‘Most Powerful Edition To Date’: EXIT 25 Triumphs Despite Intense Government Pressure

Uncertain until the very last moment, the 25th edition of EXIT Festival not only took place but delivered its most powerful and emotional edition to date, marking a milestone in 25 years of love, music, and freedom.

“In the face of political pressure and unrest in Serbia, courage prevailed,” the press release from the festival’s organizers reads, and continues, “Petrovaradin Fortress [in Novi Sad] welcomed more than 200,000 visitors from around the world, with nearly the entire planned program intact. Unshakable solidarity united artists, performers, organizers, and the audience with a clear message: freedom must never be compromised.”

The Last Dance At The Fortress? Serbia’s EXIT Festival Considers Exile After Facing Government Pressure For Supporting Student Protests

Founded in 2000 as a student movement against the oppressive regime of Slobodan Milošević, EXIT Festival has grown over the past two and a half decades into one of the world’s largest festivals and one of Serbia and the Balkans’ most important cultural brands.

So far, the festival has generated more than €300 million ($348 million) in tourism revenue for the local community and has earned international acclaim for its immeasurable promotional value.

Despite this legacy, the 2025 edition faced unprecedented political pressure from the Serbian Government, aiming to silence its social voice and threaten the festival’s very existence in the country.

The repressive circumstances came in the wake of EXIT’s open support for the student protests that have shaken Serbia for the past nine months, following the tragic collapse of a newly renovated canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station, which killed 16 people.

In the aftermath, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets, blaming corruption for the incident. EXIT sided with the students, and – just like any public figure or organization doing so – was met with political backlash.

At one point, it wasn’t at all clear that the festival would go ahead, and so for the first time in 25 years, the organizers openly stated that this could be the final edition of the festival in today’s Serbia.

“This year, we didn’t just defend EXIT’s freedom – we defended the right of the entire global music and cultural scene to speak freely. That’s why this year’s EXIT is of immeasurable importance. What happened over these four days at Petrovaradin Fortress proved the social impact that music can have. Together with our fans, students, and both local and international performers, we stood stronger than any attempt at state repression. We showed the power of solidarity, that love still triumphs over fear, and that art cannot be silenced,” said Dušan Kovačević, founder of the EXIT Festival Group.

Here’s some impressions from the festival days taken from the press release sent out by EXIT:

“The opening night featured a moment that will go down in the history of global festivals. Music on all stages stopped as over 40,000 people fell silent for 16 minutes in honor of the 16 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. The silence echoed louder than any performance and culminated in a powerful moment as students took the Main Stage to deliver a message: ‘They can’t take our freedom! Pour your love, truth, and light into the world – because the world will hear you!’

“That same evening, a tribute was paid to the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, marked by a performance from legendary musician, activist, and humanitarian Bob Geldof with The Boomtown Rats. Before his performance, he stated: ‘We are proud to play EXIT on July 10, celebrating your 25th anniversary at one of the last remaining truly independent festivals. Our music has always carried the message of freedom.’ Soon after, from the festival’s main stage, the Live Aid founder delivered a powerful message: ‘We stand with the future, we stand with Serbia!’

Students had their own dedicated stage at EXIT, and they addressed the global audience: “EXIT is the most famous music festival in this part of Europe, and now it’s our megaphone in this fight,” they declared. The slogan “Pumpaj! (Pump it!),” which has become one of the defining messages of the student protests, carried deep meaning throughout the festival.

Among the festival’s standout performances were the legendary The Prodigy, who posted on Instagram in the middle of their explosive electro-punk set: “EXIT Festival, Serbia – this is our sixth time here. We play because we love you. You are always the ruckus!”

On the same day, electronic music titan Eric Prydz lit up the Dance Arena, and sunrise brought the unmistakable sound of Hot Since 82, who wrote: “Another unforgettable adventure in Serbia and Novi Sad! Thank you for the amazing dance and beautiful energy!”

Also drawing huge crowds were Solomun, who delivered an electrifying Diynamic Stage Takeover that exceeded even his most devoted fans’ expectations, and Tiësto, who made his EXIT debut: “Finally here. 25 years of EXIT is a massive achievement – congratulations!” The legendary Dance Arena also hosted icons like Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, Boris Brejcha, and others, with the grand finale featuring an exclusive and long-anticipated b2b set from Indira Paganotto and Sara Landry.

Rock’n’roll proved its power as the legendary Sex Pistols, now fronted by the fierce and uncompromising Frank Carter, delivered one of the largest mosh pits in Main Stage history – an eruption of raw energy and rebellion that will echo across the Fortress for a long time.

“If there was ever doubt that music can change the world, the 25th edition of EXIT Festival erased it, proving that music festivals can still be bastions of freedom and drivers of positive social change,” the press release concludes.

Subscribe to Pollstar HERE