The 2020 Border Music Camp in July was called off last month but organisers are planning online activities, demonstrations and performances for that week instead.

Director Alastair McKean said people understood the cancellation, the first in the camp's 45-year history, "but it's still bloody sad".

"It's such a strong community that coalesces around the camp, we really needed to have something to keep everyone engaged," he said.

"Just to remind everyone, I suppose, that we're all here, we all still love playing music and at some time we'll be back together again."

First held in 1975, Border Music Camp is a week of instrumental rehearsals, workshops and performances for about 200 musicians of all ages.

Run by a volunteer committee, it is based at The Scots School Albury.

Campers from as far away as Hobart, Perth, Alice Springs and Darwin join participants from Melbourne, Sydney, the Border, Riverina and North East.

Mr McKean said the COVID-19 restrictions made it clear the camp couldn't go ahead, given its final concert might involve up to 1000 participants and audience members.

"I doubt that will even be legally possible by the time the camp rolls around, there was just no choice, unfortunately," he said.

"People are just really gutted that it's not happening."

But this has not meant no camp shirt, with orders for a memorial Border Music Camp 2020 T-shirt now being taken.

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Albury's Rachel Pringle attended the camp from a young age, as did her brother, and their parents are longtime committee members.

Now her four children, Eve, 12, Aemon, 9, and twins Mo and Sylvie, 8, have joined the camp family and, while disappointed the usual program was gone, were curious to see what would happen in its place.

"Border Music Camp means so many things to them," Ms Pringle said.

"The family spirit is there; the want for self-education, the motivation for actually picking things up and sharing them because they're meaningful."

Mr McKean said one positive of the online format would be the chance for a wider audience to sample Border Music Camp.

"As an outreach tool it's really going to be very powerful, I think," he said.

Ms Pringle felt qualities integral to the event would not be lost this year.

"There's really healthy relationships at Border Music Camp," she said.

"The music is a huge part of it and then the genuineness of the staff and the other values that the kids gain from being there, I believe it can go through online as well.

"It's just a different platform."