Whether you’re an art connoisseur, someone who recently picked up crochet, or maybe you have zero knowledge of art, fret not; you don’t need a background in art to enjoy it. The 14th edition of Singapore Art Week 2026 is back from 22nd to 31st January 2026, and here are some free exhibitions that you should check out to start your art appreciation journey.
We went down for a first look, so you’ll know what’s worth the trip down.
The Singapore Art Week (SAW) is an annual event that takes place across the island, bringing together galleries, museums, and creative spaces to celebrate visual arts. It features over 100 free and ticketed events and programmes, including exhibitions, workshops, tours, and talks by local and international artists, so there’s something for everyone to look forward to during these 10 days.
Pro tip: If you’re planning to visit multiple exhibitions in a day, wear comfortable shoes as most galleries do not have seats.
59:59 by Corinne de San Jose.
chapalang is an exhibition featuring works by 10 Southeast Asian artists that combine the storytelling of art with technology. One of the highlights of this exhibition is 59:59 by Corinne de San Jose. While it’s an interesting backdrop of 118 transistor radios hanging, it actually pokes fun at uncomfortable silences, with a looping soundtrack of crickets chirping filling the space.
Second Lives by Yang Jie.
Another artwork worth checking out is Second Lives by Yang Jie. Combining broken ceramic kitchenware that he found with moving mechanical parts, the artist used the Japanese technique of kintsugi and yobitsugi to give these unwanted pieces a new life. There’s even a piece where you’ll need to blow into it to make it move – literally breathing new life into discarded objects.
For a more immersive experience, join a walkthrough with the curators, Gunalan Nadarajan and Roopesh Sitharan, on 25th January 2026 from 11am to 12pm and 31st January 2026 from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. You can also register for free workshops during SAW 2026, if you’re keen to get hands-on beyond just looking.
Find out more about the walkthrough and workshops at chapalang.
Admission: Free
Venue: ArtSpace @ HeluTrans Gallery 3
Date: 22nd Jan-1st Feb 2026
Opening hours: 11am-7pm, Daily
The 6th VH AWARD showcases 5 commissioned films by artists who use media and technology as a medium, while portraying the challenges of society through history, mythology, and identity. Don’t miss Dream of Walnut Palaces by Wendi Yan, the Grand Prix recipient of the 6th VH AWARD. The abstract film reimagines how the cultures of East and West intersect from a steampunk-esque lens.
Admission: Free
Venue: ArtSpace @ HeluTrans Gallery 1
Opening hours: 10am-7pm, 20th-22nd & 25th-31st Jan 2026 | 10am-10pm, 23rd & 24th Jan 2026
Head to Whitestone Gallery for Playscapes of Dreams, an exhibition featuring works from Temple of the Sunflower by British artist Philip Colbert and Shuffle by Japanese artist Aruta Soup. While both artists have different art styles, their whimsical and playful characters – from Philip Colbert’s lobsters to Aruta Soup’s bunny ZERO – weave seamlessly together in this combined exhibition.
This showcase features bright colours and surreal compositions that explore reality and mythology. With 70 curated artworks and installations, hopefully, something catches your eye.
Admission: Free
Venue: Whitestone Gallery
Date: 23rd Jan-14th Mar 2026
Opening hours: 11am-7pm, Tues-Sun (Closed on Mondays & PH)
Flotilla by Leeroy New.
Isang Dipang Langit, which roughly translates to “A Sliver of Sky”, is an exhibition situated within a warehouse storage area that features works from 10 Filipino artists. Through paintings, sculptures, and performances, it shares a message of hope, memory, and identity of these artists.
As you enter the space, you’ll be greeted by Flotilla by Leeroy New, where a set of sculptural boats made from recycled plastic floats from the ceiling. It symbolises how the Philippines is a country of islands, while also referencing the surrounding waters as a silent witness to the events of WWII.
Manongs of Pajaro Valley and Manongs of Louisiana by Dominic Mangila.
Manongs of Pajaro Valley and Manongs of Louisiana by Dominic Mangila focus on the Manong Generation, who are Filipino workers who migrated to the United States. While we might not have memories of our ancestors migrating to Singapore and don’t share the same migration stories, his works use historical narratives with archival research to show us how movement across borders shapes culture and memory.
There’s also an opening reception happening on 23rd January 2026 from 6pm to 10pm, featuring a performance by Leeroy New.
Admission: Free
Address: Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Block 37 Keppel Road, #01-02, Singapore 089064
Date: 20th-31st Jan 2026
Opening hours: 10am-7pm, Daily
This year, The Pierre Lorinet Collection is presenting Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama’s first solo exhibition in Southeast Asia, titled Digging Stars. Fun fact: he is ranked number 1 on the Power 100 list in 2025, which doesn’t just feature great or renowned artists, but rather, influential ones who are actively shaping conversations and movements in the art world.
