October is always a big one for live music in Belgrade, and this year the gig calendar is properly stacked. These are the gigs we’ll be at, in date order.
Changeover Festival — 7–10 October, multiple venues
Changeover turns five this year and celebrates by taking over more than ten venues across the city. That’s 80-plus acts over four days, from experimental rock and contemporary jazz to electronics and folk. Headliners include Liars, Still House Plants, Jabu, New York’s Tempers and Zagreb’s Mimika Orchestra, who arrive 20 musicians strong. One pass gets you into the lot, which makes it the easiest way to find your next favourite band.
A$AP Rocky — 8 October, Belgrade Arena
Rocky brings his Don’t Be Dumb World Tour to the Belgrade Arena, touring his first album in eight years. The European leg opened with three sold-out nights at London’s O2, so expect a packed room. Add a back catalogue that runs from “L$D” to “Praise the Lord (Da Shine)” and this is the hip-hop night of the year.
Deep Purple — 10 October, Belgrade Arena
Two days later, Deep Purple – rock royalty roll in on their Mad in Europe tour, with young UK band Jayler opening. Guinness once named them the world’s loudest band, they’ve sold more than 130 million albums, and their 2024 record =1 went to number one in three countries. Last time they played Belgrade, at Tašmajdan in 2024, “Highway Star”, “Hush” and “Smoke on the Water” all made the set.
Koikoi & Turbo Trans Turisti — 11 October, KST Garden
KST closes its garden for the season with one of the country’s hottest bands. Koikoi blend indie rock, post-punk and electro pop with boy-girl vocals, and they’ve spent the year on the road, from Sziget and Pohoda to Seoul’s Zandari Festa. Expect new material alongside the hits. Also on the bill: Turbo Trans Turisti, a Belgrade alt-pop band and the only Serbian act at this year’s ESNS, Europe’s biggest showcase festival.
Vizelj & Džipsii — 15 October, KST Garden
Round two of KST’s garden closing belongs to Vizelj, one of the loudest voices on Belgrade’s alternative scene since 2013 and the band behind the Hali Gali festival. Their sound pulls in punk, psychedelia, Yugoslav new wave and electronic beats, and the gigs are loud, loose and largely improvised. Also on the bill: Džipsii, back with new album JOVAN, which is faster than their debut and built for the dancefloor.
Juan Atkins — 16 October, Ložionica
The man widely credited with inventing techno, Detroit’s Juan Atkins (Cybotron, Model 500), comes to Ložionica for a two-part night. First a moderated public talk with audience questions, then a two-hour DJ set from the Originator himself. The venue, a 1925 railway roundhouse reopened last year as a creative hub, suits the occasion.
Belgrade Jazz Festival — 21–24 October, Dom omladine
Serbia’s oldest jazz festival, first held in 1971, reaches its 42nd edition under the banner “Ušće džeza”. That’s 13 concerts from leading international artists over four nights, wrapped up with a closing jam session. Dip in for one night or go all in.
Bajaga i Instruktori — 22 October, Sava Centar
Bajaga i Instruktori have been soundtracking the region since 1984, when Momčilo Bajagić left Riblja Čorba to go his own way. They’ve booked three nights at Sava Centar, starting on the 22nd, with songs they rarely play live and surprise guests promised. Expect a room that knows every word to “Plavi safir”, “Tišina” and “Moji drugovi”.
Fontaines D.C. — 28 October, Hangar Stage Belgrade
Twelve days after their fifth album, Dopamine Chamber, lands on XL, Fontaines D.C. bring their biggest headline tour yet to Belgrade, their only date in this part of Europe. Fresh from headlining Reading & Leeds this summer, they return to Luka Beograd, this time indoors at Hangar Stage 1. Their first Belgrade show there in June 2025 went down a storm, so don’t sleep on tickets.
Porto Morto — 30 October, Zappa Barka
Zagreb’s Porto Morto are a seven-piece mixing art rock, progressive pop and indie electronica, with a stage show as thought-through as the music. They’re launching new album Minimum on the new Zappa Barka, with songs that go where the band say they were once afraid to. A fine way to see out October.
From arena shows to student-club gardens, that’s October sorted. The big ones sell out, so book early and check the venues’ pages for start times. See you there! x
Reporting on music, UK-based
