Singapore Night Festival 2026 spotlights the myths, legends, and folklores that have shaped communities in Singapore and across the region.
Singapore Night Festival 2026 returns from 21 August to 5 September with immersive artworks, projections, and nocturnal experiences. This year’s theme, Myths and Legends, invites audiences to rediscover the stories, folklore, and traditions that have shaped communities in Singapore and across Southeast Asia. Here’s what’s lighting up the night this year! Psst: Don’t forget to check out our guide for more things to do this weekend in Singapore.
Singapore Night Festival 2026: 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, installations, live performances
When: 21 August to 5 September 2026; various timings
How much: Free, with some ticketed programmes
Where: Singapore Night Festival 2026, various locations around the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct
Festival highlights to take note of
1. Tales of Earth and Sea
This year’s projection mapping display at the National Museum of Singapore takes the form of multiple legends in local folklore, both on land and in the water. Accompanying the striking visuals is an original soundtrack produced by Singapore’s Artusik, in collaboration with UiTM Malaysia. P.S. The luminous Birdmen from Close-Act Theatre will make a special appearance on 21 August 2026, as part of the Festival Launch.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: National Museum of Singapore
2. The Lost Legacy of Fort Canning: The Forbidden Hill
Everyone knows Fort Canning Park, but how many of you know the secrets behind it? Sign up for this 70-minute nocturnal walking trail, where participants will chart the dramatic rise and fall of an ancient kingdom, map tales of buried gold, discover the historic freshwater spring that sustained the early settlements, and uncover the sacred shrine whose true identity remains a mystery.
Date: 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29 August, and 3 to 5 September 2026
Time: Weekends, 8pm to 9.10pm & 10pm to 11.10pm
How much: $60 (tickets will go on sale soon)
Address: Fort Canning Hill
3. Malam Projection Mapping Competition
Singapore Night Festival often attracts the best talents, so why not showcase them in this inaugural competition? Submissions from artists across the region will come to life on the Cathay’s facade, transforming the historic landmark into a colourful canvas awash with bold visual storytelling, creative innovation, and digital artistry. The top 20 artworks will be projected from 21 to 28 August, followed by the top five artworks from 29 August to 5 September 2026.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Cathay
Installations, events, and experiences
4. Vikings of the Tropics
Discover the region’s maritime trade history with this nautical installation that brings the grand myths and legends of La Galigo to life. Vikings of the Tropics presents a stylised interpretation of traditional vessel construction and regional seafaring folklore, spotlighting the ancient commercial routes and Singapore as a pivotal port hub.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Armenian Street
5. The Dragon’s Tooth: A Legend of Becoming Light
Step inside The House of the Dragon Tooth Relic, a luminous bamboo sanctuary built around a guardian artefact that allegedly contains the elemental memories of early seafaring protectors. Navigate an interactive field of light and shadow while exploring values of courage, memory, and belonging, altogether connecting Singapore’s past life as a coastal town with deep spiritual folklore.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: SMU Campus Green
6. You and I, Believing…
Spend some time at this striking public sculpture, featuring a reflective core on one side and intimate photographs on the opposite. Encircling the symbolic work is a beautifully sculpted blossoming flower, all created by the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival Committee 2o26.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: SMU Campus Green
7. Traces
What do you know about the Singapore Stone? Well, you’ll find out more through this modern artistic installation. Inspired by the undeciphered marks on the historic stone, Traces focuses on the emotional memory that remains through cultural movement and exchanges.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: SMU Campus Green (Sunken Amphitheatre)
8. Horror Nights @ Oldham Theatre
If you love a good horror story or two, this is one event you should add to your calendar. Curated and presented by the Asian Film Archive, this series focuses on local and regional horror cinema, with a panel discussion and film screenings. Oh, be sure to turn up in your favourite horror or fantastical costumes for the movies!
