Witness legends unfold at the Singapore Night Festival as the historic Bras Basah.Bugis precinct transforms into an arts and culture wonderland.
This year’s theme is “Myths and Legends,” bringing to life the stories and histories associated with Bukit Larangan and the wider Southeast Asian region. Around the Lion City, spaces have been sprinkled with creativity through installation art, museum zones, and more with most of the activities being free admission.
“The festival reflects on how stories are passed down through generations, shaping our understanding of place, community and identity. Through experiences that reinterpret folklore for contemporary audiences, we invite visitors to uncover the narratives embedded within Bras Basah.Bugis and consider how these shared stories continue to connect us across time, cultures and spaces,” said Festival Director Qazim Karim on the festival website.
The festival will run for 16 nights and is divided into four zones: the Museum Zone (National Museum of Singapore, Children’s Museum Singapore and surrounding heritage spaces), Zone 1 (Funan to CHIJMES), Zone 2 (Cathay Green to Waterloo Centre), and Zone 3 (Bras Basah Complex and Stamford Arts Centre). Each location has a unique activity or art installation that retells a story in accordance with the theme. The Museum Zone brings the theme to life through experiences and programs inspired by the precinct’s heritage; Zone 1 invites visitors to discover unique experiences ranging from a creative craft market at Capitol Singapore to interactive programmes and installations within the historic grounds of CHIJMES; Zone 2 celebrates the creativity and vibrancy of the precinct’s arts groups and educational institutions through performances, exhibitions and participatory experiences; and Zone 3 showcases a diverse range of cultural experiences, from xinyao performances and traditional arts to community-led activations celebrating Singapore’s living heritage.
Reflecting Singapore’s commitment to enriching its creative industries and communities, the Singapore Night Festival includes the inaugural MALAM Projection Mapping Competition, which invites Southeast Asian artists, students and collectives to showcase their work, providing a platform for emerging regional talent to experiment and express their artistry. The top 20 entries will be displayed the façade of The Cathay during the first week of festivities, with the top 5 chosen works becoming staple projections on The Cathay throughout the festival.
Alongside this is the introduction of ALIGHT 2.0—a thought leadership platform for projection mapping and light-based art. The conference brings together leading artists and creative practitioners from across the region to explore the intersecting characteristics of art, technology and public space through keynote presentations and panel discussions.
Witness the beauty of the Lion City at night and join the fun activities at the Singapore Night Festival happening in various spots around Singapore until September 5. For more information, visit www.heritage.sg/sgnightfest.