Mon-Sun: 27 Apr-3 May

Ongoing

Thru 30 May: 8th Objectifs Documentary Award Exhibitions. The 8th Objectifs Documentary Award Exhibitions will feature documentary photographers from Cambodia, The Philippines, and Indonesia, showcasing important stories from the region. Catch them in person on Sat 11 Apr afternoon in a series of exhibition talks! Objectifs Centre for Photography & Film. Free.

Monday, 27 Apr

Mon, 6:45pm & 7:45pm: Alouette Ensemble. This programme by Alouette Ensemble first features a lively assortment of accessible, genre-spanning pieces—beloved melodies from Studio Ghibli films and fresh folk arrangements—performed with close ensemble dialogue, followed by a selection of classical repertoire, offering a contrasting, refined coda that highlights the group’s technical sensitivity and expressive range. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Mon, 7pm: DRAGGED & DRAWN featuring Eliza Blaque. A life drawing session with a drag queen model? Yes! Prizes to be won in competition rounds? Yes! A full food and drink menu? Yes! All levels of drawing welcome! Bring your own materials! All mess-free media welcome. No materials of your own? We have some paper and pencils available! Hard Rock Cafe. $20.

Tuesday, 28 Apr

Tue, 6:45pm & 7:45pm: Navigating Through Darkness. Jasper is a percussive fingerstyle guitarist who utilises percussion, harmonics, and alternate tunings to achieve the effect of a full band on one guitar. From powerful, high-energy songs to intimate sentimental ones, Navigating Through Darkness hopes to take you on an emotional journey that demonstrates strength through resilience and empathy. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Tue, 7:15pm: Pokémon Brass Concert. Recognised as one of Asia’s leading orchestras, the NHK Symphony Orchestra presents a special concert featuring its distinguished brass players. Alongside timeless classical masterpieces, the programme includes beloved Pokémon themes, performed with rich sonorities and refined ensemble artistry. Don’t miss a special appearance by Pikachu at the concert! Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Free.

Tue, 8pm (Weekly): Open Mic Comedy Tuesdays. Come watch local and foreign comics take a crack at doing stand-up comedy. We give you a lineup of 12+ comics doing their 3-5-minute stand-up routines. 18+. The Lemon Stand. $27.31.

Wednesday, 29 Apr

Wed, 6:45pm & 7:45pm: SP Vocal Talents. SP Vocal Talents (SPVT) presents a fresh a cappella set featuring a mix of pop, musical theatre and dance-pop songs. The performance will include songs inspired by artists such as ABBA, Paramore, Olivia Rodrigo and Little Mix, alongside selections from musical theatre. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Wed thru Sun, 7-10pm (Wed): PerºForm Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) 2026: The Post-Migrant Academy. Landing in Singapore this Labour Day Weekend, this public Academy zooms in onto the lives of female Gastarbeiters (guest workers) who moved from Turkey to work in Telefunken factories in post-war Germany, bridging topics of labour, class, cultural difference and gender. 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road. $5-10.

Wed, 7:30pm: LEARN IMPROV TODAY! Improv Taster Sessions. Explore what spontaneous storytelling is like, & why they're just as useful in daily life as they are on stage. No background in theatre and performance needed! Recommended 13+. Larks Improv Theatre. $22.

Wed, 8pm: BlackKaji. A study of the unseen, unsound, unsuspecting, unsustainable, unstable. This is a series conceived by Ujikaji and The Observatory. Line-up: Anise, Gazelle, Leng Seong, B-L duo. Black Axis. $26.44.

Thursday, 30 Apr

Wed thru Sun, 6-10pm (Thur): PerºForm Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) 2026: The Post-Migrant Academy. See Wed.

Thu, 6:30pm: Panel Discussion | The Body Remembers. If your body could speak, what would it say? Taking cues from what the body can express through art, this panel brings together perspectives from psychology, dance, film and more, to look at what the body holds, how we can be more aligned with it, and what it reveals when we finally listen to it. National Gallery Singapore. $5.

