Upcoming arts events in Singapore

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Every year, the conversation about Singapore being a “cultural desert” makes its rounds online. But many don’t even know what we have in store. From contemporary arts exhibitions to huge internationally-acclaimed musicals, these arts events in Singapore offer a wide range of mediums for you to discover, learn, and explore.

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Breakdown of the upcoming arts events in Singapore in 2026

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Event	Dates	Price
Singapore Art Week 2026	Now till 31st January 2026	Free, with some ticketed programmes
Singapore Youth Film Festival 2026	29th January to 8th February 2026	$6, with some free programmes
Aliwal Urban Arts Festival 2026	31st January 2026	Free, with some ticketed programmes
Public Garden	31st January to 1st February 2026	Free
Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026	27th February to 8th March 2026	From $5
Force Majeure	6th to 15th March 2026	From $38
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular	24th March to 10th May 2026	From $88
ARTBOX CAMP 2026	3rd to 5th April 2026	From $5
Roald Dahl’s The BFG	22nd April to 2nd May 2026	From $48
Legally Blonde: The Musical	July 2026	TBC

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1. Singapore Art Week 2026

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Till 31st January 2026

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With over 200 free and ticketed programmes, Singapore Art Week 2026 is shaping up to be better than ever. Expect a wide array of contemporary art exhibitions spread across 9 districts in Singapore, including the Civic District, Gillman Barracks, and Marina Bay.

To get around, you can hop on the SAW Shuttle Bus and explore all the exhibitions in the different districts. Some other programmes that are also a part of SAW are Light to Night 2026 and VERSE 2026.

Admission: Free, with some ticketed programmes
Date: Till 31st January 2026
Time: 10am-7pm
Venue: Various locations, including Tanjong Pagar Distripark and the Civic District.

Find out more about Singapore Art Week 2026.

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2. Singapore Youth Film Festival 2026

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29th Jan-8th Feb 2026

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Still from One Last Supper, a film nominated at SYFF 2026.
Image credit: *SCAPE, Jerold Lim Xing Jie

Previously known as the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA), the Singapore Youth Film Festival (SYFF) has grown into a full-blown showcase with panels, workshops, and screenings of the nominees. All of the nominated films are by local up-and-coming filmmakers.

Tickets for the screenings are $6. But, if you use code <SYFF-FREE>, you can get free tickets to any programme you wish. This promo code is valid until 28th January 2026.

The SYFF 2026 awards ceremony will be taking place on 16th February 2026 and, while that’s not open to public, you’ll be able to watch it live on *SCAPE’s Facebook and YouTube.

Admission: $6, with some free programmes
Date: 31st Jan 2026
Time: Various showtimes

Get tickets to the Singapore Youth Film Festival 2026.

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3. Aliwal Urban Arts Festival 2026

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31st Jan 2026

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Image credit: Arts House Group

The Aliwal Urban Arts Festival 2026 is a festival that unites folks who are part of the urban sub-culture in Singapore, featuring skateboarding, graffiti art, and street culture. There are arts exhibitions, workshops, live performances, and even tours around the Kampong Glam neighbourhood and its rich history with urban art.

The festival will take place on 31st January 2026 and admission is free.

Admission: Free, with some ticketed programmes
Date: 31st Jan 2026
Time: 12pm-10.30pm

Find out more about Aliwal Urban Arts Festival 2026.

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4. Public Garden

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31st Jan-1st Feb 2026

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Image adapted from: @publicgarden via Instagram

If you’ve been on social media over the last year, you’ve definitely heard of Public Garden – one of the biggest independent art events in Singapore. The market will be returning from 31st January to 1st February 2026 for its first edition of the year.

Admission is free, so you can save your money on the great selection of brands that’ll be setting up shop. Look forward to handcrafted handbags by The Mind Corpus, cute art prints by Misu Juju, and artisanal apparel and accessories by San Sook Studio.

While previously Public Garden had taken place at the Suntec City Convention Centre, this time it’ll be taking place at Hall C of the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre.

Admission: Free
Date: 31st Jan-1st Feb 2026
Time: 1pm-7pm, Daily

Find out more about the upcoming Public Garden art market.

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5. Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026

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27th Feb-8th Mar 2026

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Segment from A Little Goes A Long Way by Sun Son Theatre.
Image credit: Esplanade

Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 is an annual Chinese language showcase that takes place at Esplanade. You’ll get to immerse yourselves in different Chinese art forms, including dance, theatre, art, and music across several workshops and performances.

Learn more about what goes behind these works at the Huayi Dialogues – a series of panels where various practitioners of Chinese arts share their craft and explore new perspectives within their respective art forms. Tickets for the programmes are as low as $5.

