The Singapore Writers Festival 2026 is returning this November, and it’s more than just a festival for writers and readers. Scroll on to find a programme that is right up your alley.
Biblophiles, writers, and anyone with their nose in the literary scene would be familiar with the Singapore Writers Festival 2026. Organised by Arts House Group, this annual multilingual literary festival is easily one of the most anticipated events on the cultural calendar. But, news flash: it is not just an event for readers and writers!
Held from 13 to 22 November 2026, this year’s edition, ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’, spotlights local and international literary stars, such as Amitav Ghosh, Jemimah Wei, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Balli Kaur Jaswal. It also includes experiences for everyone and anyone. We’re talking about literary walking tours, performances, film screenings, translation-focused programmes, crime and mystery events, and activities tailored for the little ones. No matter what your current hyperfixation is, there’s a programme at the Singapore Writers Festival 2026 for you.
What to attend at SWF 2026 based on your current hyperfixation
1. If you love true crime, suspense and mysteries:
In line with this year’s festival theme of looking beneath the surface in an era of shifting narratives, there are plenty of fascinating conversations to be had – one of which being crime and mystery. This is for those who constantly find yourselves down the rabbit hole of true-crime documentaries and unsolved mysteries.
Save the date on 14 November for Truth on Trial: Fighting to be Heard. This panel discussion brings together writers and storytellers Shiori Ito, Mysara Aljaru and Ken Kwek for a conversation on how difficult truths are uncovered, communicated and contested.
Another highlight is The Making of a Serial Killer panel on 14 November, where authors Seo Mi-ae, Rueben Dass and Jocelyn Suarez swap notes on the process of creating monsters that their readers are genuinely terrified of.
Are mystery genres your thing? Here’s your chance to write your own at Shuffle & Draw: The Mystery Writing Game, where a story is formed when you just pick five cards from a deck of Old Maid cards. Who is the Old Maid and what is she hiding?
2. If you’re curious about the future:
Do rapid changes and thoughts of the future intrigue you more than they scare you? Here are some conversations and masterclasses that might be up your alley.
Award-winning journalist Stephen Witt takes the spotlight on 13 November with his keynote talk, The Thinking Machine, where he unpacks the story behind Jensen Huang and Nvidia. Drawing from a story of obsession and risk, this keynote talk dives deep into the man who laid bets on the AI revolution.
Next, Amitav Ghosh takes the stage on 14 November for A Writer’s Reimagining of Our Planetary Future keynote talk. Taking a leaf from his recent works, he questions what the future state of the planet looks like, especially with the slew of catastrophic imaginings.
Come 22 November, renowned sociologist and MacArthur fellow Ruha Benjamin pulls back the curtain on the hidden biases shaping our digital world. At her Ctrl + Alt + Rethink keynote talk, expect to be challenged to question existing systems and dream up better ones.
3. If stories of family, belonging, and things unsaid hit close to home:
Sometimes the words left unsaid, emotional baggage and family secrets speak the loudest. These programmes explore tender conversations that feel difficult, but are worth having.
Mark your calendar on 13 November for Saving Face: Community, Culture and The Unspoken. The programme starts with performative readings by three playwrights and directors – Aswani Aswath, Othman M. Yusof and Ang Xiao Ting – before a panel discussion on how inherited cultural values shape our understanding of the world. Buckle up for a multicultural dialogue on themes that are not openly discussed within our communities.
What responsibilities does a writer have when they’re writing about other people’s stories? Writing the Lives at Home discusses exactly this with authors Teo Yeo Yenn and Liang Hong, who’ll be sharing about the power of personal stories, and what it means to write their stories with honesty and care.
On 15 November, author Khin Myint is also set for an intimate conversation on Family, Pain and (Un)belonging. Drawing from his acclaimed memoir that explores family, identity and sense of belonging, he answers thought-provoking questions about his powerful work and shares his personal reflections.
4. If you’re a parent who wants enriching quality time with your little ones:
With a range of family-friendly programmes designed to spark imagination, creativity and a love for stories, kids are more than welcome to join the fun at the Singapore Writers Festival 2026.
Bring the young ones along for Roll, Sing & Sign on 15 November, where they can lend their voices to this interactive singalong with sign language. Come ready for a multilingual adventure that will feature beloved childhood soundtracks like Old MacDonald.
It’s Bring Your ‘Chou Chou’ Day on 21 November. Recommended for ages four to six, this programme invites the kiddos to bring their well-worn soft toys and snuggly companions for an afternoon of activities led by children’s book author and illustrator Quek Hong Shin.
Another hands-on activity is set for 22 November, Brick & Block Prints: Hidden Stories. Children will be led to create a three-panel printed short story using colourful, bold Lego bricks that they can take home with them.
5. If you love romanticising your life:
Need a sign to stop and smell the roses? The Singapore Writers Festival 2026 has got you covered, too.
Follow local writers Ganga Baskaran and Hemalatha as they bring you on a tour around Little India, where you’ll get to learn more about its historical and cultural significance through the areas’ many vibrant street murals. Your Echoes in Art and Ink: Rediscovering Little India’s Hidden Stories journey will end at the Indian Heritage Centre with a conversation featuring writers Subramaniam and Uma Kathir, whose stories are based on Little India’s diverse community.
Alternatively, for a different kind of journey, take a cinematic voyage with I Dream of the Ocean, a moving film on writing, memory, and the enduring bond between people and the ocean.
From 20 to 22 November, swap your usual reading nook for the Singapore River at Reading by the River. Bring along your current read, pick up a free clip-on reading light, and get cosy at selected reading points (the Micropolyphonic Stage, the sidewalk near the Sir Stamford Raffles Statue, and the Water Taxi point). From 4pm to 8pm, relish in a tranquil and undisturbed mass reading session.
A literary festival with so much more to offer
Crime and mystery, the future of our climate, familial bonds… The list of fascinating conversations and programmes at the Singapore Writers Festival 2026 goes on and on. No matter your hyperfixation, age or interests, you’re bound to find a perfect match from its extensive range of programmes.
This year, the multilingual and multicultural aspects of the festival have grown even bigger. Look forward to expanded live interpretation and AI-enabled translation across selected programmes, so you can connect and engage more fully with conversations regardless of language.
Get your festival passes and tickets to the Singapore Writers Festival 2026, and we’ll see you there – budding reader and writer, or not!
This post is in partnership with Arts House Group.
