Happenings this week
We highlight the best our city has to offer and what’s keeping it abuzz. Here are the best things you can do in Singapore this week.
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An exclusive bar takeover
When: 20 August 2026
Where: Sky Bar, Cé La Vi
Sky Bar is welcoming Kentaro Wada, the head bartender of The Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, to an exclusive rooftop takeover. Take a seat at Sky Bar and watch him transform the best of Tokyo into cocktails, through precision, imagination and Japanese craftsmanship. Book here.
Xue Song: Where is the Mountain?
When: Now until 22 August 2026
Where: Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery
In contemporary Chinese artist Xue Song’s spiritual return to Chinese tradition and nature, Where is the Mountain? is a major retrospective focused on his New Landscape series. Showcasing key works from 1997 to the present, the exhibition traces his evolution from reconstructing traditional frameworks of landscape to exploring the inner essence of the art form. More here.
He Xiangning: Ink and Intent
When: Now until 23 August 2026
Where: National Gallery Singapore
In collaboration with the He Xiangning Art Museum, National Gallery Singapore is presenting He Xiangning: Ink and Intent, the first retrospective in Southeast Asia dedicated to the pioneering 20th-century Chinese female ink artist. The bilingual exhibition features over 50 artworks presented across four chronological sections, tracing He’s life and practice over seven decades.
Peacock Power: Beauty and Symbolism Across Cultures
When: Now until 30 August 2026
Where: Peranakan Museum
For a bird with dazzling feathers and a spectacular tail, it’s no wonder the peacock has long symbolised beauty, power and divinity. For centuries, its striking form has captivated artists of various cultures. At the Peranakan Museum, treasures from the National Collection and important lenders explore the bird’s presence in a broad range of artistic disciplines. Through colourful displays and interactive stations, see how it has moved between regions and contexts, and get to know the way artistic traditions evolve through exchange.
Studio Monkey Shoulder Live
When: Now until 31 August 2026
Where: Various venues
Created in partnership with Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM and local music collectives RASA and Offtrack, this month-long music and cocktail festival features underground headliners, intimate listening sessions and custom cocktail menus. Key events include a Monkey Shoulder takeover at Mr Stork (21 August, 6pm to 10.30pm), Fred Again Tribute Night at Mismatch (21 August, 9pm) and DJ nights at Offtrack (20 and 27 August, 8pm to 11pm).
Hello Future: Adventure Awaits
When: Now until 5 September 2026
Where: National Library Building
If your fascination with the arts has no bounds, this edition of Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) signature programme brings together the work of preschoolers from across the island. Inspired by visits to SAM’s Learning Gallery at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, these young artists explore identity, community and the changing environment through unexpected materials and playful experimentation. More here.
Singapore Gallery Month
When: Now until 13 September 2026
Where: Various venues
Singapore Gallery Month is returning with over 100 exhibitions, talks, gallery tours and more. Happening across the island, highlights include Art After Hours at Tanjong Pagar Distripark (29 August), guided art tours through select neighbourhoods (weekends; 22 August to 5 September) and a speed-dating event that will connect artists and collectors over conversation (5 September). More here.
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Form is Emptiness
When: Now until 4 October 2026
Where: SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark
For the first time in Southeast Asia, a major solo exhibition has been dedicated to the work of the internationally acclaimed Hiroshi Sugimoto. Conceived in dialogue with the Buddhist cosmological concept of the Five Elements, the exhibition reveals the cyclical rhythms of nature and life, and the breadth of Sugimoto’s oeuvre across photography, sculpture and large-scale installation. More here.
Taiki Sakpisit: 13 Nightmares
When: Now until 4 October 2026
Where: ShanghART Singapore
Over the past two decades, Taiki Sakpisit has developed one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive practices, blurring the lines between cinema and contemporary art and frequently drawing upon the intersections between dreams, memory and grief. In his first solo exhibition with ShanghART Singapore, Sakpisit has transformed the gallery into a labyrinth of moving images, photography, sound and spectral presences. Look forward to a series of photographs, layered in snapshots and fragments, and a two-channel installation that transforms cinematic language into a spatial, sculptural and psychological encounter.
