31 May 2016
Each year Singapore celebrates a variety of exciting events and cultural festivals. From Singapore Food Festival, to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, read on for a comprehensive list of key calendar events in 2016.
(January - December 2016)
JANUARY
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
13 – 26 January
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and mixed media, created and presented by Singaporean and international artists.
Pongal (Harvest Festival)
15 January
Pongal is a traditional Indian harvest festival that charms with its colourful intimations of an age gone by. Celebrated over four days, Pongal celebrations in Singapore begin with worship of Lord Indra, the Ruler of Clouds and Giver of Rains. Thorough spring-cleaning and the discarding of old belongings is carried out by Singaporeans to signify a fresh start.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/pongal.html
Singapore Art Week
16 – 24 January
Singapore Art Week reinforces the Lion City's position as Asia's leading arts destination. This nine-day celebration of the visual arts is simultaneously held at numerous venues across Singapore including museums, art precincts and non-profit creative spaces.
Chinatown Light-Up
16 January – 8 March
For three weeks prior to the start of Chinese New Year visitors can soak in the festive mood throughout the island with celebrations in the form of colorful processions, seasonal markets and exhilarating lion dances. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore's colourful and authentic Chinatown neighbourhood where the streets are illuminated during the Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony.
chinatownfestivals.sg/chinatown-cny-celebrations-2016-event-list/
KidsFest
20 January – 14 February
KidsFest is a three-week festival of world-class theatre designed for young people in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Now in its fifth year, the event is dedicated to creating and promoting a wide variety of performance styles from all corners of the world. This year there are six different productions over four weeks at SOTA Drama Theatre, located at the heart of Singapore.
Thaipusam
24 January
Colourful and yet shocking to some, the annual Hindu festival Thaipusam is an awe-inspiring show of devotion and faith. A festival which honours Lord Murugan, devotees seek blessings, give thanks or fulfill vows by carrying kavadis (curved structures with body piercings) or milk pots in a procession from one temple to another in the heart of the city.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/thaipusam.html
St Jerome's Laneway Festival
30 January
Laneway Festival originated in Melbourne, Australia as an indie music event in 2005, but has since grown to a popular music festival on an international scale with shows in major Australian cities as well as Singapore, New Zealand, and the United States. The festival has graced Singaporean shores since 2011.
http://singapore.lanewayfestival.com/
FEBRUARY
Chinatown Light Up
16 January – 8 March
The festivities continue into February with a Chinese New Year Countdown Party on the 7th in Singapore's Chinatown. Complete with stunning lights and bright colours, it's one unforgettable night.
chinatownfestivals.sg/chinatown-cny-celebrations-2016-event-list/
River Hongbao
6 – 14 February
Usher in the Chinese New Year at the River Hongbao, a celebration of all things Chinese at Singapore's iconic Floating Platform at Marina Bay. First held in 1987, it's a feast for all the senses – view dazzling mural lanterns, indulge in delicious street food, enjoy the family rides and games, and don't miss the fireworks display held every night this year to mark the event's 30th anniversary.
Chinese New Year
8 – 9 February
With bright colours, non-stop revelry and sheer exuberance, Chinese New Year is one festival that demands all of your attention and energy. The heart of Chinese New Year is ultimately a celebration of home and family, with the first few days of the year being spent visiting relatives and friends, conveying blessings of good fortune for the year ahead and enjoying time with the ones who matter most.
www.yoursingapore.com/en_au/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year.html
Chingay Parade
19 – 20 February
Enjoy the largest street performance and float parade in Asia. From the main parade site to the heartlands, this street extravaganza epitomises the dynamism of Singapore's vibrant and multicultural society with floats, dancing dragons, prancing lions and more. The 2016 parade is themed “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore.”
MARCH
iLight Marina Bay
4 – 27 March
iLight Marina Bay (iLMB) is a sustainable light-based festival that engages the public through unique, photo-worthy installations. Using Marina Bay as a canvas, iLMB transforms the area into the largest public art gallery set against a beautifully lit city backdrop. The theme for 2016 is 'In Praise of Shadows' with 25 installations on display.
Singapore Design Week
8 – 20 March
Now in its third year, Singapore Design Week (SDW) brings together a collection of over 100 design activities in Singapore. Organised by the DesignSingapore Council, SDW consists of interactive installations, trade shows, conferences, lifestyle events and craft workshops that span across various design disciplines.
https://new.designsingapore.org/SDW
Singapore Cocktail Week
12 – 19 March
Direct from world-famous bars, local and international bartending stars align once again to create cocktail experiences that one can only savour at this annual festival. Head to the best bars and restaurants in town for parties, workshops, cocktail pairing feasts and more.
www.singaporecocktailweek.com.sg
SmartKids Asia
18 – 20 March
Asia's largest Educational Kids Fair is a fun family event where parents and children can discover and experience educational stimulation and mind expanding fun! It's packed with three days of activities, stage performances, and classes. Held in the Expo Hall 6 in the Singapore Convention Centre, children can also enter contests and take home goodie bags.
