In February 2008, a fatal fire occurred at the Lounge Café in Novi Sad, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and injuries to two others. The incident took place overnight on 17 February 2008 in the city centre. Most of the victims were reported to have died as a result of smoke inhalation.

The fire was determined to have been deliberately set. It was established during subsequent investigation that a patron, Miloš Malešev, ignited flammable shag carpeting that had been installed along the interior walls of the café. The rapid spread of fire and smoke within the enclosed space led to the fatal outcome. Legal proceedings following the incident resulted in Malešev receiving a nine-year prison sentence. His companion was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, while the two owners of the café were each sentenced to seven years for negligence relating to fire safety and management failures.

The Lounge Café fire formed part of a wider pattern of serious fire-related incidents affecting nightlife venues in Novi Sad during this period. These included a hotel fire in 2007 that resulted in three fatalities and the Kontrast discotheque fire in 2012, in which six people lost their lives. Collectively, these events drew significant attention to systemic deficiencies in fire safety regulation, enforcement, and venue management within the city’s nighttime economy.