Creative Encounters
When: 20 August to 10 November 2026
Where: The Pineapple Room at Capella Singapore
Following a successful inaugural session in July, Capella Singapore is redefining cultural dialogue with Creative Encounters, a new series designed to spark community-led discussions across various pillars: art, design, gastronomy, literature, wellness, film and culture. Hosted at The Pineapple Room, the series will continue with conversations about craft versus automation, cultural sustainability and more. Each 90-minute session will be open to 30 guests, with cocktails and light bites available before and after.
Fear No Power
When: Now until 15 November 2026
Where: National Gallery Singapore
Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise explores the power of art through the perspectives of five trailblazing female artists from Southeast Asia. With the significance of women-centred approaches in shaping contemporary art across the region, this landmark exhibition will feature over 50 works from the 1960s to 2010s, many of which will be shown in Singapore for the first time. More here.
Maria Taniguchi: Afterimage
When: Now until 22 November 2026
Where: SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark
Bringing together nearly two decades of Maria Taniguchi’s multidisciplinary practice, the artist’s first monographic exhibition is here to explore the recurring themes of repetition, time and labour. Through “brick paintings”, modular sculptures and video work, the show serves as a reminder to slow down and reflect on the quiet processes that bolster both creativity and everyday life. Details here.
Future World by teamLab
When: Ongoing
Where: ArtScience Museum
Embark on a journey of discovery spanning two immersive realms—City in Nature and Exploring New Frontiers—and allow yourself to immerse yourself in a world of art, science and magic through interactive digital installations. Tickets here.
Upcoming events:
Sunset Sound Healing
When: 27 August, 24 September and 29 October 2026
When: The Singapore Edition
The Singapore Edition is launching a monthly wellness experience, where guests are invited to float in the rooftop pool (S$95) or recline on a sundeck chair (S$80) as the sound of a gong washes over them. Set at sunset from 7pm to 8pm, the session is designed to help participants take a pause, slow down, breathe and reset. A fresh towel, fruit-infused water and sandwiches for takeaway will be included. Book here.
Fashion for Cancer
When: 29 August 2026
Where: The Westin Singapore
Fashion for Cancer makes its return with It Matters, a new theme that pays tribute to the quiet yet meaningful moments that shape the cancer journey. The annual charity fashion show will have cancer survivors and patients as model ambassadors on the runway, presenting their story of courage and perseverance. Tickets here.
Race Against Cancer
When: 20 September 2026
Where: Angsana Green, East Coast Park
In a fight against cancer, the Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer is back, with fundraising support going to hospice care, rehabilitation, welfare assistance and more. Happening from 7am to 10am on 20 September 2026, a minimum donation of S$60 is required to participate. One can also choose to run remotely via Strava from 20 September to 15 October 2026, with a minimum donation of S$65. More here.
Singapore Tennis Open
When: 21 to 27 September 2026
Where: OCBC Arena
Elevated to a prestigious WTA 500 tournament, the Singapore Tennis Open will be back with some of the world’s top female players, battling out over seven days at The Kallang’s OCBC Arena. Take advantage of the free admission to the qualifiers from 19 to 20 September, and look forward to an exciting event village with activities and entertainment through the week. Tickets here.
Marina Bay Sands celebrates F1 with Scuderia Ferrari HP
When: 14 September to 25 October 2026
Where: Marina Bay Sands
As Marina Bay Sands shifts into high gear for this year’s F1, visitors and fans of Ferrari can look forward to various activations. Highlights include Ferrari’s first official retail pop-up in Asia, a display of a Ferrari SF21 at the hotel lobby, and various entertainment and culinary festivities. Those who looking for the most immersive experience can sign up for a S$100,000 five-night stay at the Paiza Grand Suite, where both guests will enjoy invite-only access to exclusive parties, in-circuit race access, close-ups with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and more.
The Weeknd
When: 2 to 3 October 2026
Where: National Stadium
As part of The Weeknd’s final leg of his record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour, the diamond-certified global superstar will be in town for two days, before proceeding to Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Making a special appearance will be Creepy Nuts, a hip-hop duo formed by UMB champion rapper R-Shitei and DMC World DJ Championships winner DJ Matsunaga. Tickets here.
Christian Horner: Unfiltered
When: 7 October 2026
Where: The Star Theatre
This F1 season, Christian Horner, the former Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal, is stepping off the pit wall and into the spotlight for his first long-form live interview in Asia. Join him as he will share the stories, stakes and lessons behind a magnificent career, from his early underdog years to building one of Formula 1’s most dominant dynasties from the ground up. Tickets here.
Featured photo by Art Galleries Association Singapore
