A long-standing symbol of the youth resistance movement, the four-day music festival ended this week and hundreds of thousands of visitors returned home with renewed energy to continue their struggle.

Within the walls of the iconic fortress where the festival is held and on the streets of Novi Sad, where the student movement began in November, symbols of resistance were everywhere.

The image of a bloodied red hand, a vivid symbol of the protests, was projected onto screens above the crowd during the lavish punk concerts, and the protest slogan echoed above the beats of techno music.

The movement is nine months old, and for many, EXIT was an opportunity to renew their protest under more international attention.

“It's mainly about keeping the fire alive and responding to this regime,” Srdan Kovacevic told AFP on the bridge leading to the festival.

Festival-goers passed signs commemorating the 16 people who died when the roof of a railway station collapsed, a tragedy that sparked anti-corruption demonstrations against the government.

“I think it's very important to stand on this side and raise awareness not only in the country but also internationally,” said Vanya Manic-Matic, a French teacher.

This may be the last time Serbian protest chants are heard at the festival's iconic venue, after organizers announced their decision to leave their home country.

Started 25 years ago in opposition to the regime of dictator Slobodan Milosevic, the festival now accuses the government of President Aleksandar Vucic of pressuring it to leave the Balkan country.

After supporting the anti-corruption movement, the festival claims that the government has cut funding and pressured sponsors to withdraw.

Since November, Serbia has been rocked by large-scale protests, some attracting hundreds of thousands of people, which led to the fall of the government, accused of deep-rooted corruption.

But Vučić, in power since 2012, remains at the helm of a reshuffled government and refuses to hold new elections, a key demand of the protesters.

Instead, the government has turned its attention to EXIT, one of the country's most important international tourist attractions.

“It's actually great because it shows how corrupt everything is in Serbia,” said 23-year-old Belgrade student Filip Ubovic at a press conference during EXIT.

Photos from the protests were hung on the festival fences, and the crowd chanted the movement's slogan: “Pumpaj!” (“Pump it up!”).

Local bands joined international artists, including punk legends the Sex Pistols, to encourage the crowd to chant the protest slogan.

"Defend your rights, show that the people have power. Pumpaj!“ shouted Italian singer Gala.

”It's a great sign for Europe, for the world, that we are here. We are ready to fight until we win," said 22-year-old student and protester Aleksa Savic during the festival.

After a massive rally in Belgrade at the end of June, major roads and public squares were often blocked by protesters in cities across the country.

Vucic responded by calling for the arrest of demonstrators whom he said were “paid by foreign interests.” Dozens have been detained in recent weeks.

With the onset of summer vacations and the emptying of cities, Kovacevic acknowledged that it was becoming increasingly difficult to gather large groups against the government, but nevertheless believed that new elections were “inevitable.”

“It's not just that it has to happen, it will happen,” said the 53-year-old lawyer.

EXIT plans to move abroad, reportedly to the foot of the pyramids in Giza, near Cairo.

“This is the most difficult decision in our 25-year history, but we believe that freedom has no price,” said festival founder and director Dusan Kovacevic.

This is part of a larger cultural exodus from Serbia. In recent months, several theater and film festivals have been canceled or deprived of funding without explanation.

In June, a former leader of a paramilitary unit was appointed director of the national theater troupe, sparking a storm of protest from artists.

“I think this will have a major cultural impact on both Serbia and Novi Sad. I'm just sad that this is the last EXIT,” said 25-year-old Velko upon his arrival for the last day of the festival.

In the final hours of EXIT, the organizers bid an emotional farewell to the audience.

“Thank you all for having the courage to come this year—to send a message to the whole world that love and light are unstoppable,” said the founder of EXIT. | BGNES

By Mina Pejakovic, written for AFP.