Thu, 6:30pm: Sound Check Session #2: Winning on Online Platforms & in the Press. For Session #2 of SOUND CHECK, we’re getting into the practical side of building your presence online and in the press. With: Marian Carmel, deførmed, Wax Guitar Services. ARH @ 42 Waterloo St. Free (RSVP).

Thu, 7:15pm: Festival Opening: Dance of the Spirit Protector. Mark your calendar and come face to face with the Kumpo, the spinning masked guardian of West Africa who whirls into existence, radiant in raffia, rhythm, and flame. A Tapestry of Sacred Music opens with this captivating performance by Berending Kumpo Association, a vibrant celebration that welcomes audiences into a shared experience of movement, unity, and community, pulsing with life and blessings. Esplanade Courtyard. Free.

Thu, 7:45pm & 9:15pm: Sikh Kirtans. Allow the sacred verses of Sikh saints to bathe you in divine love, as their ancient words rise in devotion and draw you inward through kirtan—the singing of hymns in praise of God. Gurmat Sangeet Academy presents two stirring performances rooted in this timeless tradition. Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Free.

Thu, 7:45pm: An Evening of Qawwali: At the Feet of the Beloved. Heirs to the 700-year-old tradition—and nephews of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan—Rizwan and Muazzam Mujahid Ali Khan invite you into the world of the Sufi mystics, whose music is meant not just to be heard, but to be felt. With harmoniums, handclaps, and voices rising in hypnotic cadence, they weave music that awakens the soul. Esplanade Concert Hall. Free (RSVP).

Thu, 8pm: BALLS! Drag Queen Bingo. This is not your grandmother's bingo! Becca D'Bus is grabbing balls and making calls. Your ticket gets you 5 BINGO cards and your first drink! Make lines and shapes and win prizes! YAY! 18+. HOST Queer Bar (venue is up two flights of stairs). $32.

Thu thru Sun, 8pm (Thu & Fri): Pulau Rindu. “What makes a city? The buildings we see—or the memories and visions we embody? Who are the ones building our city?” Emergency Stairs invites the audience into a profound meditation on memory and loss, constructing impossible cities within the theatre. NAFA Studio Theatre. $22.

Thu, Fri & Sun, 8pm (Thu): Songs of Pilgrimage: the Llibre Vermell of Montserrat. Let the sacred sound of medieval pilgrimage draw near, carrying festivity in its step and reverence in its song. Come share in a celebration that bridges the spiritual and the human, reviving the harmony that once resounded through Montserrat’s monastery walls. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Thu & Sun, 8:30pm (Thu): Echoes of Guinea. From the throbbing pulse of West Africa rise the all-consuming rhythms of the djembe, summoning its raw and ancient ancestral energy. Led by Kelvin Kew and his ensemble, Djembe Singapore Club, this performance channels the ancient voices of Mandinka tradition to stir both body and soul. Esplanade Courtyard (Thu); Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre (Sun). Free.

Thu, 10:15pm: Ritual Noh of Kurokawa – Shojo. Step into the candlelit hush and be mesmerised as masked performers revive the ancient tale of Shojo (The Sake Sprite), a festive yet reverent offering about an alcohol-loving sea spirit who rewards a wine-seller with boundless sake. Listen closely and be drawn in by the plaintive notes of the Japanese flute mingling with the deep thrum of drums, the strange guttural calls of the performers, and the rhythmic stomping of feet. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Friday, 1 May

Fri thru 24 May: Singapore HeritageFest 2026. Discover our maritime heritage at Singapore HeritageFest 2026! Through islandwide cultural performances, scenic water and land tours, guided trails, workshops and exhibitions, SHF 2026 reveals Singapore's deep connection to the sea and the vibrant communities that made us a global maritime hub. Various locations. Free and ticketed programmes.

