After being forced to leave its home in Serbia amid political, security and financial threats over its support for students, EXIT is returning to its iconic Petrovaradin Fortress, with a special edition planned for 2027 ahead of its full-scale comeback in 2028.
Following the historic election victory of Serbia's student-led movement for freedom and justice, which ended more than a decade of political dominance by Aleksandar Vučić's ruling party, EXIT Festival has officially announced its return to Serbia.
Founded in 2000 as a student movement fighting for democracy and peace, EXIT grew into one of Europe's leading music festivals and a global symbol of unity and positive social impact.
Twenty-six years later, history came full circle when EXIT publicly supported a new generation of Serbian students protesting for freedom, justice and accountability. Following intense political, security and financial pressures, the festival was unable to hold its traditional edition at Petrovaradin Fortress in 2026.
Throughout this period, EXIT remained one of the most vocal supporters of the student movement, publicly expressing its support through its own social media platforms and a range of other initiatives, despite facing severe threats and pressure, including the detention of the festival founder Dušan Kovačević’s brother this May, on the eve of one of the largest student protests in Serbia.
"Last year, when a new student movement emerged to fight for freedom and justice, we simply had to stand with them and uphold the very values EXIT was built on, even if it meant sacrificing everything we had spent our lives building. Now, thanks to the courage and perseverance of Serbia's students, freedom has returned to our country. And after taking EXIT's spirit around the world, we are finally coming home!" said Dušan Kovačević, Founder and CEO of EXIT Festival.
In an emotional Instagram post, the festival shared the news with its fans, confirming that the original plan had been a full-scale return in 2028, given the 18 months of preparation required, but that the response from fans changed that. “We always said that EXIT would return when freedom returned to our country, and thanks to the courage, determination, and incredible perseverance of Serbian students, that moment has finally arrived,” the post read. “You simply can’t wait that long, and neither can we! So, while EXIT’s grand comeback is scheduled for 2028, we’re already coming together at the Fortress next July to celebrate FREEDOM, UNITY, and LOVE.”
The announcement also fulfils a symbolic promise made this July, when EXIT and Novi Sad students gathered at Petrovaradin Fortress during the days the festival would traditionally have taken place. EXIT raised a banner reading "STUDENTS ARE WINNING", while the students hung another beside it declaring "NEXT YEAR AT THE FORTRESS".
Although everyone believed freedom would eventually return, nobody knew whether it would happen soon enough to make those words a reality. Today, they finally have their answer. During its year away from Serbia, EXIT expanded internationally, delivering eight events across six countries, including Montenegro and Croatia to Malta and Spain, culminating in the historic Starlight Festival at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, which brought together over 40,000 visitors from 114 countries in October 2026.
After taking its spirit around the world, EXIT is now preparing for its most emotional homecoming yet.
Further details about the special 2027 edition, including the concept, lineup, dates and ticket sales, will be announced soon by EXIT
