Summer is almost here and so are some of your favorite festivals. In case you’ve never been to a music festival in the motherland, we put together this guide with some of our favorites. Each one is definitely its own unique experience, and we hope this helps you find your next favorite festival.
1. Sea Dance Festival
Price: $
When: Aug 30 — Sep 1
Where: Plaza Buljarica, Budva, Crna Gora
Who: David Guetta, Robin Schulz, Ofenbach
The full line-up for this year hasn’t been released just yet, but in previous years, the festival has seen a variety of artists including Lost Frequencies, Who See, Sean Paul, Skillrex, Odesza, the list goes on.
This festival is one of the least expensive — you can get in for about $30 USD and the accommodations themselves aren’t even that pricey, either. They’re nothing too special, but that should be the least of your worries since you’ll be spending the majority of your time on the beach.
If you’re familiar with Crna Gora, Buljarica Beach is right next to Petrovac, and about 30 minutes away from Budva Old Town.
2. EXIT Festival
Price: $$
When: July 4 — 7
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
Who: The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Click here for the full lineup.
Held at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, this festival has won numerous awards, including “Best Major European Festival” at the EU Awards in 2014 and 2018. The roots of this festival are pretty interesting, too. Founded in 2000 as part of a student movement fighting for democracy in the Balkans, social responsibility still remains as one of the festival’s core values.
4-Day admission will cost you around $122 USD and they’re running a special right now — if you buy 4 of these tickets, you’ll get a 5th one for free. Definitely something to consider if you’re planning on going with a large group of people!
3. Ultra Europe
Price: $$$
When: July 12 — 14
Where: Poljud Stadium, Split, Croatia
Who: Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren
Click here for the full lineup.
It’s simple: if you want to go all out, just go to Ultra. Ultra is a worldwide phenomenon — the Europe branch of the festival launched back in 2013 with performances from Avicii, Steve Aoki, and more.
3-Day admission tickets will cost you about $190 USD, not including any accommodations. No secret that this is probably the most expensive festival on the list, but if you’re an avid festival goer, then you’d probably love this one.
4. Mostar Summer Fest
Price: $
When: Jun 27 — 29
Where: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who: Brkovi, Elemental, Gustafi, Hladno Pivo
Click here for the full lineup.
One of those festivals that tends to get overlooked, but it definitely shouldn’t. If you’re from Mostar, then chances are you’ve probably heard of Summer Fest. Held nearby the Spanjolski trg, this festival has had quite a few notable performers, including Parni Valjak, Zabranjeno Pusenje, Edo Maajka, Mostar Sevdah Reunion, the list goes on.
Early Bird tickets start at only $20 and can be purchased here or at the Info kiosk at Mepas Mall.
5. OK Fest
Price: $$
When: July 12 — 14
Where: Tjentiste, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who: Edo Maajka, Partibrejkers, Franz Ferdinand, Dubioza Kolektiv
Click here for the full lineup.
If you’re looking for a music festival in the mountains, then this one’s for you. As far as the location goes, the easiest way to describe it is that it’s near Foca. We couldn’t find too much information on this festival — it’s definitely one of those that the locals know about, though.
Festival packages range from $40 USD to $132, with the most expensive options including outdoor activities like rafting.