Fri, 3pm: Exchange: Cantu in Paghjella meets Peroveta. Hailing from islands separated by vast oceans, cantu in paghjella and peroveta are distinct choral traditions central to worship in Corsica and Papua New Guinea, respectively. In this lecture-demonstration, the Corsican brothers and the Kapari Viriolo Cultural Ambassadors engage in conversation, sharing their devotional songs and island traditions. Esplanade Recital Studio. Free (RSVP).

Fri, 3-7pm: Labour Day Rally. As the first joint rally by Workers Make Possible and SG Climate Rally, the theme “Running out of time” connects workers’ plights to the plight of Mother Earth, showing how workers and nature are both suffering because of a system that prioritises capitalist growth over people and our planet. Singaporean citizens & PRs only. Hong Lim Park. Free entry.

Wed thru Sun, 3-10pm (Fri-Sun): PerºForm Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) 2026: The Post-Migrant Academy. See Wed.

Fri, 4pm: The Art of Chant: Voices of the Vedas. The Art of Chant: Voices of the Vedas presents a moment for reverence, reflection, and quiet renewal. Led by the Sathya Sai Centre for Educare, this gathering of voices presenting a selection of Vedic chants—an invitation to all to listen deeply and attune to the uplifting vibrations carried through the sacred hymns. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Fri, 4pm: Talk: Introduction to Kurokawa Noh. Step into a world where theatre is not merely performed—but offered to the gods. Kurokawa noh stands apart from courtly tradition, rooted in the landscape of snow-covered rice fields and mountains, guided by centuries of ritual duty. This introductory talk unveils the art of a folk ritual theatre preserved in Yamagata in rural northern Japan. Esplanade Black Room. Free (RSVP).

Fri, 5pm: Talk: The Legacy of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. There are voices that echo across generations, and then there is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. More than a singer, he was a phenomenon whose art didn’t merely cross borders—it dissolved them. Join us for a talk that traces the journey of a voice born of devotion, shaped by centuries of Sufi tradition, and carried to stages around the world. Esplanade Recital Studio. Free (RSVP).

Fri, 5pm-late: Kopistan Launch Event: K & Beyond. We'd love to invite all you people that go hand in hand with the simple things that we live for and very much love.. Koffee, music & tableware by our beautiful friends with magical things - Project Coal, Mouldy Hues & Goni Room (must-haves for any table & home). Filmhouse. Free entry.

Thu, Fri & Sun, 6pm (Fri): Songs of Pilgrimage: the Llibre Vermell of Montserrat. See Thu.

Fri, 7:30pm: CELESTE (FR) LIVE IN SG. Celebrating 20 years of existence, the French Avant-Garde Black Metal legends return to Singapore after 7 long years. Cleverly mixing black metal, post-metal, and hardcore sounds, CELESTE has created a music as singular as it is violent, oppressive, and dark. ROOM 526. $25.

Thu thru Sun, 8pm (Thu & Fri): Pulau Rindu. See Thu.

Fri & Sat, 8pm & 9:30pm (Fri): Mythology in Song: Legends of the Meitei People. In Meitei ritual tradition, priestesses known as Maibis shape the air with their chants, their gestures tracing the very source of creation—the world, for a moment, feels newly made. Immerse yourself in the lores of creation and the epic tales of civilisation as the Laihui Ensemble brings forth the songs and dances of these Manipuri priestesses. Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre (Fri); Esplanade Concourse (Sat). Free.

Fri, 8pm (Weekly): Funny Fridays. Join us every Friday for Singapore's funniest and best new comedians at The Lemon Stand Comedy Club. 18+. The Lemon Stand. $32.54.

Fri, 8:45pm: Ritual Noh of Kurokawa – Hagoromo. Step into the concert hall and be mesmerised as masked performers revive the ancient tale of Hagoromo (The Feathered Robe) to entertain their god, their movements guided by the haunting cadence of noh music as they conjure celestial maidens. Esplanade Concert Hall. Free (RSVP).

