroquai and David Guetta.
The news has been welcomed by Montenegro’s prime minister Milojko Spajić, who said the festivals are expected to host visitors from more than 100 countries, generating at least 210,000 overnight stays and more than €40 million in tourism revenue.
EXIT has been located at Petrovaradin Fortress since its inception in 2000. Last year, the organisers of the 55,000-capacity festival announced details of a global tour having confirmed it would not return this year to its long-term home in Novi Sad.
In 2024, mass demonstrations in Serbia gained momentum after 16 people were killed when a roof collapsed at a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad. Many Serbians blamed the collapse on corruption linked to President Aleksandar Vucic and the neo-liberal SNS party. EXIT publicly aligned itself with the protestors and has since been stripped of more than €1.5 million in government funding and government-controlled sponsorship.
In a recent interview with Access All Areas, EXIT’s Dušan Kovačević and Ivan Milivojev outlined their plans for keeping the event brand alive.
“Montenegro is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets,” said Kovačević. “With its stunning nature and vibrant Adriatic coastline, it has everything it takes to become a landmark destination for a new generation of travelers who live for combining world-class holidays with unforgettable live music experiences. EXIT was built on the belief that music and freedom go hand in hand, and we are delighted to bring this spirit to this beautiful country, building a lasting legacy together.”