EXIT Festival is coming to Montenegro. One of Europe’s most iconic music festivals has confirmed two major events in the country this summer, adding a stunning Adriatic destination to a world tour that has already captured the attention of the global festival community. With Long Beach Ulcinj in July and the return of Sea Dance Festival in Budva. Montenegro is shaping up to be one of the most compelling stops on the 2026 calendar.
Founded in 2000 by student activists in Novi Sad, Serbia; for 25 years, the festival called the Petrovaradin Fortress home. It grew into one of Europe’s largest festivals, won the Best Major Festival award at the European Festival Awards in both 2013 and 2017, and took the Best European Festival title at the UK Festival Awards in 2007. Along the way, it generated over €300 million in tourism revenue for Serbia.
In 2025, EXIT publicly stood with Serbian students during widespread protests. The government responded with unprecedented pressure. They cut public funding entirely and forced long-time sponsors to withdraw. After 25 years, EXIT had no choice but to leave. “We believe that freedom has no price,” said Founder and CEO Dušan Kovačević. The 2025 edition, the final one at Petrovaradin became one of the most emotional nights in the festival’s history. Since the, EXIT hasn’t gone quiet. Instead, it went global.
The World Tour
EXIT launched its 2026 World Tour under the title “The First Chapter.” The tour takes its energy, values and community to six countries across the globe. It begins with Sea Star Festival in Croatia in May, moves to North Macedonia in June, and heads to Malta in August. October brings the most historic stop of all: Egypt, where EXIT will stage the first-ever multi-day festival at the Great Pyramids of Giza, in partnership with Venture Lifestyle, Egypt’s leading event promoter. November marks EXIT’s debut in Asia with a stop in Mumbai, India, running alongside the No Sleep Festival in Belgrade.
The global festival community took notice. The World Tour earned EXIT the Promoter of the Year award at the European Festival Awards in Groningen in January 2026. The industry understood exactly what this journey represented. Now, Montenegro joins the map and it is one of the tour’s most exciting additions yet.
EXIT in Montenegro
The Montenegrin government has backed the project at the highest level. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed his full support, “The EXIT to Montenegro project will bring two major festivals to our country, making Montenegro an epicentre of the global music scene this summer and delivering exceptional international promotion for our coastline. The festivals will welcome visitors from more than 100 countries, generating at least 210,000 overnight stays and over €40 million in tourism revenue in 2026.”
The first event takes place in early July on Long Beach in Ulcinj. Thirteen kilometres of wide Adriatic shoreline make it one of Europe’s most naturally striking festival settings. Montenegro’s southernmost landmark offers a backdrop unlike anything EXIT has used before.
The second event is the return of Sea Dance Festival to Budva. Sea Dance has hosted The Prodigy, Jamiroquai, David Guetta, Skrillex, Underworld, Fatboy Slim, Tale of Us, Boris Brejcha, Nina Kraviz and Amelie Lens. It also holds the European Festival Award for Best Medium-Sized Festival. This edition goes further still, it will be entirely free for attendees. That detail feels entirely in keeping with everything EXIT has always stood for.
“Montenegro is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets,” said Kovačević. “With its stunning nature and vibrant Adriatic coastline, it has everything it takes to become a landmark destination for a new generation of travellers who live for combining world-class holidays with unforgettable live music experiences. EXIT was built on the belief that music and freedom go hand in hand, and we are delighted to bring this spirit to this beautiful country, building a lasting legacy together.”
With line-ups still to be announced, the EXIT story is one to watch. For EXIT Festival tickets to Montenegro and other locations, visit their website.
