National Library Board READ30 Read! Fest
Read! Fest is a biennial festival by the National Library Board (NLB) and, since it started in 2014, has celebrated reading with many in-person and online programmes, installations, and literary events.
This year’s edition is called READ30 to celebrate NLB’s 30th anniversary, and trust us – you’ll want to check it out. For the whole month, there’ll be interactive events happening all around the city; you’ll get to rediscover your inner bookworm with pop-up library spots, a multisensory reading exhibition, and sweet discounts at local bookstores to help you grow that TBR pile.
Worlds Within
Image adapted from: National Library Board
From now until 27th July 2025, embark on a literary adventure with Worlds Within at the marquee right underneath the National Library Building. It’s an immersive experience divided into 5 pod zones, each dedicated to engaging all of the 5 senses.
Image adapted from: National Library Board
Witness a visual projection composed of diverse images and quotes from various books at the Sight Pod. Or, listen to Sing Lit narrations by local authors like Prasanthi Ram at the Sound Pod, which pays homage to our local literary landscape.
There’s also the Scent Pod where you’ll get up close and personal with interactive cabinets featuring curated scents from books like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind and Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang.
Image adapted from: National Library Board
For those who enjoy a more tactile experience, the Taste Pod and Touch Pod will be right up your alley. The former will feature dishes and ingredients from works like The Way of Kueh by Christopher Tan and other culinary titles.
On the other hand, the latter will allow you to run your fingers through a textured life-sized book installation, all while feeling different materials drawn from books such as The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng and The Wandering Earth by Cixin Liu.
Weekend Market
Image adapted from: National Library Board
If you’re heading down at the end of the week, look out for the Weekend Market, where you’ll find handmade stationery and crafts such as customised book sleeves and artisanal wares.
Check out Closetful of Books when you’re there – you’ll get to browse and purchase a curated selection of books from a mix of genres.
READ30 Nodes
Image credit: National Library Board
Across various locations until 20th July 2025, you’ll find 8 pop-up nodes scattered in the central town area – Shaw House, ION Orchard, The Paper Bunny at Ngee Ann City, Mandarin Gallery, TRIFECTA, The Cathay, School of the Arts (SOTA), and Bynd Artisan at Raffles City.
These nodes are designed for bookworms to explore themes and genres such as wellness, food, travel, and more. At these kiosks, you will find 90 specially selected titles in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Titles include recommendations from 30 local celebrities like singer Shabir Sulthan, chef Violet Oon, writer Myle Yan Tay, comedienne-actress Haryani Othman, and more.
Image credit: National Library Board
Browse the physical books and eBooks at the nodes and settle into one of the cosy reading corners at the booths. There will also be personality showcase areas with celebrity profiles and their favourite books as well as dedicated photo walls to snap pictures of.
If there’s a book that you find yourself wanting to take home, be sure to purchase it at a discounted price with one of NLB’s local bookstore partners – Closetful of Books, Wormhole, and Basheer. Get 10% off featured titles using the promo code <READ30> when placing an order online.
On top of that, if you purchase any book at the Book Bar, you’ll enjoy 10% off 1 non-alcoholic drink.
#HowDoYouRead
From now till 20th July 2025, you can also win a free eReader by participating in the #HowDoYouRead challenge on Instagram. Share your favourite reading poses online, tag @readingnationsg and use the #HowDoYouRead hashtag in your post for a chance to win a Kobo Libra Colour.
More details of the contest can be found on the National Reading Movement website.
Presidential Pop-up Library
Image credit: National Library Board
Keep an eye out for the very special Presidential Pop-up Library showcase happening from 12th July to 2nd September 2025. Celebrating the voices and legacies of Singaporean Presidents, past and present, the pop-up will feature a curation of books about the Presidents as well as their recommended readings.
Check out NLB READ30 Read! Fest
Whether you’re young or old, don’t miss out on the range of family-friendly activities and events happening for READ30. From exciting pop-ups to an interactive exhibition, look forward to discovering new books and finding out how reading can be accessible and enjoyable for the whole family.
Find out more about NLB’s READ30 Read! Fest
For more literary and book-related reads:
- Iconic Singaporean bookstores from the past
- Niche bookstores in Singapore
- Nostalgic childhood books from primary school
Cover image adapted from: National Library Board