The Darwin Festival has announced its line-up, with this year’s COVID-19 effected event being almost entirely Territory performers in a mix of the physical and those of the internet superhighway.

Slugged DF20 Homegrown, Darwin Festival artistic director Felix Preval said the smaller festival will run from Thursday August 6 to Sunday August 16, starting with a free night concert, Housewarming, featuring both live and online acts, including a performance from Gary Lang’s NT Dance Company, and musicians Eric Avery, Mandy Garling and Hotel Red.

He said there would be 48 events with more than 100 artists and 100 performances across over 10 Darwin venues, and at the brand-new Sunset Stage at Festival Park (which will replace the lighthouse) punters could hear storytelling with SPUN, musical performances from the Top End artists, including Caiti Baker, Serina Pech, Stevie Jean in Settle Down Sisters, Yilila and Ripple Effect Band from Arnhem Land, as well album launches from Kuya James and David Garnham and the Reasons to Live.

The program also includes the internet performance Sex and Death and family oriented entertainment, including the City of Darwin Teddy Bears’ Picnic, now at Festival Park.

“We have re-imagined the scale and scope of this year’s festival to deliver something special and unique for 2020,” he said.

“This year has provided an exciting opportunity to get back to our roots and program a local line-up with our DF20 Homegrown program, in which old friends find new ways of making magic.”

Mr Preval said there would intriguing theatre and dance performances, comedy and cabaret, backyard concerts, and experimental music from dusk till dawn.

Acting chief executive officer James Gough said the festival had worked with the Department of Health to deal with coronavirus risks.

He said there was a limited capacity to Festival Park but entry was guaranteed for those who buy a ticket to a Sunset Stage show for that night.

There will also be the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the National Indigenous Music Awards, both going virtual for the very first time, as well as award ceremonies for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards, also available online.

Tickets to Festival shows can be purchased online here.