Singapore Night Festival returns, this time led by HeritageSG, celebrating the city as a vibrant island nation.
Singapore Night Festival 2025 returns from 22 August to 6 September, complete with neon-lit streets and glowing art installations. We roamed the Bras Basah and Bugis precincts after dark to catch immersive light shows, quirky performances, and street parties that turn the city into an open-air playground. Here’s what’s lighting up the night this year! Oh, and don’t forget to check out our guide for more things to do this weekend in Singapore.
Singapore Night Festival 2025: Details at a glance
Best for: Casual date nights, evening hangouts, and family outings with kids who don’t have an 8pm bedtime
Highlight experiences: Projection mapping artworks, Night Light installations, live performances, and festival villages
When: 22 August to 6 September 2025; various timings
How much: Free, with some ticketed programmes
Where: Singapore Night Festival, various locations around the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct
All the events and experiences happening at Singapore Night Festival 2025
1. Sky Castle
Make your way to Cathay Green for Sky Castle, a colourful, interactive highlight experience by Eness Studio featuring enchanting lights and sounds. As you weave in and out of the vibrant arches, you’ll power a melodic xylophone soundscape and create a unique, orchestral symphony. If you plan to explore the festival, make this the first stop – we expect throngs of people visiting this during the weekends.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: 7.30pm – 11pm
Price: $5 per person
Address: Cathay Green
2. Kampong Chill
A satirical piece by artist duo Yok & Sheryo, this immersive second highlight experience showcases inefficiency, daydreaming, and sitting still in a more positive light. You’re invited to arrive with no agenda and simply rest without feeling the itch to be productive. In a busy city like Singapore, this tranquil haven is a much-needed sanctuary! When you’re here, we recommend taking some time to just chill, be still, and soak in the vibes. P.S. It’s a good photo spot!
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Price: Registration TBC
Address: Kampong Chill, located at Capitol Singapore
3. Mosaic
Set to the themes of astronomical phenomena, navigation, and travel through islands, this video mapping musical spectacle takes you on a glorious journey. With the National Museum as a backdrop, you’ll spot kebaya and batik elements reflecting the cultural heritage of the region. As with previous years, this is the projection mapping that attracts the crowds. The best spot to snap photos and videos of the light show? Directly in front of the entrance, though you’ll have to fight with other festivalgoers for the spot.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Facade of National Museum of Singapore
4. Awakening
Spotlighting Singapore’s island history, Asher Yeo’s projection mapping installation celebrates the people and cultures drawn to our shores by trade. The contemplative piece reflects on the past to shine a light on our present identity.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Chijmes
5. Island Waters
Explore underwater realms and discover the connections between humans and oceans as you admire this work by KangLi. From a small ripple to the depths of the seabed, taking inspiration from the vibrant shades of Peranakan porcelain, the projection celebrates local marine flora and fauna.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Chijmes
6. Dari Pulau Ke Pulau (From One Island to Another)
Visual artist Hafi dives into her grandparents’ migration from Melaka and East Java to Singapore, reimagining their journeys through illustrations and moving images.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Chijmes
7. Roadside Beauties and Healing Remedies
Ever wondered about the medicinal benefits of traditional healing? Adeline Kueh takes inspiration from native herbs and cooling tea recipes to embrace such ancestral wisdom passed down from generations before.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Chijmes
8. Waves of Time: Splash On Our Skyline
Fancy a peek at a retro-futuristic installation? This work by Maegzter, located at the entrance of Bugis+, pays tribute to Singapore’s maritime history with a wave motif and neon lighting. So keep a lookout when you’re within the area or you might just miss it completely.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Bugis+
9. Two Sides of Our Island
Experience a wave of nostalgia as the installation reveals familiar local elements in unusual ways with illustration and optical illusions. Plus, check out the three interactive photo spots complemented by a custom scent – an infinity room with a “selfie” mirror, an illustrative backdrop, and a soothing seating area surrounded by floating islands. It might take a while to find that one perfect angle, but we say the optical illusion photo will be worth the effort.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Raffles City
10. Cyberswordfish V2.0: From Myth to Megabytes
Influenced by the ancient legend of Singapura Dilanggar Todak, Yang Derong’s sculpture reinvents the invading swordfish as cyberpunk creatures. Made from e-waste like frayed wires and broken screens, the installation nudges us to think about what happens to the technological debris we leave behind.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Plaza Singapura
11. Jiwa Laut
In an attempt to reconnect audiences with our marine past, this work taps into Southeast Asian crab folklore and coastal heritage. Look out for luminous crab sculptures that move like small boats along the shoreline. We recommend filming videos of this light installation rather than snapping photos – it definitely looks better in motion.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Armenian Street
12. KU a Dreamer
When was the last time you thought about your dreams? Living in bustling Singapore, it’s easy to brush aside our dreams and focus on the practicality of daily living. So take some time and sit with KU, a dreamy and innocent boy, to rest and recharge. We gotta admit: the statue freaked us out a little, but the pretty lights on the kinetic wall made up for it.
