Fresh off its Milan Design Week debut, PROTOTYPE ISLAND is finally returning to ArtScience Museum this weekend after an international tour. The showcase pulls together 15 projects from the city's transdisciplinary design crowd, sorted loosely across three lanes: one on care and cultural continuity, one on the tangled relationship between digital tech and material innovation, and one on the quiet infrastructures. The focus is clear: demonstrate how design can improve the way we live beyond just looking pretty.
When: Now till 20 September 2026, from 10am to 7pm
Where: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974
If you're looking for an excuse to rediscover Singapore as a tourist, Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis has you covered. Singapore Night Festival and HeritageSG have turned the neighbourhood's quieter corners and grand old buildings into something out of a fever dream. Think local folklore reimagined as glowing light installations, tucked into five spots across the district: Artsplace @ Waterloo Centre, the Reflection Pool at Bras Basah MRT, Stamford Place, Stamford Walkway, and the National Museum (though that last one's only lit up through August 12). It's less an exhibition and more a scavenger hunt that rewards you with old stories from the city at each stop.
When: 1 August to 5 September 2026, from 7:30pm onwards
Where: Bras Basah.Bugis Precinct
If you’ve been toying with the idea of trying hair removal for a while now, here’s something that might finally push you over the edge. STRIP just rolled out Zero Friction Fitness, a new end-to-end service built around Advanced Fluorescence Technology. Walk through 5 interactive stations that demonstrate how everything from resistance and recovery to precision and comfort works in tandem to achieve a frictionless living.
The STRIP folks are handing out 100 free ZFF kits worth SGD200, including a free laser hair removal underarm session daily. But if you miss out on that, don’t worry, every visitor walks away with a goodie bag just for showing up.
When: 31 July to 10 August
Where: ION Orchard, B4 ION Station, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
This weekend will hold arguably the largest pet event this city’s got. The Singapore Pet Festival will host over 800 brands crammed into 300 booths, workshops, contests, and enough fellow pet parents to make small talk with for hours. The real headliner, though, is Cesar Millan, the actual Dog Whisperer, who's doing meet-and-greets and private sharing sessions if you've ever wanted the man himself to explain why your dog won't listen to a word you say.
When: 31 July to 2 August 2026, from 10am to 8pm
Where: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Sands Expo Convention Centre, Halls A-D, Singapore 018956
Save a spot here
Bugis Street's getting a facelift, turning the shopping strip into its first permanent youth space. It acts as a hub for indie brands and up-and-coming creatives to do their thing. Think 30-plus fashion and lifestyle booths worth actually digging through, plus a DJ corner spinning tunes so browsing turns into more of a hangout. And if you're the type who lives for a good vintage find, they've brought in 15 thrift and vintage labels for the launch.
When: 25 July 2026 onwards, from 1 to 7pm
Where: Bugis Street, Level 2, 3 New Bugis St, Singapore 188867
GrillFest's back for its ninth year with forty-two grill vendors lined up along Siloso Beach. Sprawling across five zones with 18 new vendors thrown into the mix, expect absurdly large cheese sausages, grilled lobsters, smoked beef short ribs, and more. Plus, a first-ever Chef's Grill omakase-style setup for something a bit more refined. This opening weekend runs Thursday through Sunday, and if you can't make it, no stress—three more rounds are lined up through mid-August.
When: 23 July to 16 August 2026, from 4 to 10:30pm
Where: Siloso Beach, 10A Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 099008
Gardens by the Bay is playing host to 76 years of Formula 1 history, spread across seven themed rooms that include Sebastian Vettel's championship-winning 2011 Red Bull RB7 and the 2003 BAR Honda that Jenson Button used to drive. Throw in some racing simulators and footage you won't find anywhere else, and it's a solid way to burn an afternoon whether you're a die-hard fan or just F1-curious.
When: Now till 18 October 2026, from 11am to 9pm
Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Get your tickets here
Hear, hear, jazz lovers. The Esplanade's going all in on Jazz this July, and the best part is you barely have to spend a dime. Over 50 performances and workshops are stacked across the Concert Hall, the Recital Studio and that free Concourse stage. Expect free outdoor sets with no ticket, and no fuss. Just pull up the daily schedule, pick an evening, and wander in whenever.
When: 1 to 31 July 2026
Where: Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
More info here
Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) is back with the fourth run of Chin Swee Neighbourhood Club, spread across four weekends from 11 July to 2 August, with a weekly rotation of events. Look forward to trivia and DJ sets in Joo Chiat, a pet-friendly brunch weekend in Alexandra, a block party at the Barista Academy in Chin Swee, the works. Check out what they've got planned for this weekend here.
When: Now till 2 August
Where: Common Man Coffee Roasters, 185 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427456
Save a seat here
Swing by local fashion label IN GOOD COMPANY’s first-ever standalone lifestyle spot that folds fashion, food, and community into one very good-looking space. Ground yourself with tea and wagashi at MIURA, the new concept from the Paaru crew, then poke around a curation of local and regional labels worth your attention. On the third level, there's also an attic being saved for future gatherings and creative programming, so keep your eyes peeled.
When: Tuesdays to Sundays, from 11am to 7pm
Where: 316 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427567
There’s a new library in town, and this one’s loaning out physical media that spins instead of flips. Swee Lee has recently launched Southeast Asia’s first vinyl lending library, allowing members to bring home up to three records at a time with no fixed loan duration. There’ll be listening stations where you can drown out the world by your lonesome, or in pairs.