Fri, 10pm: An Evening of Qawwali: At the Feet of the Beloved. Heirs to the 700-year-old tradition—and nephews of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan—Rizwan and Muazzam Mujahid Ali Khan invite you into the world of the Sufi mystics, whose music is meant not just to be heard, but to be felt. With harmoniums, handclaps, and voices rising in hypnotic cadence, they weave music that awakens the soul. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Fri, 10pm-3am: EMONIGHTSG: The B-Sides. This night is dedicated to any one who feels like they don’t quite fit within the mould of society. Expect to hear alternative music, from nu-metal to pop punk and emo. Unite in the resounding melodies of our common dread, comfort, hope and what makes us all the same – being human. 18+. Hard Rock Cafe. $23 (pre-sale); $28 (door).

Saturday, 2 May

Fri thru 24 May: Singapore HeritageFest 2026. See Fri.

Sat & Sun, 11am-6pm: The Slow Press Reading & Drinking Room #2. Christy and Aik will be presenting a small curation (40-50 titles) of publications and zines from their new and updated personal stash and it’s a no-brainer – they’re all about FOOD! Your ticket comes with: Bottomless hot tea brewed by SILK, Muah Chee by Ah Mah’s Legacy, a 2-hour slot to enjoy reading in a cosy space with tunes fuelled on the turntable by @mestle_portar. Silk Tea Bar. $25.

Sat, 12-8pm: Say Chunkie! & Friends Art Market. Come on down to Say Chunkie! & Friends Art Market to meet these lovely, avant-garde elder crafters and find out how they pursue their crafts!! Caricature Photo-strips by @faizalcaricatures, Numerlogy Readings by Auntie Zi Yi, Handmade Toilet Miniatures by Uncle Richard, Our new Photobooth and much more. #07-11, 22 New Industrial Road. Free entry.

Sat, 1:30pm, 2:30pm & 3:30pm: Pipe Organ Tour. Join us for an exclusive backstage tour to see Singapore's largest pipe organ up close. Towering three storeys high in the Esplanade Concert Hall, this magnificent Klais organ boasts 4,740 pipes and weighs around 25 tonnes—about the same as five elephants! Esplanade Concert Hall. Free (RSVP).

Sat, 3pm: Workshop: Introduction to Corsican Polyphonic Singing. This workshop offers an introduction to the tradition of Corsican polyphonic singing, led by members of Spartimu. Known for its close harmonies and distinctive vocal sound, Corsican polyphony brings together several vocal lines that rely on careful listening and blend between singers. Esplanade Recital Studio. Free (RSVP).

Thu thru Sun, 3pm & 8pm (Sat): Pulau Rindu. See Thu.

Wed thru Sun, 3-10pm (Fri-Sun): PerºForm Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) 2026: The Post-Migrant Academy. See Wed.

Sat, 4pm: The Art of Chant: Shabad Chowki Parampara. Experience the meditative flow of shabad chowki parampara, a centuries-old tradition of structured hymn-singing that bridges authentic heritage with the evolving expressions of kirtan. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Sat, 4pm: Workshop: Music of Manipur. This brief workshop introduces participants to the rich and diverse musical cultures of Manipur, a region known for its devotional arts and ritual performance traditions, including the mythological songs of the Meitei people. Esplanade Black Room. Free (RSVP).

Sat, 5pm: Talk: Masquerade Ceremonies of The Gambia. This talk introduces the masquerade dances central to the Jola communities of West Africa, such as the Kumpo, and the vital role each plays in the cultural and spiritual life in the community. Esplanade Recital Studio. Free (RSVP).

Sat & Sun, 6pm (Sat): Peroveta – Prophet Songs. From the shores of Papua New Guinea comes a choral language shaped by community and devotion. In this rare performance, the Kapari Viriolo Village Cultural Ambassadors breathe life into peroveta , the sacred “prophet songs” where voices rise and fall like a gentle surf, carrying within their movement prophets, apostles, and the radiant legacy of Papuan faith and history. Esplanade Concert Hall (Sat); Esplanade Concourse (Sun). Free (RSVP).

