Family and friends. We have tried our best, but it has come to the time when we must make the tough decision to cancel the 2021 Darwin Fringe Festival. We have listened to all of you over the past couple of days and to the Northern Territory Government indication today that we can expect restrictions after lockdown has lifted, and we have decided to put community safety first.

This call weighs heavy on our hearts and minds – only a day before we would have been taking over the city. 

The idea of potentially putting any community members at risk, including immunocompromised people, First Nations communities, those who have not or are not able to be vaccinated, front line workers, and anyone who is sleeping rough, does not sit well with Darwin Fringe. Ultimately, we recognise that our responsibility lies with the safety of the greater population. We simply cannot in good conscience hold a festival that might only be safe for some and not others.

A huge thank you to the Darwin Fringe artists and arts-workers – the beating heart of the emerging and experimental arts scene here in the Northern Territory. Months of hard work were put in to make and present these shows, workshops, exhibitions and experiences.

We are also grateful for the incredible support of our volunteers, venues, funding bodies and industry partners, ticket holders, and the many others that are vital to Darwin Fringe.

If you purchased a ticket check your emails, where you will be given the option to donate your ticket cost to the artists or get a refund. We appreciate your patience at this time. 

Be kind to yourselves. Here’s to what was, and what will be. Who knows what the future holds for Darwin Fringe 2021 but we look forward to keeping you updated as we figure it out.

Yours sincerely,
Hannah and the Darwin Fringe Team