New year, new things to do. There’s plenty to look forward to in January, including food festivals, art exhibitions and unique shopping experiences.
Christmas Wonderland
Dec 1, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024; Gardens By The Bay
This 10th edition of Christmas Wonderland is set to be more dazzling with a supersized fairground, more light displays and carnival rides. Presented by Trip.com, Christmas Wonderland will span more than 27,000 square metres with three zones: Supertree Grove, Frosty’s Fairground at The Meadow, and Gingerbread Grove.
Christmas on A Great Street
Nov 16, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024; Orchard Road
Christmas on A Great Street, the signature year-end light-up of Orchard Road heralding the holiday season, returns for the 40th year with a street party, Christmas villages, carnival rides and games, pop-up stores and F&B kiosks. This year’s light-up theme “A Child’s Dreamscape” is a sweet one, featuring cotton candy clouds replete with Christmas trees, bells, teddy bears, reindeer, and candy canes.
Nintendo Pop-up Store
Nov 17, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024; Jewel Changi Airport
Fans of games such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon and Pikmin are in for a treat this Nov. For the first time in Southeast Asia, a Nintendo Pop-up Store in Singapore will open in Jewel Changi Airport for a limited time period, from Nov 17, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024. The Singapore store will feature merchandise from popular games which were previously only available at Nintendo Tokyo, Nintendo Osaka, and Nintendo Kyoto stores.
555 Thai Music Festival
Jan 3; Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre
The inaugural 555 Thai Music Festival has been billed as the “happiest festival in the region”. It will showcase some of the most sizzling Thai artists, including 4eve, Potato, Pp Krit And Billkin, alongside electrifying DJ and MC duos from Spaceplus Bangkok like Faasai, Mastermind and Pixzy.
Pongal Open House
Jan 6, 7, 13, 14; Indian Heritage Centre
This year’s Pongal Open House is themed “The Sun”, an ode to the star’s warmth and radiance, and of sunlight’s critical role in the cycles of nature and an abundant harvest. Immerse in the rich heritage of the festival with an exciting array of programmes such as hands-on activities, workshops, storytelling sessions, farm tours and a cooking demonstration.
Jumptopia Playful Wonders
Nov 25, 2023 to Jan 7, 2024; Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Hall C
Kiztopia, Singapore’s mega-indoor edutainment playground, brings back its eagerly-awaited, annual festive bouncy castle wonderland, for the third consecutive year. Jumptopia Playful Wonders spans 45,000 square feet and features two carefully curated zones and 10 specially-designed giant inflatables for a fusion of adventure, culinary delights, and non-stop entertainment. For the first time, there is a dedicated non-ticketed zone for everyone to soak in the one-of-a-kind festive exuberance.
The Sea is a Field
Jan 12 to Apr 21; Singapore Art Museum
47 Days, Sound-less
Jan 12 to Apr 14; Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Art Museum has unveiled new works by leading Southeast Asian artists that explore space as crucial extensions of art and showcase the diverse stories and practices of artists from the region. The journey starts on Jan 12, where visitors can explore The Sea is a Field by artists Simryn Gill and Charles Lim Yi Yong, and 47 Days, Sound-less by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Trinh Thi.
Deep Cuts
Jan 13 to 14; Peace Centre
Explore the diversity of Singapore’s independent creative communities at Deep Cuts. For two days, renowned figures from local subcultures will come together at the first Asian grassroots conference for the creative community in Singapore. Over 40 voices from the music and nightlife, visual arts, street arts, and dance scenes, among others, will discuss the current realities and envisioned futures of the local grassroots community across more than 20 curated programmes.
Music Day Out
Jan 13 to 14; *scape The Ground Theatre
With the theme of Disruption, Music Day Out celebrates the raw talent and innovation that characterises the underground music scenes of the region, featuring an eclectic lineup spanning various genres, including but not limited to indie rock, electronic, punk, and experimental music. To facilitate knowledge transfer and to develop the industry side of things, the conference element of MDO will also feature sharing sessions and a drum workshop.
LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister
Aug 19, 2023 to Jan 14, 2024
Discover a different side of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Children’s Museum Singapore’s exhibition, LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister. The exhibition, held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee’s birth, traces his story from childhood to his career as a statesman, and examines the values he espoused and the legacy he left behind.
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
Jan 17 to 28; various locations
The much-anticipated 20th edition is set to captivate audiences with a line-up of exciting, diverse works by Singapore-based and international artists.The January 2024 programme introduces six productions that explore societal challenges and perspectives around the world. Their common goals shed light on adversity, resistance, and breaking free of stereotypes and routines.
Singapore Art Week
Jan 19 to 28; various locations
Singapore Art Week returns with more than 150 art exhibitions involving 400 artists and other programmes, including a vibrant Light To Night festival. It’s a 10-day celebration where art enthusiasts, collectors, and curious visitors can discover the best of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art and stunning works from international artists.
S.E.A. Focus
Jan 20 to 28; Tanjong Pagar Distripark
The sixth edition of S.E.A. Focus promises a compelling showing of the best works from Southeast Asia. See an assembly of works from 22 galleries and over 40 artists from the region. Themed “Serial and Massively Parallel”, the showcase explores the interplay between humanity and technology in this increasingly digital age through art pieces that contemplate the human distinctiveness in creativity, artistic expression and the experience of art. Expect more large-scale works and installations, including a designated screening room featuring artists’ video works, all within the walls of the exhibition ground at Tanjong Pagar Distripark.
Flavours of Tomorrow Festival
Jan 20 and 21; Teletech Park, Singapore Science Park 2
The festival will present groundbreaking creations developed by local agritech, foodtech and food service companies such as Hegg, Kobashi, Oatside, Paan Kitchen, and Shandi Global. Visit the affordable and sustainable food and retail market, and take part in talks and workshops by experts on plant-based nutrition, alternative protein creation, and sustainability to help you understand the benefits of eating plant-based and alternative proteins.
Ice Magic
Dec 9, 2023 to Jan 21, 2024 
Asia’s largest touring pop-up winter playground returns on an epic scale, featuring a blizzard of thrilling snow and ice activities for an unforgettable arctic adventure. Try Singapore’s first-ever Merry-Go-Round on Ice, the Longest Snow Slope, Double-Lane Couple Ice Slide, a picturesque wooden cottage etc, perfect for the ’gram.
Artbox
Jan 26 to 28, Feb 2 to 4; Singapore Expo Hall 2
For two weekends, Singapore Expo Hall 2 will be transformed into a 105,000-square-foot urban wonderland, a mini city with “streets” and “avenues” from the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. Get ready for various collaborations, art installations, activities, retail selections, F&B experiences, and more.
CNY Family FUN
Jan 26 to 28; Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and Singapore Conference Hall
Celebrate Chinese New Year and “SINGAPO人” culture at CNY Family FUN co-organised by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and Singapore Chinese Orchestra. There will be 12 interactive activities specially curated for families, children and seniors based on the theme “Engaging Traditions”. Have fun with games, performances, workshops and craft activities, including a puzzle hunt and opera performances. Visitors will also have the chance to try traditional snacks from various dialect groups.
Aliwal Urban Art Festival
Jan 27; Aliwal Arts Centre
Organised by Arts House Limited during the last weekend of Singapore Art Week 2024, visitors can expect a series of exciting activities led by various renowned local urban arts groups and communities of different artistic practices. From engaging visual art and dance workshops to exciting graffiti showcases, open studio sessions, performances and more, Aliwal Urban Art Festival will feature an eclectic array of free and ticketed unique art-ivities at the heart of the cultural enclave of Kampong Gelam.
Fruits of the Vine
Jan 27; The Singapore Edition
Wine festival Fruits of the Vine returns with over 100 prestigious brands and 400 labels to enrapture wine lovers after a successful inaugural edition in 2023. An extraordinary immersion into the world of wine awaits wine enthusiasts. Fruits of the Vine’s Grand Walkabout tasting offers attendees the opportunity to taste up to 200 different wine labels in individual tasting portions of approximately 30ml.
