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Opening Week
Your guide to opening week of Darwin Festival 2026
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Cabaret • Circus
Loca Vida
Strap in Darwin - you’re in for a wild night
- 30 Jul - 22 Aug
- 6:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:30pm
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Circus • Family
Cheer
Circus Trick Tease
Circus? Comedy? Pom-poms? Bring it on!
- 7 Aug - 9 Aug
- 7:00pm, 8:45pm
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Cabaret • Music
Ursula Yovich Sings Nina Simone
Ursula Yovich ignites Nina Simone’s spirit with power, soul and defiance
- 6 Aug
- 8:45pm
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Dance • Music
Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow)
A coming together of artists across borders and ancestry
- 5 Aug - 6 Aug
- 7:00pm
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Theatre
Back to Bilo
A Belloo Production
The true story of a Sri Lankan refugee family and the regional Queensland community who fought for them
- 7 Aug - 8 Aug
- 11:00am, 7:30pm
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Cabaret • Music
The Great First Nations Songbook: A Night of Swing and Soul
Adam James
A celebration of heritage, harmony and Dreamtime swing
- 9 Aug
- 6:00pm
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Theatre
Saplings
Australian Theatre for Young People
Hilarious and heartbreaking stories from young people in conflict with the justice system
- 5 Aug - 8 Aug
- 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 8:00pm
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Music
The Drones
The Drones are reforming for a one-off tour of Australia – and Darwin kicks it all off!
- 8 Aug
- 9:00pm
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Music
Paul Dempsey
Shotgun Karaoke Show
Paul Dempsey performs stripped back covers live – just like a party, as Karaoke should be!
- 7 Aug
- 9:00pm
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Late Night • Music
CLUB AWI: Ayebatonye & Friends
When the lights drop and the bass begins to pulse, Club Awi calls you back to the floor
- 7 Aug
- 10:00pm
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Late Night • Music
CLUB AWI: Kuya James, DJ Joey Lightbulb & more
Join us for an almighty celebration of 10 years of Club Awi
- 8 Aug
- 10:00pm
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Comedy
Bron Lewis
Chaos
If you’ve ever thought ‘What the hell was I thinking?’ then this is the comedy show for you!
- 5 Aug
- 8:45pm
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Comedy
Tonight’s Guest: Rove McManus
(Tales from the Talk Show Trenches)
A night of stand-up and stories as Rove spills the tea reliving his days behind the desk
- 9 Aug
- 7:00pm
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Comedy
Brett Blake
Little Turd
The jaw‑dropping comedy hit everyone’s been talking about
- 5 Aug - 8 Aug
- 6:00pm
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Comedy
Mel McGlensey is Motorboat
Come on a sea voyage of self-discovery and stupidity with Motorboat!
- 5 Aug - 8 Aug
- 7:50pm, 8:10pm
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Family • Installation
Anthem Anthem Revolution
Terrapin
Battle a table tennis robot and create a new hip-hop national anthem
- 5 Aug - 22 Aug
- 5:00pm
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Family • Special Events
City of Darwin Teddy Bears' Picnic
Round up your family and your favourite teddy for one of Darwin Festival’s most beloved events
- 9 Aug
- 9:00am
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Dance • Family • Music
K-Pop Spectacular
M3 Dance
Join the world’s favourite K-pop trio for an unforgettable dance party
- 8 Aug
- 5:15pm
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Music
Press Club
Supported by TANG
Press Club bring raw Melbourne punk chaos and catharsis to The Rails
- 7 Aug
- 8:00pm
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Food
Seven Seasons Dinner
Savour the world’s oldest new flavours in this cultural culinary celebration
- 6 Aug - 7 Aug
- 6:30pm
