EXIT Festival Announces ‘Full-Scale Comeback’ in Serbia Following Student-Led Election Victory
"We are absolutely ecstatic to confirm that EXIT is coming home,” the Serbian festival said in a social media post.
EXIT Festival is set to make a triumphant return to Serbia’s Petrovaradin Fortress, following a student-led election victory that marked a significant political shift in the country. The festival, which has a storied history of welcoming international music acts, announced its plans for a "full-scale comeback" in 2028, with a special edition slated for 2027.
The decision to bring the festival back comes after a turbulent period for Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vučić resigned in September amidst a snap parliamentary election. A movement spearheaded by students emerged in the wake of the November 2024 collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station, which resulted in 16 fatalities and protests over alleged corruption and government negligence.
What started as demonstrations primarily led by students evolved into a broader political movement that ultimately led to the defeat of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party in the Oct. 25 parliamentary elections.
The Student List emerged victorious, securing 52.71% of the vote and 140 seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament, giving it a decisive majority. However, the formation of a new government is still pending. EXIT had previously voiced support for the students, a stance that played a role in the festival’s inability to host its 2026 event.
In a statement, EXIT festival organizers expressed their elation over the victory and their commitment to honoring the students’ bravery and perseverance. They explained that the 2028 full-scale edition would be a true return to Petrovaradin Fortress, with the 2027 edition serving as a smaller-scale comeback. The organizers also highlighted the international outreach of EXIT, which has taken its music to diverse locations like Malta, Croatia, Spain, and Egypt, including the Starlight Festival at the Great Pyramids of Giza earlier this month.
The festival’s director, Miloš Kovačević, emphasized the significance of the moment, noting that the return of EXIT aligned with the country’s newfound freedom. He stated that the festival’s team had worked internationally during the year away but felt honored to be coming home now, thanks to the students’ courage.
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