From July 10 to 13, Petrovaradin Fortress united over 200,000 people from across the globe, sending a message that freedom, music, and love are the most important values it has championed for more than a quarter of a century.
The first night of the anniversary EXIT Festival opened with a unique artistic performance, Emergency EXIT, created in collaboration with the renowned Spanish troupe La Fura dels Baus. This multidisciplinary spectacle blended music, visual art, and theater to deliver powerful messages about modern coexistence and the relationship between humans and nature.
That same evening, a thunderous silence took over Petrovaradin Fortress – 40,000 people fell silent for 16 minutes to honor the victims of last year’s tragic train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad. Emotional moments and powerful messages followed on stage – from the song “Freed from Desire” by Italian singer Gala to the inspiring appearance of internationally recognized motivational speaker Henry Ammar, who told tens of thousands: “They can’t take our freedom.”
Messages of freedom echoed all night long from the festival’s main stage, with legendary musician and human rights activist Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats declaring, “We stand with students, with change, we stand with the future!” Italian singer Gala also expressed how taken aback she was by the crowd’s energy the moment she stepped onto the main Tesla Universe stage: “When I walked out on stage, I was stunned – everything was new and fresh.”
Global hitmaker Tiësto delivered a spectacular show, spurred on by the river of people dancing late into the night on the EXIT main stage.
The monumental Dance Arena played host to a hardcore Techno Thursday, led by two of the most formidable women in global electronic music – Amelie Lens and Nina Kraviz, as well as Japanese electro-shaman Yousuke Yukimatsu, who kicked off his summer European tour in Serbia.
On the second day of the festival, Friday, July 11, the Petrovaradin Fortress became the epicenter of raw energy with the premiere of the Rebel Rave concept, featuring the return of the legendary The Prodigy! Throughout the show, loyal fans welcomed hits that shaped generations, celebrating 30 years since the band’s iconic performance at Belgrade’s Pionir Hall. “EXIT Festival, Serbia – this was our sixth time playing here. We play here because we love it, we love the people. You are the ruckus every time!” they posted on Instagram, reaffirming their unbreakable bond with the region. The Rebel Rave premiere also featured sets from I Hate Models, Lorenzo Raganzini and Paolo Ferrara (in a b2b set), and Trym. At the same time, the Dance Arena saw a performance from one of electronic music’s most influential producers, Eric Prydz, before the crowd welcomed the sunrise to the signature sound of Hot Since 82.
On the third day of EXIT, Saturday, July 12, timeless hits by the popular pop band Hurts rang out from the main stage after an 11-year absence. Following a carefully curated setlist, frontman Theo Hutchcraft said, “It’s wonderful to be part of such a grand celebration. EXIT, happy birthday!” The evening was further enriched by performances from Mystic Marley, Burak Yeter, and Marko Louis, while Solomun stunned even his most devoted fans with the Diynamic Stage Take-Over, extending his set by nearly an hour! He was joined by Mau P, DJ Gigola in a b2b set with Tijana T, Ogazón, Lanna, and Hobin Rude.
The final day of the festival, July 13, was marked by the unstoppable energy of the Sex Pistols, fronted by Frank Carter, who voiced strong support for student protests in Serbia, showing that punk remains essential to the world today! By stepping off the stage and into the crowd, he proved that the legendary band had gained a frontman who didn’t join the band to replace anyone, but to shake up the global public.“ The main stage anniversary lineup also featured one of the most in-demand French musicians of all time, DJ Snake, who brought chart-topping hits that fill arenas and stadiums worldwide, while Goblini and Gloryhammer opened the program on Exit’s biggest stage tonight.
At the historic closing of the monumental Dance Arena, Boris Brejcha, the king of minimal techno, performed to ovations from the crowd from the first beat to the last, before Sara Landry and Indira Paganotto delivered the most emotional sunrise in the Temple of Electronic Music.
The eclectic lineup on the Visa Fusion Stage across all four festival days featured Partibrejkers, Coby, Nikola Vranjković, Pekinška Patka, Bojana Vunturišević, Hiljson Mandela, Z++, Crni Cerak & Lacku, Oxajo, Džoni Midnight Trio. The NNSNS Stage Refreshed by Heineken showcased acts like RPR Soundsystem, Sonja Moonear, Shtuby, DJ Gigola, Cole Knight, Honey Luv, Lorenzo Raganzini, Paolo Ferrara, BIIA, and Dejan Milićević, while the final dance on this iconic stage was immortalized with the No Sleep Last Dance closing set.
