Country Profile: Serbia
EXIT Festival in Novi Sad marks its 25th anniversary next year and has most assuredly put Serbia on the international touring map. EXIT’s management calls itself “the most influential national promoter” in the country, which has “grown significantly over the years.” It is hard to argue against the enormous impact it has had.
Dmitry Zaretsky is co-founder of Honeycomb Live and has put on shows recently by international acts such as La Femme, Yungblud, and Bombay Bicycle Club, but by far the biggest was Ed Sheeran, who played Ušće Park in August 2024.
He says Serbia not being part of the EU makes it difficult for large trucks crossing the border with production equipment (with border checks being time-consuming), meaning many acts will skip the country. He also says there are few venues in between the 800-capacity and 20,000, so only small or huge acts can play there. However, he says the new 4,000-capacity Sava Centar (which opened in September 2024) is a much- needed addition, even if it is all seated.
“Serbia is a great bridge between Hungary, Croatia,…
Looking for full access?
Enjoy unlimited access to all digital content by subscribing to IQ
Share this