Admission: From $5
Date: 27th Feb-8th Mar 2026
Time: Various timings

Find out more about Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026.

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6. Force Majeure

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6th-15th March 2026

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Image credit: Pangdemonium

Pangdemonium is no stranger to the local theatre scene, having put up several successful productions over the years, including a rendition of the Tony-award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen in 2024. This year’s slate of productions begins with a modern-day adaptation of Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters, entitled Force Majeure.

Masterfully written by playwright Stephanie Street, the story tells of 3 sisters and their brother as they wade through life, and uncover obstacles that threaten to tear their family apart. Some notable names attached to the production are Benjamin Kheng, Inch Chua, and Ebi Shankara.

Tickets are yet to be released, so keep an eye out on Pangdemonium’s Instagram for when the tickets are released. SG Culture pass credits are eligible to be used.

Admission: From $38
Date: 6th-15th Mar 2026
Time: TBC

Find out more about Force Majeure.

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7. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular

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24th Mar-10th May 2026

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Image credit: @lesmizofficial via Instagram

In honour of its 40th anniversary, the revolutionary musical will be making its way back to our shores. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will feature classics like I Dreamed A Dream, Do You Hear The People Sing?, and One Day More – and this time it’s extra special as there’ll be a homegrown talent on that stage.

Image credit: @nattyong via Instagram

Nathania Ong, a West End performer who was born and raised in Singapore, will be reprising her role of Éponine for the tour, which she played in the West End. But Les Miz is not the only huge West End production she’s been in. She was also Eliza in Hamilton from 2024 to 2025.

Admission: From $88
Date: 24th Mar-10th May 2026
Time: Tue-Fri 8pm | Sat 2pm & 8pm | Sun 1pm & 6.30pm

Get tickets to Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular.

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8. ARTBOX CAMP 2026

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3rd-5th Apr 2026 & 10th-12th Apr 2026

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The 2025 edition of Artbox, ARTBOX EVERYDAY.
Image credit: Artbox Singapore

Artbox Singapore will be returning in April with ARTBOX CAMP 2026, a reimagining of the iconic marketplace as a creative camp for artists to showcase their works. There’ll be over 250 lifestyle brands setting up shop offering a range of goodies, from apparel to art pieces.

This year’s edition is extra special as there’ll also be a Wiggle Wiggle showcase. Fans of the series can grab exclusive merch and items featuring beloved characters Wiggle Bear, Little Play Bunny, Smile We Love, and Lobster.

Early bird prices are available now, starting at $5, until 31st January 2026 on Trip.com.

Admission: From $5
Date: 3rd-5th Apr 2026, 10th-12th Apr 2026
Time: 10am-11pm, Daily

Get early bird tickets to ARTBOX CAMP 2026.

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9. Roald Dahl’s The BFG

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22nd Apr-2nd May 2026

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Image credit: Esplanade

A Royal Shakespeare Company, who were the minds behind Matilda the Musical, will be bringing another beloved Roald Dahl book to life. Roald Dahl’s The BFG is a massive-scale adaptation of the story of Sophie and her Big Friendly Giant friend coming in April.

Blending puppetry, illusion work, and digital effects, this show promises to be a giant spectacle for the whole family to enjoy. Tickets start at $48.

Admission: From $48
Date: 22nd Apr-2nd May 2026
Time: Tue-Fri 7pm | Sat 2.30pm & 7pm | Sun 2.30pm

Get tickets to Roald Dahl’s The BFG.

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10. Legally Blonde: The Musical

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July 2026

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Shot from the 2007 staging of Legally Blonde: The Musical.
Image credit: IMDb

Get ready to Bend and Snap with Legally Blonde: The Musical this July. The beloved movie-turned-musical will be taking over the Esplanade Theatre with all its pink glory. Look forward to catching beloved songs like Omigod You Guys, So Much Better, and There! Right There!.

Further details are yet to be revealed, so keep an eye out on Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Instagram for updates.

Admission: TBC
Date: July 2026
Time: TBC

Get on the waitlist for Legally Blonde: The Musical.

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Don’t miss out on these arts events in Singapore

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No matter how big or small, every one of these arts events in Singapore plays a part in keeping our local arts scene alive. Let’s beat the “cultural desert” allegations by supporting these events, uplifting homegrown talents and celebrating creativity in our everyday lives.

More arts spots & events in Singapore:

• Light to Night 2026
• SFS Somerset & Filmfest
• Arts & cultural museums in SG

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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal, *SCAPE, Jerold Lim Xing Jie, @lesmizofficial via Instagram
A portion of this content may contain referral links where The Smart Local may collect a commission. Our opinions remain our own.
Originally published on 16th September 2025. Last updated by ‘Arifah Malik on 26th January 2026.