Singapore Night Festival (SNF) 2026 is back for its 17th edition, presented by HeritageSG (HSG), held across the Bras Basah Bugis (BBB) precinct. Taking place from 21st August to 5th September 2026, you are invited to rediscover Myths and Legends, the theme for Singapore Night Festival 2026. Unearth the stories, folklore and traditions that have shaped communities in Singapore and across Southeast Asia. This is Singapore’s largest nocturnal experience, bringing storytelling to life through the diverse artworks, projections and experiences at SNF 2026.
Diverse Programmes Across Four Different Zones at SNF 2026
There are a wide range of diverse programmes (check out the 97 programmes listing on SNF 2026 website) taking place across four different zones at SNF 2026. The Museum Zone is the key festival hub, and there are three other zones across the BBB precinct.
- Museum Zone: Centred around the National Museum of Singapore, the Children’s Museum Singapore and surrounding heritage spaces. This hub will bring the theme to life through experiences and programmes inspired by the BBB precinct’s heritage.
- Zone 1: From Funan to CHIJMES, this zone invites you to discover unique experiences from a creative craft market at Capitol Singapore to interactive programmes and installations within historic grounds of CHIJMES.
- Zone 2: From Cathay Green to Waterloo Centre, this zone celebrates the creativity and vibrancy of BBB precinct’s arts groups and educational institutions through performances, exhibitions and participatory experiences.
- Zone 3: Anchored by partners at Bras Basah Complex and Stamford Arts Centre, this one showcases a diverse range of cultural experiences from xinyao performances and traditional arts to community-led activations celebrating Singapore’s living heritage.
Across the three weekends of SNF 2026, visitors can explore the wider BBB precinct, check out the robust line-up of projection mapping, artworks, experiential programmes, performances and festival villages with food and retail offerings, with each zone having its own distinct perspective on the stories of BBB precinct.
Celebrating Culture and Creativity
SNF 2026 presents the inaugural MALAM Protection Mapping Competition, inviting Southeast Asia artists, students and collectives to showcase their work, providing a platform for emerging regional talent to experiment and express their artistry, this is HSG’s commitment to enriching Singapore’s creative industries and communities.
Supported by Epson, this competition has drawn strong regional interest, receiving close to 50 submissions from artists and collectives across Southeast Asia. Festival goers can enjoy a fun and mesmerising display of the top 20 entries on the facade of The Cathay during the first week of SNF 2026.
The top 5 submissions will be selected and remain as staple projections on The Cathay throughout SNF 2026. Through these efforts, HSG reaffirms SNF’s crucial role as a leader in night-time cultural storytelling and knowledge exchange.
There is also ALIGHT 2.0, presented at SNF 2026, a thought leadership platform for projection mapping and light-based art. This conference will bring together leading artists and creative practitioners from across the region to explore the evolving intersection of art, technology and public space through keynote presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
Qazim Karim, Festival Director of SNF 2026, HSG, said: “Singapore Night Festival has always been more than light installations. It is about creating shared experiences that bring people together after dark, while showcasing the best of creative talent from Singapore and Southeast Asia. This is reflected in the strong response to our inaugural MALAM Projection Mapping Competition, which signals a clear appetite among regional creatives to be part of Singapore’s premier night festival. With this year’s theme, Myths and Legends, we invite audiences to journey through Bras Basah.Bugis and uncover the many stories that continue to shape Singapore and the region. Through these, we hope SNF 2026 will spark curiosity and connection among communities, while strengthening its place as a must-see festival in Singapore and Southeast Asia.”
SNF 2026 Festival Highlights
What are some of the SNF 2026 festival highlights that festival goers can look forward to? There are three signature festival highlights that draw inspirations from the myths, legends and stories around us. They are: Tales of Earth and Sea, The Lost Legacy of Fort Canning: The Forbidden Hill, and the MALAM Projection Mapping Competition.
