The milestone EXIT Festival kicked off stronger than ever! The first day was marked by one of the most emotional moments in the event’s history. In the loudest silence the Petrovaradin Fortress has ever heard, 40,000 people remained quiet for 16 minutes, paying tribute to the victims of the recent tragedy in Novi Sad. The opening night featured performances from Gala, Tiësto, Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats, Amelie Lens, Nina Kraviz, and Yousuke Yukimatsu.
The prelude to this historic night began with legendary musician and human rights activist Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats, who took to the festival’s Main Stage with powerful words: “We stand with the future, we stand with Serbia!” That very future inspired Henry Amar, who delivered a moving message to the crowd: “This is the generation that will change the world. A generation of love. A generation of peace. A generation of truth. You will change the world!” In a moment that has become part of the festival’s legacy, Petrovaradin Fortress became the site of the loudest silence ever. Tens of thousands stood quietly for 16 minutes, sending a message of solidarity around the globe.
Following this poignant hush, students took the stage to roaring applause, joined by Italian singer Gala, who performed her global hit “Freed from Desire” with them, a song that has become something of an anthem for students in Serbia! “I felt our energies match perfectly. When I stepped on stage, I was stunned – everything was new, fresh.”The crowd was led deep into the night by global hitmaker Tiësto, who, for the first time ever, finally set foot on EXIT: “I’ve finally made it. I’m so excited to be here. EXIT’s 25 years is a huge achievement – congratulations!” he said before his set, adding that the audience here has a special energy and curiosity, “and that’s truly inspiring for me.”
The grand opening of the milestone festival also featured the unique multidisciplinary performance Emergency EXIT – a production combining music, theater, and multimedia to explore themes of human-nature connection, coexistence, and transformation. This marks the first performance of its kind in Europe, created as part of a project of the same name, in a collaboration between the EXIT Festival and the renowned Spanish theater troupe La Fura dels Baus, known for their large-scale spectacles, including the Olympics.
The monumental Dance Arena played host to the most intense Techno Thursday ever, headlined by two of the most powerful women in global electronic music – Amelie Lens and Nina Kraviz, alongside Japanese electro-shaman Yousuke Yukimatsu, who kicked off his summer European tour right here in Serbia. Before taking the stage, he posted on Instagram: “Can’t wait to get started and see you all out there!” The Dance Arena’s first-night lineup also included Dyen b2b Nico Moreno, Reblok, and Muhi.
Tonight, the Tesla Universe Stage will host the debut of Rebel Rave with legends of the electronic scene: the iconic The Prodigy, techno star I Hate Models, the techno-metal duo Lorenzo Raganzini b2b Paolo Ferrara, and French hitmaker Trym. The Dance Arena welcomes Hot Since 82, Eric Prydz, Tebra, and Space Motion, while NSNS Stage Refreshed by Heineken will feature KI/KI, Shtuby, DJ Gigola, Miley Serious, and mdngt.
The beloved regional genre crossroads, the Visa Fusion Stage, will feature Kanda Kodza i Nebojsa, Oxajo, Kendi, Luke Black, Sunshine, Bigru & Paja Kratak, and Deformitet. The complete lineup and timeline can be found on the EXIT Festival website. Tickets are also available on the EXIT Festival site, as well as at Gigs Tix, both at its physical locations and its online shop.
