# EXIT Festival withdrawal from Kyrenia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/exit-festival-withdrawal-from-kyrenia
> Updated: 2026-08-21T17:14:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Serbian company EXIT has withdrawn from hosting its music festival in the occupied city of Kyrenia, Cyprus. According to government sources, the decision followed diplomatic mobilization by the Republic of Cyprus to prevent an international event from being used for political purposes by the occupying administration. European Parliament Member Loukas Fourlas described the withdrawal as “responsible and correct,” noting that the company expressed interest in potentially relocating the event to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

In response, Fikri Ataoğlu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, condemned the cancellation. Ataoğlu claimed the move resulted from political pressure exerted by the Greek Cypriot administration in Serbia, characterizing it as an attempt to isolate the Turkish Cypriot community from international cultural and artistic engagements.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Fikri Ataoğlu condemns EXIT festival cancellation in Kyrenia

Deputy PM Fikri Ataoğlu condemned the cancellation of the EXIT festival in Kyrenia, blaming political pressure from the Greek Cypriot administration for isolating the Turkish Cypriot community.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fikri-ataolu-condemns-exit-festival-cancellation-in-kyrenia

### 2026-08-20: EXIT Festival withdraws from music festival in occupied Kyrenia

The Serbian EXIT Festival has withdrawn from hosting an event in occupied Kyrenia, Cyprus, following diplomatic efforts to prevent the political exploitation of the international festival.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/exit-festival-withdraws-from-music-festival-in-occupied-kyrenia

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Cite as: EXIT Festival withdrawal from Kyrenia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/exit-festival-withdrawal-from-kyrenia