From July 3 to 6, Ulcinj became the epicenter of the regional and world festival scene, hosting the premiere edition of the EXIT 2 Montenegro festival. EXIT brought a completely new concept to the Montenegrin coast this summer, and we from Itera bring you impressions from this unusual event that redefined the summer experience on the Adriatic. Velika plaža, one of the longest sandy beaches in Europe, has been transformed into an impressive open-air stage. What especially delighted us was the bold and refreshing concept of the organizer - the complete absence of LED screens and special effects. The focus was exclusively on what was most important: superb music, unreal sunsets and the forest of the sea.
Figures that speak for themselves The interest in this spectacle was huge even before the speakers turned on, with over 20,000 applications from more than 100 countries around the world. During four days, the festival energy completely overwhelmed Ulcinj: Over 50,000 visitors walked along the Great Beach. More than 22,000 people gathered during the second, record-breaking evening alone. Musical rhythm: From sunset to sunrise The program perfectly followed the natural rhythm of the day. The first night was opened by the fantastic Monolink, while the night continued with Jamie Jones, whose set culminated exactly at the moment when the sun began to rise over the Adriatic - a moment that, according to the audience's impressions, was the absolute highlight of the festival. In the following days, the top names of the electronic scene lined up: Argy, Stephan Bodzin, Space Motion, Awen, Deer Jade, Avantika, Konstantin Sibold and Lanna, with strong support from local and regional artists. The closing act belonged to local and regional forces (MIPS b2b Seven Beats, DJ Guntar, Rayo and Tebra), while Awen welcomed the dawn with an emotional and atmospheric set. The honor of closing the festival went to the great Maceo Plex, whose morning performance was at the level of the world's biggest stages and put a perfect end to this summer chapter. Symbolism and tradition at the heart of the festival A special visual and emotional stamp was given to the festival by a monumental sculpture 12 meters high, which EXIT presented to Velika Beach as a permanent symbol of this new chapter. The work of the creative collective Hiron Creative Lab (which brings together Montenegrin and Serbian artists) is dedicated to women who build a more humane society. In its foundation, the sculpture carries the motif of sea fairies from Bojana from Ulcinj tradition. Illuminated behind the main stage, the statue stood out especially during the performances of Deer Jade and Monolink, when the motifs of sand, sea and sun alternated on its surface. More than music EXIT 2 Montenegro was not only a musical event. During the day, visitors enjoyed a spectacular kite surf show on Nomad beach, organized in cooperation with leading world and regional kite clubs. This once again confirmed the status of Ulcinj as one of the most attractive kitesurfing destinations on the planet. Our conclusion The launch of the new EXIT format in Montenegro showed that Ulcinj, with the synergy of local services and top-level organization, has the capacity for world-class events. Velika plaža officially gained the reputation of the new leading summer address on the Adriatic this weekend, and we are eagerly awaiting the next editions!