Spend the day browsing their massive collection of vinyl, take pictures in photobooths, and linger over a cup of coffee from their café corner as you enjoy music the way it was intended.
When: Daily, from 10:30am to 10pm on weekends, and 12 to 9pm on weekdays
Where: Swee Lee Clarke Quay and Swee Lee The Star Vista
More information here
PREVIOUSLY
If you've ever wanted to feel like you're raiding a royal treasury, the Asian Civilisations Museum has you covered. The Louvre is bringing over a hundred pieces from its Islamic art collection to Singapore for the first time. Crosscurrents: Masterpieces of Mughal, Safavid, and Ottoman Art traces the rise and fall of three empires that ran the show across West and Central Asia from the 1500s to the 1700s, through jewels, artifacts, and objects pulled straight from their royal collections.
When: From 19 Jun 2026 to 24 Jan 2027
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Pl, Singapore 179555
If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to drop several thousand metres below the surface, Into the Ocean: Journey Beneath is your weekend sorted. Built around never-before-seen footage from OceanX, the exhibition pulls you through the ocean's shifting depths using footage captured by submersibles that go where cameras rarely follow. It's less of a museum visit, rather than a full sensory immersion, with interactive elements that tie back to actual marine conservation work.
When: 6 June to 1 November 2026
Where: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
Save a spot here
Portals is an experience that spread across 13,000 sq ft (roughly the size of 4.5 standard tennis courts). Walk through eight fully built realms drawn from sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming with proper constructed environments, not just mood boards on a wall. The real draw, though, is what's hanging inside them: original Golden Age sci-fi and fantasy book cover paintings, actual oil and acrylic canvases, not prints or reproductions, that shaped an entire generation's visual imagination.
When: Now till 2 September 2026, from 9am to 9pm
Where: Fever Exhibition Hall, 25 Scotts Road, Singapore 228220
Save a spot here
Singapore Art Museum is hosting Form is Emptiness, the first major solo show in Southeast Asia from legendary Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Spanning 60-plus works across five decades, the show moves through photography, sculpture, and large-scale installation, loosely framed around the Buddhist concept of the Five Elements. Think meditative seascapes, architectural interventions, and objects that somehow feel both ancient and weightless. It's a rare chance to slow down and spend time genuinely thinking about time, perception, and reality.
When: 29 May to 4 October 2026
Where: Gallery 1 & The Engine Room, Level 1, SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065
Save a spot here
National Gallery Singapore is turning things up with its first-ever R18 exhibition, Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art. Drawing from Liu Kang’s 1953 essay Trip to Bali, the shows treats erotic desire as a catalyst for change—one that shapes how we see, feel, and connect. Expect over 70 works spanning painting, video, print and sculpture, all circling the same pulse: the body, longing, and everything in between.
When: 24 April to 30 August 2026
Where: National Gallery Singapore, Level 4, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
More information here
If you’re feeling stressed, you may want to consider loosening up and going crazy behind the wheel—responsibly. On the sixth level of Novena Square’s carpark, you’ll be able to drift go-karts inspired by Initial D on a track which takes its cues from the legendary touge mountain roads of Japan. The cars are tuned to be forgiving, meaning you don't need a decade of track time to get drifting down.
When: Daily, from 10am to 9:30pm
Where: Velocity @ Novena Square, Level 6A (carpark, lift only), 238 Thomson Rd, Singapore 307683
He Xiangning was not only a pioneer in modern Chinese ink art but also a prominent figure in feminism and a chairwoman of various political parties. He Xiangning: Ink and Intent marks the largest travelling exhibition of her work, tracing over 7 decades of her artistic journey, told across 50 artworks. Expect to unearth time capsules of strong commentary on political and societal transformations of the time, and perhaps, even draw parallels to the current political climate of the world.
When: 1 April to 23 August 2026
Where: Wu Guanzhong Gallery, Level 4, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 178957
Perhaps it’s time to pick up a new hobby that distracts you from the incessant humming of productivity. This beginner-friendly crochet session at KADA is low-stakes, softly paced, and designed for absolute first-timers. Guided by a coach with an interior design background, the session will feel less like a class and more like a laid-back session with patient guidance and a small handmade piece to take home. There’s even a complimentary drink to ease you in.
When: Various dates
Where: The Possible Space, 5 Kadayanallur St, #01-01, Singapore 069183
Save a spot here
After years of living in the digital space, Avant is finally settling down in a brick-and-mortar. Across periodical phases, the space will grow to house over 1000 curated mix of records, compact discs and rarities. But it’s not all just vinyl—there’ll be vintage print items, objects, and books centred around pop culture. The space is designed to feel lived in and curated, making it an ideal spot to listen, vibe, and linger a little longer than you probably should.
When: See @avantcultureclub for opening hours
Where: 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace, #01-60, Singapore 168976
If you’re feeling adventurous, head down to Dopamine Land for a quick hit of multisensory euphoria. Having toured cities from London to Madrid, the Singapore edition will feature nine interactive spaces. You can wage pillow fights at The Cushion Clash or get jiggy with it on the Chromadance floor. But there are also more calming spaces in case things get too overstimulating. Euphoria Grove puts you in a bean-bag filled sanctuary with lighting that changes according to the four seasons, while the Cave of Tactility cocoons you in a room with soft, colourful textural walls.
When: Daily (except Thursdays), from 11am to 9pm
Where: Dopamine Land Singapore, #02-204/205, Weave, Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Get your tickets here
