The 2023 Darwin Festival line-up has been revealed, featuring more than 80 events across music, theatre, comedy, dance, visual arts and more.
The major annual event, which will run over 18 days from August 10 to 27, will this year feature more than 850 artists from the NT, Australia and overseas, performing across 28 venues.
Singer-songwriter Katie Noonan, The Whitlams Black Stump Band and 90s rock band Regurgitator are some of the big names due to perform at this year's festival.
Other music highlights will include performances by up-and-coming Australian artists Yirrmal, Budjerah and Jacotene and live rockumentary the 27 Club.
Comedians including Merrick Watts, Mel Buttle, Sammy J and Dave Thornton are set to get the crowds laughing.
Some of the nation's biggest awards in Indigenous art, music and fashion, including the popular National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs), will also be back as part of the event.
World-renowned cabaret act Blanc de Blanc Encore will also be performing this year, returning to the festival for the first time since 2019.
Major Events Minister Paul Kirby said the festival had grown into one of the Top End's most significant events.
"We know that last year we had over 170,000 attendances, [and it's] over $30 million that brings into the NT and particularly into the Top End," he said.
"It's really exciting to see this continue to grow from year to year … This festival gives Darwin a lot to look forward to."
The event is being led by new artistic director Kate Fell, after long-serving previous director Felix Preval stepped down last year.
Ms Fell said the festival offered a wide range of experiences, and was a tourism drawcard for Darwin.
"Last year about 35 per cent of our audience was [from] interstate, which was fantastic," she said.
"It's great to have locals and visitors here. We know how much that's great for our local restaurants and tourism providers."
Acts in the 2023 Darwin Festival line-up include:
Opening night:
- Life/Time, an acrobatics display by Gravity & Other Myths, Jimblah and Corrugated Iron Youth Arts
Closing night:
- Katie Noonan
- The Whitlams Black Stump Band
Music:
- National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs)
- Regurgitator
- Yirrmal
- Budjerah
- Jacotene
- The Barber of Seville — Opera Australia
- Desire & Destiny — Darwin Symphony Orchestra
- History of House, featuring Soweto Gospel Choir and DJ Groove Terminator
- 27 Club, featuring artists including Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus) and Kevin Mitchell (Jedediah, Bob Evans)
Comedy:
- Merrick Watts
- Mel Buttle
- Sammy J
- Dave Thornton
- Karen from Finance
- Amy Hetherington
Fashion:
- National Indigenous Fashion Awards
- Country to Couture
Visual art:
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs)
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
