EXIT Festival is heading to Montenegro this summer as part of its World Tour 2026, bringing two major music events to the country after being forced to leave Serbia following unprecedented government pressure.
The EXIT to Montenegro project will feature two distinct events designed to position Montenegro among Europe’s leading destinations for music tourism. Both festivals are expected to draw visitors from more than 100 countries, with the Montenegrin government projecting 210,000 overnight stays and over €40 million in tourism revenue.
“Montenegro is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. With its stunning nature and vibrant Adriatic coastline, it has everything it takes to become a landmark destination for a new generation of travelers who live for combining world-class holidays with unforgettable live music experiences,” said Dušan Kovačević, CEO and Founder of EXIT Festival group.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić welcomed the announcement, stating that the 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 first event will take place in early July during the traditional EXIT festival weekend at Long Beach in Ulcinj. The venue stretches over 13 kilometers of wide sandy shoreline along the Adriatic coast, marking a completely new destination for the festival. Long Beach represents one of Europe’s most striking natural venues and Montenegro’s southernmost landmark.
The second major announcement confirms the return of Sea Dance Festival to Budva. This edition stands out as one of the first events of this scale to be entirely free for attendees. Sea Dance has previously hosted major acts including The Prodigy, Jamiroquai, David Guetta, Skrillex, Underworld, Fatboy Slim, Tale of Us, Boris Brejcha, Nina Kraviz, and Amelie Lens. The festival previously won the European Festival Award for Best Medium-Sized Festival.
EXIT’s move to Montenegro comes after the festival was forced to leave Serbia due to government pressure following its public support of students and the broader movement for freedom and justice. The festival has transformed this challenging moment into an opportunity for global expansion, already earning the Promoter of the Year award at this January’s European Festival Awards in Groningen.
The brand continues expanding its international presence with events including the first multi-day, multi-stage festival at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Sea Star Festival in Croatia, and Spiral Festival in Malta. Since its inception, EXIT has generated more than €300 million in tourism revenue for Serbia and has won three Best Major Festival titles at the European Festival Awards and UK Festival Awards.
More details about lineups and ticketing for both Montenegro events are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.