Singapore: Explore art in a whole new light

Singapore’s lively art scene stretches beyond museums and galleries, embracing trendy art spaces and pop-up exhibitions. Art lovers have plenty of options with a year-round calendar of enriching artistic encounters. What’s more, the annual light festivals, which transform the city with stunning installations and spectacular light projection displays, are all-time crowd pleasers.

If you’re planning a trip to Singapore, make it a point to time it with your favorite art and light festivals for a truly memorable experience.

When: 18 Nov 2023 – 24 Mar 2024

The first large-scale museum exhibition of its kind, Tropical merges Southeast Asian and Latin American art. Delve into over 200 captivating pieces, from paintings to installations, all spanning the 20th century. Uncover the artists’ rebellious spirit as they challenge the norms and their struggles against colonialism, creating an unforgettable journey through art history.

Art lovers will be spoilt for choice this January when Singapore’s signature visual arts season—Singapore Art Week—returns to the city. Don’t miss the chance to check out countless events and activities across the island, featuring works by local and international artists. Join discussions and talks or sign the whole family up for a public art walk or tour.

Art collectors, this one’s for you. The second edition of ART SG , hailed as one of the region’s largest art fairs, returns to Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands with a broad range of art discoveries from leading galleries around the world. Look out for exceptional 20th century and contemporary art, as well as a selection of installations, films and talks with special guests.

When: 19 Jan – 8 Feb 2024

Light to Night, organised by National Gallery Singapore, is a visual treat so get your cameras ready. Enjoy an evening stroll in the city to catch the all-time favorite light shows—spectacular light projections dreamed up by various artists on the façade of some of Singapore’s most iconic buildings. Enjoy a chance encounter with art installations at unexpected public spaces, check out exclusive exhibitions, join curated tours of the Civic District and more.

Embrace the vibrant spirit of Singapore’s largest street parade in February. The Chingay extravaganza, traditionally celebrated during Chinese New Year, promises a visual spectacle with art, music, dance performances and a parade of colourful floats. Don’t miss the chance to watch the lively tapestry of Singapore’s multicultural heritage come to life. Get ready to be dazzled!

When: 26 – 28 Jan and 2 – 4 Feb 2024

Singapore’s creative pop-up market combines delicious food with craft stalls, music, and art installations. You can find everything from jewelry and artisan crafts to trinkets sourced from around the region. But that’s not all—there’s lively music and art installations to elevate the flea market vibe. When hunger strikes, follow your sense to the diverse food offerings there. Expect plenty of Instagrammable photo ops at Artbox.

When: 17 May – 2 Jun 2024

Take your whole family to explore all facets of the arts during the Singapore International Festival of Arts. You can pick from ticketed or free events featuring theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts across various locations within the Bras Basah Bugis precinct. Want to get up close with the artists? Sign up for talks, workshops, and discussions for a deeper dive into your favorite topics.

i Light Singapore illuminates Marina Bay with mesmerizing installations crafted from eco-friendly materials and techniques. As a sustainable light festival, this free-for-all event blends eco-consciousness with interactive, enjoyable experiences for all. Map out your route, as these light installations are scattered throughout the area, and start exploring on foot.

As the Festival Village of i Light Singapore, GastroBeats is a month-long celebration of good food, good music and good fun that brings the community together and showcases the diversity of local culture.

There’s plenty to do after dark in Singapore but if you’re in town at this time of year, don’t miss the Singapore Night Festival, which lights up the iconic Bras Basah.Bugis precinct. Each year, the festival carries a refreshing theme to celebrate the best of Singapore’s art scene and cultural heritage. Catch cool light projection shows, hunt down the various art installations scattered across the precinct, watch live performances and film screenings, and much more.

Singapore’s annual cultural celebrations display the traditions, customs, and practices of the different races in the country. Immerse yourself in each cultural celebration that takes place throughout the year—from the street light-ups and light projection shows to colourful bazaars.

Want a bird’s eye view of the festive light-up during Deepavali (30 Sep – 3 Dec 2023)? Join the Big Bus Tour for a drive through Little India to soak up the festive vibe.

Check out festive treats at the food fair in Chinatown (Jan – Feb 2024) and be dazzled by colourful lanterns at the River Hongbao (8 – 17 Feb 2024) during Chinese New Year.

Pongal Festival (13 Jan – 13 Feb 2024), is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community. It is celebrated in Little India with traditional Indian folk dances, pongal dishes and you may also see cows bathed and adorned with multi-coloured beads, flowers garlands, and bells.

Meanwhile, Kampong Gelam (Mar – Apr 2024), a hub for arts an entertainment, comes alive during Raikan Cahaya Ramadan in the weeks leading up to Hari Raya, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

There’s no better time to soak up the festive cheer in Singapore than during Christmas. Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping belt, goes all out at this time of year to put up the Christmas on a Great Street (16 Nov 2023 – 1 Jan 2024) light-up.

Enjoy a stroll along the pedestrian mall to admire the Christmas decorations and snap some photos while you’re at it. Gardens by the Bay’s Christmas Wonderland (1 Dec 2023 – 1 Jan 2024) is a magnificent fairground with dazzling light structures, nightly light and sound shows and carnival games.

If you’re in the city during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep – Oct 2024), catch the street light-up and festive food fair in Chinatown. Or head to Gardens by the Bay for a fun-filled evening with the family to admire the light and lantern displays.