CLUB AWI: Ayebatonye & Friends

When the lights drop and the bass begins to pulse, Club Awi calls you back to the floor.

For a decade, Club Awi has been the heartbeat of late-night dance culture at Darwin Festival. In 2026, it returns with renewed purpose: a call to the floor, a reminder that dancing together isn’t a luxury – it’s essential.

Launching this year’s electrifying programme, Ayebatonye & Friends set the tone for what’s to come – deep, global club energy paired with immersive visuals that move as powerfully as the music itself.

Never confined to a single genre, Ayebatonye’s entrancing sets weave a rich tapestry of global electronic sounds – afro rhythms, deep percussive beats, classic house, techno, jersey club and beyond. It’s a sound that invites you in and carries you somewhere new.

A recognised leader in championing a more inclusive music industry, Ayebatonye brings both intention and instinct to the decks. For opening night, she curates a lineup of collaborators, creating a shared experience that is expansive, immersive and alive.

This is Club Awi – Darwin’s favourite late-night Festival club – open to everyone, built for connection and made to be felt.

Club Awi Moonlight Warm-Up – $45 (book online)
Kick off your Club Awi experience with a little extra shine. Club Awi Moonlight Warm‑Up is a premium add‑on that gets you into the Airnorth Moonlight Lounge for a pre‑party cocktail and a private bar moment before you head into the club, to get your dance on.

What you get
- Airnorth Moonlight Lounge access - Private bar from 9pm–10pm
- Cocktail on arrival - Redeemable by 9.45pm in the Airnorth Moonlight Lounge
- Priority entry to Club Awi - Valid until 11pm only