Indira Paganotto, one of the fastest-rising stars on the global DJing scene, played a sold-out show in the Main Hangar at the Port of Belgrade this weekend. Recognized early on for her potential and introduced to the world through the No Sleep stage at Novi Sad’s EXIT Festival a few years ago, the Spaniard’s grand tour finale was organized by EXIT’s internationally acclaimed platform bearing the same name.
While previous No Sleep events and other parties in the Main Hangar have sold out in past years, this marked the first time a full-capacity event sold out two full days in advance — a new record for the venue since it began operations in 2018. This extraordinary night in Belgrade was part of a special tour where Indira Paganotto brought fellow DJs from her fashion and music label, ARTCORE, to just ten global cities. The Belgrade show was the most spectacular on a tour that also visited Paris, London, Madrid, New York, and other cities in which the Spanish DJ superstar has gained a unique following.
The evening kicked off with the premiere of the documentary “Dance Arena: Temple of Electronic Music” in the authentic setting of the Balkan Cinema, evoking unforgettable moments from EXIT Festival’s most legendary stage. After the premiere, Indira Paganotto, one of the biggest stars of the global electronic music scene, shared her impressions on a panel: “EXIT changed my life, and the energy of the Dance Arena always gives me chills. Watching this film, I was moved to tears, remembering all those beautiful moments,” said Indira, emphasizing how much it means to her to have been an essential part of the EXIT family for years.
The night at the Main Hangar began with explosive sets from local heroes MICYVID x IVV.LMTD, members of the Turbo Bunnies collective, followed by the rising Brazilian star LUNA PASSOS. A standout revelation for the local crowd was MARHU, a promising talent from Belgium’s techno scene, whose performance set the stage for the night. But it was Indira Paganotto who stole the show, pouring her heart out to the audience and receiving their love in return — love that eventually brought tears to her eyes.
With unparalleled charisma and a unique musical style — carved out in a global electronic scene that often struggles to find something truly authentic and different — Indira Paganotto once again delivered the party of the year. The audience threw bras onto the stage, held up shirts with messages of love, chanted her name like a stadium crowd, and jumped a meter into the air. It was a rare spectacle, the kind reserved for special occasions like when No Sleep madness meets ARTCORE energy. Having already made Belgrade clubbing history two years ago by keeping a packed Hangar going until 7 a.m., this time, Indira began and wrapped up earlier, closing to a five-minute round of applause that left her in tears.
To close out the night, the not-so-easy task of following Indira fell to the Italian techno-metal duo Lorenzo Raganzini and Paolo Ferrara. These young Italians, who seem to hail from the planet Prodigy and are spiritual sons of the eternal king Keith Flint, left the audience speechless and breathless with their own hits as well as remixes of Nirvana, Prodigy, Underworld, Metallica, and many others reimagined for a new generation.
Once again, the No Sleep party has delivered an international event that solidifies Belgrade’s standing as a city capable of competing with global metropolises in this domain and a crowd that has earned its reputation as a favorite among the world’s leading electronic music stars.
