The time/month of the year, the seventh lunar month. That’s where you start to hear about stories and myths about Zhongyuan Festival, more commonly known as 中元节 or Hungry Ghost Festival. Sometimes you might hear more spooky stories and myths instead on the history, customs, practices and cultural significance of Zhongyuan Festival in Singapore. Come explore and learn about Zhongyuan Festival at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) as they present its inaugural Zhongyuan Festival.
Zhongyuan Festival @ SCCC – 13th August to 10th September 2026
Zhongyuan Festival @ SCCC is taking place from 13th August to 10th September 2026, this festival aims to offer visitors a different, a fresh and accessible approach to learn more about how this festival is celebrated locally though traditional and contemporary offerings.
Happy Sing-Along Zhongyuan Special Edition
SCCC’s popular Mandarin and dialect singing programme Happy Sing-Along will present a Zhongyuan special edition where banquet tables will be set up in the Multi-Purpose Hall in a traditional “Jia Tok” (banquet) setting.
Audiences will enjoy a feast while enjoying performances by popular getai singers. This is a ticketed programme, it will be held on 19th and 20th August 2026, with one session each day.
Happy Sing-Along 欢喜来唱歌 “SINGAPO人” 一起唱 (Zhongyuan Special)
- Date: 19th – 20th August 2026
- Time: 12pm to 2pm
- Venue: SCCC Multi-Purpose Hall Level 7
- Event Language: Dialects with English and Chinese Subtitles
- Price: $28 per pax ($250 per table of 10 pax)
Zhongyuan Festival @ SCCC Highlight – Premiere of animated short film Egg Fried Rice
Another Zhongyuan Festival @ SCCC highlight is the Singapore premiere of 20 minute animated short film Egg fried Rice from A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, an upcoming anthology of animated horror tales by Robot Playground Media, the award-winning media behind The Violinist. The 4 episode series is inspired by traditional Chinese dishes, adapted from a book by acclaimed author Ying Chang Compestine.
Egg Fried Rice serves as the opening film, turning the humble fried rice into a powerful symbol of love, loss, and supernatural retribution. There will be a total of four screenings on 29th August 2026, and there will be a post-screening sharing by the creator/producer after the 4:30pm session.
Check out “A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts” TV Series Pilot Trailer! If you are into anime, this might be of great interest to you!
A Banquet For Hungry Ghost: Egg Fried Rice
- Date: 29th August 2026
- Time: 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm
- Venue: SCCC Auditorium Level 9
- Event Language: Mandarin with English Subtitles
- Price: $3
Immersive AR game – Little Ghost Explorer
Visitors to Zhongyuan Festival @ SCCC can go on a self-guided immersive augmented reality (AR) game play, Little Ghost Explorer. They can walk to various stations located within SCCC to learn more about Zhongyuan Festival customs, beliefs and traditions through fun and interactive activities.
The Little Ghost Explorer game is easily accessible via mobile and tablet devices, allowing visitors to learn about Zhongyuan Festival together with family and friends or even on their own.
Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories
SCCC will also partner local radio station LOVE 972 for a special podcast of its popular programme Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories to share more about the traditions, beliefs and practices of Zhongyuan Festival through engaging storytelling and conversations.
SCCC Chief Executive Officer Mr Alvin Tan said, “The festival is part of SCCC’s ongoing efforts to showcase local Chinese festive celebrations, to spotlight vibrant local practices such as getai, and to promote greater public awareness of Zhongyuan traditions and customs while reminding Singaporeans of the importance of universal values such as filial piety and compassion.”
Want to learn and understand more about 中元节 (Hungry Ghost Festival)? Now you can! Explore and learn about Zhongyuan Festival at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
For more information on Zhongyuan Festival at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, please visit SCCC website. You can also read up more about Zhongyuan Festival (Hungry Ghost Festival) on Culturepaedia by SCCC.