VERKNIPT BREAKS GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE™ FOR WORLD’S LARGEST LASER SHOW

A MAGICAL AND EMOTIONAL FAREWELL DURING FINAL EDITION AT JOHAN CRUIJFF ARENA: MORE THAN 1,100 LASERS LIT UP THE ARENA IN A HISTORIC SEND-OFF

A record-breaking moment, an emotional goodbye, and a night that will be remembered forever: Verknipt ArenA 2025 has officially broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest laser show, unleashing an unprecedented 1,100 lasers across the Johan Cruijff ArenA, marking the end of an unforgettable era.

At exactly 23:50, during a specially choreographed show moment, the ArenA was transformed into a sea of synchronized light and sound, creating an explosion of colour, emotion, and unity felt in every corner of the stadium. The 40,000-strong crowd erupted in awe and euphoria as Verknipt made history, and said farewell to the Johan Cruijff ArenA chapter in the most spectacular way possible.

“We didn’t just break a world record, we’ve written history,” said the Verknipt team. “The energy in the ArenA was indescribable during the special 10-minute Verknipt Experience show: happiness, excitement, but also deep emotion as we closed this final chapter. This wasn’t just a show, it was a shared moment of connection we’ll carry with us forever.”

The show’s energy was electric yet emotional, a celebration of how far Verknipt has come and a thank you to the fans who have grown with it. From the debut ArenA edition in 2024 to this year’s world record-breaking send-off, Verknipt ArenA has become a defining moment in the global hard techno scene.

Surpassing the previous GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title of 824 lasers set in Dubai, Verknipt ArenA 2025 pushed the limits of creativity and scale with 1,100 lasers to be exact. The 360° stage design and its rotating dj-booth, custom-programmed laser rigging, and 10-minute world record sequence were months in the making, a true labour of love.

The night featured high-energy sets from Basswell b2b Onlynumbers, Cloudy b2b NOVAH, Cynthia Spiering b2b Paul Elstak, DYEN b2b Fantasm, Nico Moreno, and exclusive showcases like the Verknipt ArenA 2025 Album and the Verknipt Experience Show, making it not just a milestone for production, but for music, community, and culture.

As the final lasers faded and the lights came up, fans were left with more than just a memory,  they were part of something historic.

FOLLOW VERKNIPT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

EXIT FESTIVAL TRIUMPHS DESPITE INTENSE GOVERNMENT PRESSURE

THE 25TH EDITION OF EXIT FESTIVAL WELCOMED 200,000 VISITORS AND FEATURED THE PRODIGY, SEX PISTOLS, AMELIE LENS AND NINA KRAVIZ IN WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE ITS FINAL EDITION IN SERBIA 

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, and Petrovaradin Fortress 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.

Founded in 2000 as a student movement against the oppressive regime of Slobodan Milošević, EXIT Festival has grown over the past 25 years into one of the world’s biggest and best festivals. And one of Serbia and the Balkans’ most important cultural brands. The festival has generated more than €300 million in tourism revenue for the local community and has earned international acclaim. Its value to Serbia is immeasurable. 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, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets, blaming corruption for the incident. 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 such importance. What happened over these four days at Petrovaradin Fortress proved the social impact that music and togetherness can have. Together with our fans, students, and both local and international performers, we held firm against state oppression. We showed that love still triumphs over fear and the power of solidarity. said Dušan Kovačević, founder of the EXIT Festival Group.

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.” The Live Aid founder delivered a further powerful message, stating, “We stand with the future, we stand with Serbia!”

Students gathered at EXIT also addressed the global audience from their own dedicated stage: “EXIT is the most famous music festival in this part of Europe, and now it’s our megaphone in this fight” they declared, highlighting the symbolic strength of performing with Gala during the festival’s opening ceremony. 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 rave icons 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 iconic Dance Arena also hosted electronic music titans including 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.

îLESONIQ IN THE CITY AND îLESONIQ AFTERPARTIES TAKE OVER MONTRÉAL ON FESTIVAL WEEKEND

A decade in the making and over 500,000 fans strong, îLESONIQ, presented by Virgin Plus in collaboration with Beach Day, has become a cornerstone of Montréal’s vibrant summer music scene. Now that you've had a chance to familiarize yourself with the full schedule for this landmark 10th edition, it's time to announce the îLESONIQ parties! The celebration expands beyond Parc Jean-Drapeau, with îLESONIQ in the City kicking things off on August 8 at several venues downtown. Over the course of the weekend, a series of official îLESONIQ Afterparties will keep the energy alive well into the night. 

This 10th anniversary of îLESONIQ is a testament to the passion and loyalty of our community. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary—a festival that continues to set the standard for electronic music in Canada and beyond. Mark your calendars and join us in celebrating a decade of unforgettable memories, world-class talent, and the unbeatable energy that makes îLESONIQ so special. 

---

îLESONIQ IN THE CITY

For those looking to get their groove on early, the îLESONIQ team has put together a dynamite selection of performances in the form of îLESONIQ in the City on August 8 in various venues across the city, which will see some of the world's leading DJs take over some of the hottest spots in Montréal. 

îLESONIQ AFTERPARTIES

Montréal is known for keeping the party going all night long, and this year’s îLESONIQ Afterparties are shaping up to be epic gatherings, providing a citywide home for nocturnal souls whose sole mission is to dance the night away! Non-stop parties, featuring top talent DJs and performers 

îLESONIQ IN NUMBERS

This year, the festival site has levelled up to maximize the festivalgoer's experience with an all-new immersive L-acoutics sound setup at the Coca-Cola NEON stage! By the numbers, the 2025 edition of îLESONIQ is impressive to say the least - with 320 speakers & surround sound system, 124 subwoofers, 18 delay towers, 20 lasers, 32 cryo jet CO2 blasters, 6 bubble machines, 32 flame generators and much much more!

Tickets for îLESONIQ’s 10th edition are already on sale at ilesoniq.com.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action and celebrate a decade of Canada's finest electronic music festival.