NEXUS, a major electronic music festival that had been scheduled for 18 September 2026 at occupied Kyrenia Castle, was ultimately cancelled following backlash in the Republic of Cyprus. This was not simply a local concert but an event carrying the stamp of the well known Serbian EXIT Festival, part of the EXIT World Tour. EXIT itself is promoting it as "EXIT presents NEXUS," in partnership with the entertainment company La Nouba, which operates in the occupied areas.
Who is behind EXIT? The company listed in Serbian corporate records is Exit Festival & Brands Doo Novi Sad, based in the city of Novi Sad in Serbia. Its director is Aleksandra Jovanović, while Dušan Kovačević is the founder, holding a 20% stake, and the most recognisable public face of EXIT. The significance of holding the event in the occupied areas would have been considerable, because EXIT is not some obscure production company. It is one of Europe's biggest music festivals, launched in 2000 in Novi Sad, traditionally held at the Petrovaradin fortress. As part of its international expansion, it organises events at distinctive, historic locations around the world.
NEXUS's programme had already announced several major names from the international electronic scene. Among them were Eric Prydz, one of the best known names in progressive house and techno, the Italian duo Mathame, ANII, Baset, Lanna, and Turkish Cypriot DJ Doğuş Kılıç. It would have been an event for young people, and we are certain plenty of young Greek Cypriots would have attended too.
Unfortunately, the matter took on a political and diplomatic dimension. The foreign ministry got involved, as did MEP Loukas Fourlas, who wrote to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić asking him to personally intervene to cancel the event because of EXIT's Serbian origins, along with the Elam MEP, both now celebrating the Serbs' withdrawal.
There are arguments to be made for cancelling the festival at Kyrenia Castle. They are the same arguments the Greek Cypriot side has used for the past 52 years. On the other hand, let's be honest, our President's stated wish for an immediate solution runs into something of a snag here, in the key signature of progressive house and techno. We talk about opening crossing points, about trade, about contacts between schoolchildren, but we can't stomach a concert.