Tales of Earth and Sea
Tales of Earth and Sea, a striking facade light projection mapping by The Fox, The Folks, an internationally acclaimed multimedia artist team based in Bandung, Indonesia. Festival goers can participate in an immersive experience that merges projection mapping with street theatre at the National Museum of Singapore.
Tales of Earth and Sea reinterprets local folklore, set to an original cross-border soundtrack by Singapore’s multi-ethnic music collective Artusik and UiTM Malaysia, further enhancing the work’s cross-border exchange.
Birdmen by Close-Act Theatre
Don’t miss Birdmen by the renowned Dutch Group Close-Act Theatre, making their Southeast Asia debut! They are sharing the spotlight for SNF 2026 opening week, festival goers can get up close with those mysterious, luminous stilt walkers, dressed as fantastical flying reptiles like creatures as they roam around BBB precinct, alongside the stunning visuals, light projection displays, among the festival goers, creating an amazing and unforgettable multi-sensory experience.
MALAM Projection Mapping Competition
The MALAM Projection Mapping Competition brings together emerging artists across Southeast Asia to showcase their works, with the the top 20 entries projected onto The Cathay building during the first week of SNF 2026.
The Lost Legacy of Fort Canning: The Forbidden Hill
A captivating 70 minutes nocturnal walking trail through Fort Canning Park any Sight Lines Co. and The Urbanist Singapore, uncovering the ancient secrets and myths of Bukit Larangan. Featuring atmospheric soundscapes and live traditional Malay dance, the immersive journey transports visitors to the 14th century world of early Singapura.
Landmarks Reimagined – Turning Historic Spaces into Stages for Creativity and Storytelling
Across SNF 2026 various zones, landmarks are reimagined – turning historic spaces into stages for creativity and storytelling.
Vikings of the Topics by TELL YOUR CHILDREN at Armenian Street Lawn
Once Upon A Time by Natalia Tan at Capitol Singapore Outdoor Plaza
The Dragon’s Tooth: A Legend of Becoming Light by Starlight Alchemy at SMU Campus Green.
You and I, Believing … by the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival Committee 2026 at SMU Campus Green
Traces by Isaiah Cacnio at SMU Campus Green
Unexpected Encounters – Discovering Myths and Legends in everyday spaces
Festival goers to SNF 2026 can explore works located at nearby CapitaLand shopping malls including Bugis Street, Funan, Plaza Singapura and Raffles City Singapore.
Inter-Light by local artist Ching Kai at Raffles City Singapore
Rising of Sister Islands by SERIAL CO_ at Funan
THE BLOOMING HEARTS FORTUNE MERLION by UNIPLAY at Plaza Singapura
Stormy Straits by Melting Por(r)t Collective comprising Matlr Creative, StrawberryWasabi and LiteWerkz at Bugis Street Art Lane
Lovebug by ART-ZOO in collaboration with National Library Board
BBB Stakeholder and Partner Programmes
Don’t miss the installations presented as part of the inaugural edition of Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis (LTB), in conjunction with SNF 2026 and in celebration of National Day 2026. Those artworks are also guided by the SNF 2026 theme Myths and Legends. LTB 2026 shines a light on colloquial myths and superstitions, creating artworks that connects with local communities.
Diverse and Exciting Programmes Lineup for SNF 2026
Singapore Night Festival 2026 will run across three weekends from 21st August to 5th September 2026. There are many diverse and exciting programmes lineup, with free admission for most of the programmes. I have yet to fully visit all the artworks, light projections, displays at SNF 2026 during the media preview, more photos to come soon!
Continuing my visual storytelling and coverage of SNF over the years since making their debut in 2008 (check out my Singapore Night Festival Flickr Collection), I would be checking out the various programmes, planning my time to visit and rediscover Myths and Legends at SNF 2026.
Do check out the interactive map and personalised SNF 2026 exploration trails of the different zones on SNF 2026 official website, powered by official sponsors Accenture and Adobe. For more information on Singapore Night Festival 2026, please visit https://www.heritage.sg/sgnightfest/