From 10 to 13 July 2025, EXIT Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary inside the walls of the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia. What began in the year 2000 as a student protest has become one of the most iconic music festivals in Europe. This edition, perhaps the most emotionally charged to date, was a vibrant tribute to the past and a bold declaration of its future.
Set on the banks of the Danube, the fortress offered more than just a venue. Its labyrinthine passages, stone walls, and panoramic views created a multidimensional playground. By night, it transformed into a glowing citadel of music. By day, it remained a historical monument humming with anticipation.
The festival hosted more than 40 stages and zones, each with its own identity. From the massive Gorki List Main Stage with capacity for 35,000 people to the legendary Dance Arena hidden deep in the fortress belly, every corner of Petrovaradin was pulsing with rhythm. There were spaces for trance, punk, trap, reggae, and experimental performance. No genre was left behind.
This year’s lineup was as ambitious as the setting. On the main stage, global heavyweights like Tiësto, Eric Prydz, DJ Snake, and Loreen drew enormous crowds. They shared the spotlight with The Boomtown Rats, Hurts, and a reimagined version of the Sex Pistols led by Frank Carter. But the real magic happened deeper in the fortress, where techno royalty like Amelie Lens, Nina Kraviz, I Hate Models, Boris Brejcha, and Indira Paganotto b2b Sara Landry turned the underground into a pressure cooker of energy and sound.
The Tesla Universe and Dance Arena stages brought pure euphoria. Thursday night exploded with a surprise Rebel Rave that included The Prodigy, Lorenzo Raganzini b2b Paolo Ferrara, and I Hate Models. Friday and Saturday kept the momentum alive with standout sets from Solomun and Boris Brejcha, while Eric Prydz’s cinematic set on the main stage felt like a moment suspended in time.
EXIT’s beauty lies not just in its musical diversity, but in its commitment to community and cause. True to its activist origins, the 2025 edition openly supported student-led protests across Serbia. That stance drew tension with authorities, who responded by withdrawing state sponsorship and threatening the festival’s future on Serbian soil. Still, founder Dušan Kovačević made it clear that EXIT will go on—whether in Serbia or elsewhere.
Infrastructurally, EXIT was polished but deeply respectful of its setting. Tunnels hosted intimate performances. Courtyards were transformed into workshops and art installations. Local vendors offered Serbian food and wine. Eco-initiatives, mental health corners, and cultural programming showed that this was more than a party—it was a living, breathing movement.
The experience extended far beyond the music. Campers woke to sunrises over the Danube. Some paddled kayaks before heading to the fortress for afternoon DJ sets. Others stumbled upon punk bands blasting from hidden stages beneath stone arches or wandered into trance gardens glowing in twilight. EXIT is designed for both discovery and disorientation, and this edition mastered that balance.
By the time the final beats echoed on Sunday morning, a collective feeling took hold. This was not just a festival marking 25 years. It was a reminder of what live music can mean—resistance, release, reunion. Petrovaradin had once again served not only as a fortress of stone, but as a fortress of culture.
EXIT Festival 2025 was a triumph in every sense. It fused legacy with vision, music with meaning, and architecture with emotion. Whether or not it returns to Novi Sad next year, it has left a lasting imprint not just on the land, but on everyone who walked its ancient paths and danced under its skies.
Tickets for EXIT Festival can be purchased through the official website, where you’ll find various options including full festival passes, one-day tickets, and VIP upgrades. Flexible payment plans are also available, making it easier to secure your spot at one of Europe’s most iconic festivals. Early booking is recommended, as EXIT regularly sells out due to its high demand and international appeal.
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