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: Funan
13. Utopia
Peek at this immersive video installation by Jahan Loh and feel yourself transported 600 years into the future. Bugis is now a cosmopolitan island spaceport, with two spacemen engaging in a zero-gravity tea ceremony. Oh, and there are futuristic renditions of local dishes like nasi lemak and laksa. Intrigued yet?
Date: 22 August to 6 September 2025
Time: Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm to midnight; Sunday to Thursday, 7.30pm to 11pm
Address: National Design Centre
14. SMU Arts Fest: 2560
Commemorate 25 years of SMU and 60 years of Singapore with homegrown talent, stories, and conversations. There’ll be free music and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions to browse through.
Date: 28 to 30 August 2025, 4 to 6 September 2025
Time: 6pm to 11pm
Address: SMU Campus Green
15. Paradise Island at Armenian Street
Rock up to Paradise Island for tropical vibes and a celebration of cultures. Taking inspiration from significant objects and motifs within the Peranakan Museum, this space features contemporary art installations and collaborative initiatives. We’re told Fridays are a little quieter, so swing by on those days instead. You’ll have enough elbow space to explore, eat, and have fun.
Date: 22 & 23, 30 & 31 August 2025
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Address: Armenian Street
16. Retro District
Check out the vintage fashion, old school collectibles, and whimsical activity stations at this experience that steps back in time. There’ll also be performances under the stars and a cool retro-themed photobooth.
Date: 22 to 24 & 29 to 31 August 2025, 5 & 6 September 2025
Time: 3pm to 9pm
Address: Bugis Street Art Lane
Roving performances, live stages and more
Keep your eyes peeled for The Island Dreamer by Starlight Alchemy, a blend of light, movement arts, and storytelling. Journeying through the realms of water, earth, and air, this performance starts from the National Museum and moves to The Cathay before ending at Waterloo Centre.
At the National Archives of Singapore, celebrate puppetry with The Tiger Hero (23 August, 8pm) by Paper Monkey Theatre. A show for audiences of all ages, it’s an adaptation of the Chinese classic, Water Margin. Ombak Potehi’s The Monkey King and the Uproar in the Dragon Palace (Nanyang Edition) also takes place here (29 & 30 August) to tell the story of what happens after Sun Wukong’s epic journey.
Meanwhile, at Bras Basah Complex, you’re invited to enjoy classic folk tunes at Our Songs, Our Stories: A Community Singalong of Xinyao and Folk Music (5 & 6 September, 7pm). The music continues with Concordia Quartet’s Songs from an Island (5 & 6 September) at National Design Centre.
Oh, and that’s not all. Other programmes to catch include the third edition of The Listening Biennial, Bunker by Night 2025 at Battlebox, All Things Singapore 2025 at the National Library Building and National Archives Building, New2U Night Bazaar at SCWO, a Heritage Night Walk around the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, and so much more.
How to get there
We recommend taking the Downtown Line to Bras Basah MRT station, as it’s easier to walk to the various installation sites and festival villages. Festivalgoers can also take the East-West Line and get off at Bugis to explore the locations on foot.
Our tips for a good experience
- Plan your route: The festival spans a large area, so check the map and schedule online beforehand. Prioritise the installations you want to see most to avoid walking in circles.
- Go on a weekday: Weekends are incredibly crowded. If you want more space to take photos and enjoy the installations without the large crowds, go on a weekday.
- Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so leave the heels at home!
- Bring water and a portable fan: It gets hot and humid, even at night. Stay hydrated and cool! On that note, don’t forget an umbrella or poncho, in case it rains suddenly.
- Explore the F&B options: There are several festival villages with eclectic food and drinks, as well as plenty of restaurants and cafes in the precinct with extended hours.
Get ready to come out and play at Singapore Night Festival 2025!
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the Singapore Night Festival take place?
The festival runs over three weekends, from August 22 to September 6, 2025. It transforms the Bras Basah-Bugis precinct into a vibrant wonderland of art and culture. The main festival hours are from 7.30pm to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 7.30pm to 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays.
How do I get there?
The festival is easily accessible by public transport. The Bras Basah-Bugis precinct is served by several MRT stations, including Bras Basah MRT (Circle Line), Bugis MRT (East-West and Downtown Lines), and City Hall MRT (North-South and East-West Lines). Buses also run throughout the area. Driving is not recommended due to road closures and limited parking.
What's the cost? Is it free to attend?
General admission to the festival grounds, including most of the stunning light installations and facade projections, is free of charge. However, there are a handful of ticketed programmes and experiential events that require paid admission. For example, Sky Castle at Cathay Green costs around $5 per ticket.
What are the key highlights and must-see installations for 2025?
This year's festival features over 80 experiences. Must-see highlights include:
- Projection mapping: The breathtaking facade projections at the National Museum of Singapore and Chijmes are a signature of the festival.
- Kampong Chill: An interactive bamboo sanctuary at Capitol Singapore where you can relax and reflect.
- Sky Castle: An interactive inflatable archway at Cathay Green that lights up and plays music with your every step (ticketed).
- Art installations: Look for quirky art installations like the luminous crab sculptures at Armenian Street and a cyberpunk swordfish at Plaza Singapura.
- Performances and activities: You can catch free puppetry shows, traditional music, and storytelling at various locations.