Sat, 6:30pm: SingPoWriMo 2026: Closing Party. Come together with your fellow writers and poetry enthusiasts to mark the end of SingPoWriMo 2026 at Sing Lit Station. We’ll be hosting an open mic, so bring along your favourite pieces from the month. (Performances and presentations also welcome, just let us know!) Expect good company, light refreshments, and one last gathering before we return to our regularly scheduled lives. Sing Lit Station. $10 (general); $5 (student).

Sat, 7:45pm & 9:15pm: Zafin: Dance and Devotion. Experience the divine rhythm of Yemen’s Hadhramaut region brought to life through zafin, a dance where the body and faith find form in motion. In the joyous interplay of footwork, music, and verse, devotion takes flight, binding grace, gratitude, and community. Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Free.

Fri & Sat, 8pm & 8:50pm (Fri): Mythology in Song: Legends of the Meitei People. See Fri.

Sat & Sun, 10:15pm (Sat): The Sacred Voices of Corsica. Across the rugged mountains and remote villages of Corsica, the Île de Beauté (the island of beauty), voices rise in raw harmony—ancient, resonant, and alive. Spartimu, one of the most celebrated vocal ensembles on the island, brings forth the sacred tradition of cantu in paghjella. Esplanade Concourse (Sat); Esplanade Concert Hall (Sun). Free (RSVP).

Sunday, 3 May

Fri thru 24 May: Singapore HeritageFest 2026. See Fri.

Sat & Sun, 11am-6pm: The Slow Press Reading & Drinking Room #2. See Sat.

Sat, 12-8pm: Say Chunkie! & Friends Art Market. See Sat.

Sun, 2:30pm: Sacred Organ Works with Pieter van Dijk. Not many sounds summon the sacred quite like the organ, with its resonant tones and powerful range that moves from meditative to majestic. It has, for centuries, inspired worshippers to the heights of religious fervour, awakening reverence and reflection in equal measure. Join Pieter van Dijk for an afternoon where contemplation meets grandeur. Esplanade Concert Hall. Free (RSVP).

Thu thru Sun, 3pm (Sun): Pulau Rindu. See Thu.

Wed thru Sun, 3-10pm (Fri-Sun): PerºForm Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) 2026: The Post-Migrant Academy. See Wed.

Sun, 4pm: The Art of Chant: Chinese Buddhist Sutras. As Buddhist monks take their places in their pre-dawn stillness, their chants resound through prayer halls, bringing stillness to all hearts, with texts reflecting on the nature of emptiness, liberation from suffering and worldly attachments. Join Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in The Art of Chant: Chinese Buddhist Sutras and witness the cadence of Han Buddhist rituals come alive in sacred recitation. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Sun, 5:30pm: The Art of Chant: Quranic Recitation. Witness the harmony of sound and spirit, where scripture becomes living revelation through oral traditions faithfully preserved for over 14 centuries. Here, the Quran lives not on the page but in resonance, and where you get close to the intimate, exalted expressions of the human voice as it channels the divine. Esplanade Concourse. Free.

Thu & Sun, 6pm (Sun): Echoes of Guinea. See Thu.

Sat & Sun, 6:30pm (Sun): The Sacred Voices of Corsica. See Sat.

Thu, Fri & Sun, 7:30pm (Sun): Songs of Pilgrimage: the Llibre Vermell of Montserrat. See Thu.

Sun, 8:15pm: Kumpo Meets Djembe Singapore Club. Lila Drums joins the Berending Kumpo Association from The Gambia for a vibrant cross-cultural collaboration that brings together powerful traditions of rhythm and ceremonial dance. Together, the artists create a dynamic exchange of sound and movement, where pulsating drum rhythms and ritual dance come together in a spirited celebration of tradition, community and shared cultural expression. Esplanade, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Free.

Sat & Sun, 9pm (Sun): Peroveta – Prophet Songs. See Sat.