Singapore Restaurant Week
19 – 26 March
Returning for the twelfth time, this year's Singapore Restaurant Week showcases a bigger selection of quality restaurants than ever before. Dining in a high quality restaurant can be an expensive affair, except during Singapore Restaurant Week, when the best restaurants serve special three-course set lunches and dinners for an affordable, fixed price. Reservations for Singapore Restaurant Week are only possible via the official website.
Fashion Steps Out at Orchard
25 March – 8 May
This massive fashion parade brings glamour to the street – literally. A fun-filled six week extravaganza, Fashion Steps Out at Orchard sees models walk down Orchard Road, in what is probably the longest catwalk you'll ever see. Celebrate the Spring/Summer fashion season with local and international brands, exciting events and shopping promotions.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/fashion-steps-out-orchard.html
World Gourmet Summit
28 March – 24 April
World Gourmet Summit (WGS) is an international gastronomic event. The annual connoisseur festival showcases the intricate craftsmanship of prestigious chefs and internationally acclaimed winemakers. 2016 saw the event celebrate its 20th year.
APRIL
OUE Singapore Open 2016
12 – 17 April
Singapore's most highly anticipated badminton tournament is back. Come April, expect to catch some of the world's top badminton shuttlers looking to tune-up for August's Rio Olympics at Singapore's premier badminton tournament – the OUE Singapore Open in Singapore Indoor Stadium.
www.singaporebadmintonopen.com.sg
HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens
16 – 17 April
A welcome return for the game and its fans, Singapore will host the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the National Stadium in April. The two-day tournament features 16 of the world's top Rugby Sevens powerhouse teams from the flamboyant Fijians to the striving South Africans, the nimble New Zealanders to the ambitious Aussies.
Singapore Comedy Fringe
26 – 30 April
Presented by The Comedy Club Asia, the Singapore Comedy Fringe 2016 is a five-day event featuring a stellar line-up of some of the best local and international comedic talents. With rising stars from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Hong Kong in attendance, as well as Australia's own Peter Berner, the Singapore Comedy Fringe is set to be an amazing program. Tickets range from SG$28 - $58.
MAY
SAVOUR
12 – 16 May
One of the world's biggest and best food festivals, SAVOUR unites foodie comrades with quality food and drinks and a wide range of accessible activities. SAVOUR offers a gourmet market with a plethora of food and drink exhibitors, celebrity chef masterclasses, a hands-on cooking studio and wine workshops. Over 18,000 people attended the event in 2015.
Vesak Day
21 May
Buddhists in Singapore and the world over celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha on Vesak Day; a time of joy, peace and reflection. Festivities begin at the crack of dawn with offerings of flowers, candles and joss sticks brought to temples.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/vesak-day.html
JUNE
Great Singapore Sale
3 June – 14 August
There's no better time to shop than during the Great Singapore Sale – an annual event with deals and bargains to be found across the island. Experience eight weeks of fabulous shopping - from fashion to watches, jewelry, electronics, toys and more, all over Singapore.
Hari Raya Light Up
14 June – 9 July
The Hari Raya Light Up sets the atmosphere in Geylang Serai as Singapore's Muslim community starts preparations in the lead up to Hari Raya Puasa on 6 July, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/hari-raya-aidilfitri.html
Beerfest Asia
16 – 19 June
Now in its eighth year, Beerfest Asia will be held at Marina Promenade with over 400 varieties of commercial and craft beers and ciders on offer. The event will be held over three major tents, with sample portions of brews available from SG$1-2. Festival entertainment includes musical tribute bands, standup comedians and a beer pong tournament.
JULY
Hari Rara Aidilfitri (or Hari Raya Puasa)
6 July
A great time for Muslim families as they mark the end of their time of fasting with a joyous celebration of forgiveness, fellowship and food. Many begin their day with a trip to the mosque where special prayers are recited, followed by visiting relatives and friends.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/hari-raya-aidilfitri.html
Singapore Food Festival
15 – 31 July
If there is one thing Singaporeans are truly passionate about, it is food. In its 22nd year, Singapore Food Festival is an annual celebration of Singapore's best local food and culinary talents with a variety of interesting and immersive experiences on offer. There's plenty to do and see including outdoor marquee events, food trucks, tours and workshops.
Singapore Garden Festival
23 – 31 July
Featuring designers from around the world under one roof, Singapore Garden Festival showcases these masterpieces at the country's leading horticulture-themed destination, Gardens by the Bay. Last year saw over 300,000 visitors experience 50 displays.
www.singaporegardenfestival.com/
AUGUST
National Day Celebrations
9 August
Singapore's National Day celebrates its independence with the annual National Day Parade which includes a stunning spectacle of military processions, multicultural song-and-dance performances and aerial high jinks. The evening is capped off by a breathtaking firework extravaganza set against the stunning cityscape. Expect to see the island decked out with red and white, with the national flag fluttering from buildings, houses and even cars.
