EXIT Festival lands in Montenegro after forcible departure from Serbia
Exit Festival’s move to Montenegro was prompted by unprecedented government pressure.
EXIT Festival has officially gone global, announcing its departure from Serbia following unprecedented government pressure. In the first major move of this new chapter, Montenegro has been named the festival’s new summer home for 2026.
The EXIT to Montenegro project has received full backing from the highest levels of the Montenegrin government. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić expects the partnership to be a major economic driver for the country, projecting over €40 million in tourism revenue and at least 210,000 overnight stays by fans traveling from 100 countries.
Two flagship events will anchor the summer season. In early July, the festival moves to the stunning Long Beach in Ulcinj. This 13-kilometer stretch of Adriatic shoreline offers a unique natural backdrop that will serve as the primary hub for EXIT’s international community.
This will be followed by the highly anticipated return of the Sea Dance Festival to Budva. A former winner of “Best Medium-Sized Festival” at the European Festival Awards, Sea Dance has a massive reputation with fans, and as a huge win for the community, this year’s edition will be entirely free for attendees.
Beyond the music, this move is designed to supercharge Montenegro’s creative industries and cement the country as a global leader in music tourism. It’s a defiant next step for EXIT, which was forced to leave its original home after publicly standing up for freedom and justice.
The industry has already taken note of this resilience; the organization was recently named “Promoter of the Year” at the European Festival Awards in Groningen. From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Adriatic coast, EXIT is proving that its mission to unite people through music can’t be contained by borders. Having generated over €300 million for the Serbian economy in the past, the festival is now ready to bring that same cultural and economic power to Montenegro.
Featured Image courtesy of festival media team
About The Author
Kathryn Allyn
My favorite thing in the whole world is music and after hearing "One" by Swedish House Mafia for the first time in 2014, I was hooked on EDM. Dance music has been a large part of who I am and will always be searching for new ways to incorporate it in my life. The pure bliss that I feel from live shows is a feeling I never want to stop chasing (iykyk). Some of my favorite artists include Flume, Rüfüs Du Sol, Mindchatter, Gorgon City, Prospa :)
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