Date: 22, 23, 29 & 30 August 2026
Time: 7.30pm to 9pm
How much: $10
Address: Oldham Theatre at National Archives of Singapore
9. Legends in Motion by The Artist Village – Invisible City
Here’s another walking trail taking place during the Singapore Night Festival – this time exploring the Civic District. Participants will visit select historical sites where senior artists and younger creators collaborate on unique site-specific artworks spanning contemporary movement, spoken word, drag, and live installation.
Date: 21 & 28 August and 4 September 2026
Time: 6pm to 7.30pm & 8.30pm to 10pm
How much: $25
Meeting point: Handy Road Stamford Canal
10. Birdmen
Picture huge, illuminated animals roving the National Museum. Operated by mysterious men, these creatures will fly and roam about, though humans are unnoticed by them. Where do they come from? And why are they here?
Date: 21 to 23 August 2026
Time: 7.30pm to 11pm (two 45-minute sessions)
How much: Free admission
Starting point: National Museum of Singapore
11. Once Upon A Time
Have you noticed plenty of folklore involves animals? The mousedeer and the crocodile, a tiger, and even a tapir. Local artist Natalia Tan pays tribute to the creatures that share our island and its mythologies by crafting animal sculptures using fabric scraps, worn garments, and discarded cloth.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Capitol Singapore Outdoor Plaza
12. Inter-Light
We always look forward to Raffles City’s involvement in the Singapore Night Festival, purely ‘cos of all the cool installations hosted there. This year’s artwork involves changing light, moving images, and interactive shadows inspired by traditional street performances. Depending on when you visit, Inter-Light functions as a colourful, reflective structure or an animated shadow projection with evocative silhouettes.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Raffles City
13. Rising of Sister Islands
Of course, the legend of the Sisters’ Islands will be retold here. A speech-activated installation at Funan will translate the tragic folklore of Minah and Linah, two devoted sisters who braved a violent monsoon storm to escape pirate abductions and eventually transform into the well-known islands.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Funan Kinetic Wall
14. The Blooming Hearts Fortune Merlion
Combine national identity and eco-conscious design, and what do you get? This magnificent 2.8m interactive sculpture, a testament to our nation’s remarkable transformation into a clean and green Garden City. Made using fiberglass composite, the installation features animated movements in its arm and head.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Plaza Singapura
15. Legends in Motion by The Artist Village – When the Water Rose
The Artist Village presents its second walking trail, this time tracing Sungai Bras Basah, now concealed beneath modern roads and civic structures. Throughout the two hours, participants will navigate four distinct sections, with each stop unlocking a site-specific live performance, a hidden mythology, and a custom non-alcoholic ritual drink.
Date: 22 & 29 August and 5 September 2026
Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
How much: $35
Meeting point: Outside National Archives of Singapore
16. Stormy Straits
Inspired by Singapore’s maritime history, these scaffolding sculptures billow into cloud-like forms carved by moving shadows to conjure the archipelago’s monsoon storms. The chosen location is an homage to the Bugis seafarers who braved the stormy straits in the early 1800s.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: Bugis Street Art Lane
17. Lovebug
How does an inflatable experience sound? Taking place at the National Library Building Plaza, local creative lifestyle brand Art-Zoo invites visitors to wander through a playful world of mythical plants and creatures. Keep the curiosity flowing at the nearby book kiosk, where you can browse through a small selection of books and resources from NLB’s collections.
Date: 21 August to 5 September 2026
Time: Daily, 7.30pm to 11pm (ends at midnight on Fridays & Saturdays)
How much: Free admission
Address: National Library Building Plaza
Partner programmes to look out for
Running concurrently during Singapore Night Festival 2026 and in celebration of National Day is the inaugural edition of Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis. Following the festival’s theme Myths and Legends, this new night-time experience shines a light on colloquial myths and superstitions through tongue-in-cheek artworks. Watch local folklore come alive across five locations and you’ll walk away learning our local stories in a new light.
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 2026!
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the Singapore Night Festival take place?
The festival runs over three weekends, from 21 August to 5 September 2026. 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.