Hungry Ghost Festival
3 – 31 August
One of the best times of the year to experience local culture and observe traditional rites still being observed in Singapore is during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Believers regard this as a time when the gates of the underworld are opened to allow deceased family members and spirits to roam the realm of the living. Expect to see locals making offerings of food and other goods as well as hold concerts in local neighbourhoods to appease the spirits. Joss sticks of incense are also burned at altars and in bins to appease wandering spirits.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/hungry-ghost-festival.html
Singapore International Festival of Arts
11 August – 17 September
From street performances to public film screenings, the Singapore International Festival of Arts may well be a celebration of the arts for everyone. For a whole month, Singapore celebrates the arts with a smorgasbord of theatre, dance and music performances.
Epicurean Market
12 – 14 August
Returning for its fourth year at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, enjoy a palate-pleasing weekend that takes you on a gastronomic tour of the world's kitchens and cellars. Tickets for the highly anticipated gourmet food and wine fair will become available in June.
www.marinabaysands.com/epicurean-market.html
Singapore Night Festival
21 – 29 August
A night-time extravaganza of arts, culture and revelry in Singapore's civic district, the Singapore Night Festival offers free performances, special light installations and a multitude of extra activities for all to enjoy when the sun sets. 2016 sees the festival in its ninth year.
SEPTEMBER
Hari Raya Haji
12 September
Lasting four days, Muslims in Singapore remember their faith with prayer and reflection during Hari Raya Haji, also known at the Festival of Sacrifice. During this spiritual period, the faithful dress in their finest clothes and congregate in mosques to listen to sermons and offer their prayers.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/hari-raya-haji.html
Mid-Autumn Festival
15 September
The Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally marked the end of autumn harvest and is also believed to be when the moon appears at its brightest, being nearest to earth on this date. Icons of the festival include lanterns, pomelos and mooncakes, the latter in recognition of the time China threw off Mongol rule through the passing of secret messages of revolt within the cakes.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/mid-autumn-festival.html
2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix
16 – 18 September
Still the only Formula One night, street race in the world, watch drivers of the highest calibre race across thrilling twists and turns to take the podium in Singapore against the backdrop of the city's civic district.
Grand Prix Season Singapore
September
The action is not just for those by the track, as Grand Prix Season Singapore offers activities for everyone to join in the festivities and high-octane energy buzz happening in the city at the time. Blockbuster concerts, star-studded parties and pop-up stores are just some of the happenings on offer during racing season. Each year scores of partygoers get involved in the eclectic range of off-track entertainment.
OCTOBER
Singapore Fashion Week
25 – 30 October
Singapore Fashion Week (SFW) is a seven day extravaganza that puts Singapore on the map as Asia's fashion capital. Now in its tenth year, SFW has broadened its scope to include thought-leadership and industry development initiatives as well as iconic runway shows.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/asia-fashion-exchange.html
Singapore Biennale
28 October 2016 – 26 February 2017
The Singapore Biennale is the country's pre-eminent platform for international dialogue in contemporary art. It places Singapore's artists within a global context, and fosters productive collaborations with the regional and international arts community.
Deepavali and Deepavali Light Up
29 October
Celebrated by Hindus across the world, Deepavali marks the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. In Singapore it is best experienced in Little India, where streets are transformed into a fantasyland of colourful arches and stunning lights as part of the Deepavali LIght Up, night markets spring up to sell everything from food and clothes to jewellery and trinkets, and concerts and general revelry abound.
www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/deepavali.html
NOVEMBER
Singapore Writers Festival
November (TBC)
Singapore Writers Festival presents the world's major literary talents to Singaporeans while shining a spotlight on home grown and Southeast Asian creative talents. Beginning in 1986, it is one of the few multi-lingual literary festivals in the world, celebrating the written and spoken word in Singapore's official languages – English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.
www.singaporewritersfestival.com
Christmas On A Great Street
19 November – 2 January 2017 (TBC)
Becoming as famous as the street it's on, stroll along Orchard Road and take in the festive sights of Christmas as buildings are decorated with Christmas scenes and décor and the streets are strung with thousands of fairy lights to create a magical wonderland. Christmas On A Great Street is a magical, surreal world of fun, food and fashion with colourful displays of décor, designs and lights.
DECEMBER
ZoukOut
10 – 11 December (TBC)
Known as the party of the year, lose yourself at the mega dance and music festival, ZoukOut – one of Asia's biggest outdoor beach parties held on Sentosa's Siloso Beach. It's the ultimate party for music, headlined by DJs from Singapore and around the globe.
Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens By The Bay
(TBC)
Now in its third year, Singapore's biggest yuletide fair – Christmas Wonderland – was created to amaze visitors with a combination of magnificent light sculptures, charming festive markets and carnival games at a truly iconic location. If this wonderful display doesn't put you in a festive mood, nothing will.
Marina Bay Singapore Countdown
31 December
Usher in the New Year at Marina Bay at Singapore's annual iconic New Year's Eve celebration. With a magnificent firework display and a spectacular orchestral music score, the stunning countdown is something you're sure to remember for the rest of your life.