Heartlands Festival
Dec 1, 2023 to Jan 31, 2024; islandwide
Heartlands Festival returns for its third edition under the banner of “Celebrating the Community”. The festival shines a light on Singapore’s heartlands as a treasure trove of vibrant neighbourhoods that have shaped the nation’s identity. Participants are encouraged to explore their neighbourhoods or venture into new grounds with interactive quests, themed races, heritage trails and exhibitions.
For Art’s Sake
Oct 14, 2023 to Jan 28, 2024; various locations
GOFY, a Singapore-grown creative community uniting urban artists from the Southeast Asian region, presents the second edition of For Art’s Sake with 80 artworks from 63 Southeast Asian urban artists installed in 21 commercial venues across the island. The contributing artists hail from six different countries across the region – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The exhibition offers a fresh take on how art is purchased, presented and circulated, making the encounter with art approachable and accessible by melding it with daily life. Artworks are available for purchase from $80.
Colour My World 2023
Nov 20, 2023 to Jan 31, 2024; online
The annual festive fundraiser campaign by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) supports community-based services for over 7,000 persons with Intellectual disabilities and caregivers. For the first time this year, donors will receive unique tokens – Christmas Ornaments or Mandarin Orange Bags – specially designed by MINDS Craft trainees. Visit here to make a donation.
Now Boarding: Experiencing Singapore through Travel, 1800s–2000s
Now till Feb 25, 2024; National Museum of Singapore
Come on board for an exhibition that traces the evolution of Singapore’s identity as a travel destination, through the lens of those who arrived at our shores from past to present. Get up close with a special selection of over 600 artefacts, including the iconic Changi Airport flight information display flip board, Raffles Hotel doorman uniform, and the Neptune Theatre Restaurant’s signage.
Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger
Nov 24, 2023 to Mar 3, 2024; Singapore Art Museum
Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger is possibly one of the most significant exhibitions this year. Presented by Singapore Art Museum (SAM), this is the Singaporean artist’s first mid-career survey exhibition highlighting his prolific artistic practice. Internationally acclaimed as a writer, visual artist and theatre-maker, Ho explores identity, storytelling and time in Asia, particularly after World War II.
New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed
Oct 21, 2023 to Mar 3, 2024; ArtScience Museum
ArtScience Museum opens a portal to extraordinary new worlds with its latest exhibition New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed. Visitors will be able to uncover new perspectives on the genre of science fiction, encountering multiple futures and alternative realms inspired by Asia’s rich history and culture. The contemporary art exhibition spotlights 24 Asian women artists and collectives, including some of the biggest names in contemporary art globally, such as Mariko Mori, Cao Fei, Patty Chang, Sputniko!, Lee Bul, Shilpa Gupta and Anicka Yi.
Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America
Nov 18, 2023 to Mar 24, 2024; National Gallery Singapore
The exhibition demonstrates how the two regions have many similarities. Billed as the world’s first large-scale exhibition to take a comparative approach between the artistic practices from both regions, it examines what they share in common – especially following colonialism.
Gallery Children’s Biennale
Now till Mar 31, 2024, National Gallery Singapore
The 4th edition of Gallery Children’s Biennale 2023 is themed “Let’s Make a Better Place” and will showcase 11 art installations by international artists that spotlight four core values: Care, Collaborate, Imagine and Respect.
Chaos Lab
Nov 11 to second quarter of 2024 (exact date to be determined); Changi Airport Terminal 2
Chaos Lab, a wacky lab-themed experience, will debut at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 on Nov 11 – just in time for the upcoming school holidays. Presented by Fever, a leading US-based entertainment discovery platform, families are invited to check out 11 interactive activities based on science themes. With each activity, kids are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.
Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore
Nov 25, 2023 to Sep 15, 2024; Indian Heritage Centre
This is the first exhibition of its kind to focus exclusively on the Malayalees’ heritage, culture, and identity. It features both intangible and tangible aspects of Malayalee history through artefacts and stories as well as a variety of community programmes.
