EXIT Draws 150,000 People to Free Festivals in Montenegro

EXIT’s first international season since leaving Serbia has delivered one of its biggest moments yet, with approximately 150,000 people attending two free-to-enter festivals in Montenegro this summer. The festival brand took over Long Beach in Ulcinj before closing its Montenegro chapter with a three-night Sea Dance Festival in Budva, attracting visitors from more than 100 countries. The move forms part of EXIT’s new international direction following its departure from Serbia after the festival faced political pressure over its support for student protests. Across the two Montenegro events, EXIT brought together a heavyweight electronic lineup featuring HUGEL, Charlotte de Witte, Boris Brejcha, Argy, Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, Stephan Bodzin, Mita Gami, Monolink, Enrico Sangiuliano, Layla Benitez and Marcel Dettmann, alongside John Newman, Eurovision winner DARA and a major selection of regional talent. The festivals also provided a platform for 122 local artists, putting Montenegro’s domestic music scene in front of an international crowd. According to EXIT, attendees travelled from countries including Germany, the UK, Turkey, Italy, Poland, France and the United States, alongside visitors from across the Balkan region. The Montenegro chapter came following an agreement between EXIT and the Montenegrin Government focused on developing music tourism in the country. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić previously estimated that the events in Ulcinj and Budva could generate at least 210,000 overnight stays and more than €40 million in tourism revenue during 2026. Beyond the dancefloors, the events also carried a humanitarian element through the United for Kids charity initiative, supporting a rehabilitation house for children recovering from cancer treatment and a local centre for children and young people with disabilities. John Newman, who previously battled cancer himself, supported the initiative with an intimate DJ set. A defining visual across the Montenegro events was “Ivana,” a 12-metre sculpture transformed through lighting and 3D mapping throughout the night. The installation was created in memory of Ivana Kovačević, a longtime member of the EXIT family who passed away last year. Montenegro, however, isn't the end of EXIT's international run. The festival’s journey now continues to Egypt, where EXIT is set to stage a multi-day, multi-stage festival in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza, closing out a year that has marked a major new chapter for the brand.