The exhibition at Gillman Barracks uses discarded materials to tell stories about slavery, colonialism, and migration through his fabric works, collages, photographs, and video. His works make you relook at everyday materials such as jute sacks, as the exhibition takes you to the factories in Ghana with the smells of jute, oil, and rust.
Admission: Free
Address: Gillman Barracks, 6 Lock Road, Singapore 108934
Date: 16th Jan-8th Feb 2026
Opening hours: 11am-7pm, Daily
It’s hard to miss the large inflatable monkey sculptures when you’re visiting Gillman Barracks for SAW 2026. The eye-catching installation is part of The Last Tree Was a Building by local urban artist ANTZ, who specialises in graffiti, illustration, and sculptures.
Inspired by Sun Wukong from Chinese mythology, this curious and playful character is plastered everywhere in his “pop-up studio”. As a graffiti artist, ANTZ drew his character on found street signs and even replicated smaller ones.
There’s also a corner where you can #SupportLocal by buying a sticker pack ($5), shirt ($50), and even a monkey sculpture toy (from $100).
Pro tip: Most parts of Gillian Barracks aren’t sheltered, so remember to bring a UV umbrella for any weather.
Admission: Free
Venue: Around Gillman Barracks
Date: 16th Jan-8th Feb 2026
While most artworks cannot be touched, Next Stop: Together! encourages you to interact with the tactile and sound-based art. Set inside a decommissioned SMRT training bus, the SAW Art Bus will travel to 25 locations in Singapore, bringing art to the heartlands for a family-friendly activity.
Sound Stop: A Sensory Journey by Twardzik Ching Chor Leng (left) & some sounds in transit by Hong Shu-ying (right).
Some sensory works include Sound Stop: A Sensory Journey by Twardzik Ching Chor Leng, and some sounds in transit by Hong Shu-ying. Both of these works are interactive, and visitors can play with sounds that are often associated with the buses we take every day.
Look forward to free workshops such as badge making, EZ-Link sticker designer, and linocut stamp printing while you’re there. Alongside the SAW Art Bus, there are also artworks featured in 8 MRT stations:
While you can find them yourself, we recommend signing up for a free walking tour to understand more about the artists’ thought processes.
Find out more about the Next Stop: Together!
Admission: Free
Venue: Various locations across Singapore
Date: 22nd Jan-31st Jan 2026
It’s not every day you get to see original artworks by well-renowned artists up close. The Print Show Singapore by STPI brings together publishers and galleries to feature artists who don’t typically work with print as a medium. It’s also an opportunity for collectors to acquire new artworks for their collection.
October Story by Takashi Murakami.
For laymen like us, we might not recognise most of the artists, but 2 notable ones are Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama, both of whom have collaborated with luxury brand Louis Vuitton. You’ll get to see a print of Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin motif titled Profile and Takashi Murakami’s iconic flowers from October Story.
Admission: Free
Venue: STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery
Date: 22nd-31st Jan 2026
Opening hours: 10am-7pm, Daily
SAW 2026 is taking place across 7 districts: Bras Basah & Bugis, Civic District, Gillman Barracks, Kampong Glam & Little India, Marina Bay, River Valley, and Tanjong Pagar.
There are also events and programmes happening at various locations across Singapore, from Pasir Ris Park and Geylang Serai to Jurong Lake Gardens and NTU.
During SAW 2026, there will be 2 free shuttle bus services bringing visitors around various locations.
The SAW shuttle bus operates in a 2-way loop, bringing you from Gillman Barracks all the way to the Sands Expo & Convention Centre and vice versa. It stops at these locations:
Operating hours are from 11am to 8pm on Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays, and from 11am to 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Check out the SAW shuttle bus schedule for specific pick-up and drop-off timings at the various locations.
The Art x Tech shuttle bus brings you to selected immersive and tech-driven installations. The hourly bus starts from Tanjong Pagar Distripark to Marina Bay Sands. Unlike the SAW shuttle bus, this bus only has one route, and stops at these locations:
Operating hours are from 11am to 10pm on Fridays to Sundays – check out the Art x Tech shuttle bus schedule for specific pick-up and drop-off timings at the various locations.
With free shuttle bus services that bring you around, and the SAW art bus in different heartlands, there’s no excuse for you to miss Singapore Art Week 2026. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the arts and culture scene, now is the time.
For more things to do in Singapore:
Photography by: Jaslyn Tan
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