National Heritage Board Happenings

This January and February, National Heritage Board (NHB) will be running an array of programmes and events for you and your family!  

So much is happening this January and February across the venues managed by the National Heritage Board! Here's a closer look at what you can expect in these two months: 

Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign 2026

Date: 23 Jan - 15 Feb 2026
Fee: Subject to the respective museum’s T&Cs

Now in its 12th edition, the 2026 Museum Roundtable (MR) Lunar New Year Hongbao Campaign is ready to gallop into the Year of the Horse with brand new red packet designs!

From 23 January to 15 February 2026, visitors can saddle up for a cultural adventure and collect a set of unique red packet designs at 49 participating museums, heritage institutions and galleries, while stocks last. Each set will contain six (6) pieces of red packets, themed respectively to the 49 participating museums.

Trot over to your favourite museums and collect them all before they hoof it out the door!

More info will be made available on go.gov.sg/MRHongbao2026

Programmes by the Founders’ Memorial

Project Citizens – The First Million

Date: till Mar 2026

Project Citizens – The First Million is the Founders’ Memorial’s tribute to Singapore’s founding generation of citizens. It launched this SG60 year with the following initiatives:

• A senior engagement programme (Apr 2025 to Mar 2026) to capture stories of the founding generation of citizens through volunteer-facilitated activities, honouring their contributions to nation-building and encouraging reflection on values they exemplified. The programme is taking place at various locations across Singapore in partnership with community organisations. Since the pilot in March, more than 300 seniors have been engaged through the programme.
• Pop-up installations island-wide (Apr 2025 to Mar 2026) to explore the founding generation’s journey to citizenship and their experiences when they chose to become citizens of a newly independent Singapore. Visitors are invited to reflect on what being Singaporean means and their role in building Singapore’s future.
• The pop-ups are continuing to travel island-wide to the heartlands and community hubs, including:
  • Jurong Regional Library: 29 Nov 2025 – 25 Jan 2026 
  • Tekka Place: 11 Dec 2025 – 30 Jan 2026
  • Toa Payoh Public Library: 31 Dec 2025 – 26 Feb 2026 
  • Geylang East Public Library: 2 Jan – 29 Mar 2026 
• The Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore exhibition (Oct 2025 to Mar 2026) held at the National Gallery Singapore. The exhibition invites visitors to step into 1950s–1970s Singapore when multiculturalism was thought about, talked about, and consciously forged through policies, ground-up efforts, and the daily choices of ordinary citizens. What challenges or dilemmas arose? How did these tensions play out in the lived realities of citizens? Visitors are then challenged to connect history to present-day life by thinking deeper about what multiculturalism means to them, and to find their place in multicultural Singapore’s ongoing story.

Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore

Venue: City Hall Chamber, Level 3, National Gallery of Singapore
Date: 31 Oct 2025 – 29 Mar 2026
Time: 10am – 7pm (last entry 6pm)
Fee: Free

The Founders’ Memorial invites Singaporeans to explore the makings of multiculturalism in Singapore through an experience at the National Gallery Singapore. By presenting the tensions faced by the founding generation in becoming one united people, it challenges audiences to reflect on the value of multiculturalism – how it came to be, and continues to be, foundational to Singapore's unity and progress – and their role in shaping it for the future.

Programme details: https://www.foundersmemorial.gov.sg/not-mere-spectators

Exhibition Programmes

• Panel discussions
  

Date: 7 Mar 2026
Time: 4.30pm

Engage in thought-provoking dialogue with artists and academics as they share perspectives on multiculturalism in Singapore.

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmspanel

• On the Flipside – Conversations on Multiculturalism

Date: 6 Feb, 27 Feb & 13 Mar 2026
Time: 7.30pm

Forge deeper connection and shared understanding through open and authentic conversations on the exhibition’s content. This edition brings locals and foreigners together!

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmsflipside

• Aneka Ragam Remix

Date: 14 Feb & 14 Mar 2026
Time: 4.30pm

Participate in a multicultural mix of song and dance as we put a modern spin on Aneka Ragam Ra'ayat, the People’s Cultural Concerts that ran from 1959 to 1964.

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmsperformance

Exhibition Tours

• Bus Tours

Date: 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb & 15 Mar 2026
Time: 10.30am

Experience our latest exhibition with guided tours and convenient transport from locations across Singapore. Special edition tours with senior-youth guide pairs run in January and February.

Want to book a bus tour for a group of 40? Select your preferred slot and location here: https://go.gov.sg/notmeregrpbus

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmsbus

• Family Tours

Date: 14 Mar 2026
Time: 10.30am

Tailored for families with young children aged 4 to 9, learn about Singapore’s multicultural journey through storytelling and interactive activities.

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmsfamily

• Curator Tours

Date: 17 Jan 2026
Time: 4.30pm

Explore the Founder’s Memorial’s latest exhibition, Not Mere Spectators, through the lens of the curators. Sign up now!

Link: https://go.gov.sg/notmscurator

Monumental Hunt in the Civic District

Photo Credit: PSM

Date: TBC
Time: 9.30am to 12pm
Fee: $55 per participant | Register here

Set off on a fun-filled puzzle hunt in the Civic District! Inspired by escape rooms and treasure hunts, participants go on an immersive outdoor expedition featuring nine National Monuments in the area. Facilitated and guided by a game master, get ready to put on your thinking caps to decode the puzzles and discover fascinating facts about these historic buildings and sites along the way!

Note: This Monumental Hunt will be recurring and will usually take place every 3rd Saturday of the month. Participants are encouraged to check the website regularly for the confirmed dates.

Programmes by Children’s Museum Singapore

Free Drop-In Storytelling – The Incredible Basket

Venue: Punggol Regional Library, Stories Come Alive Room
Date: 9 Jan 2026
Time: 3pm to 3.30pm
Fee: Free unless otherwise stated

Xiaoming delivers a batch of ang ku kueh with a beautiful Chinese wedding basket, then turns it into a prop for a lion dance. When the sun beats down on him, he repurposes the basket’s cover as a hat! At home in a second-floor shophouse, it is attached to a rope to get a bowl of noodles from the street hawker. Join Quek Hong Shin, author and illustrator of the book, The Incredible Basket, to discover how Xiaoming uses his empty basket in imaginative ways.

This session is specially curated to complement the PLAY + MAKE travelling exhibition, an imaginative maker’s space where children explore Singapore’s rich food heritage through hands-on activities.

Programme details: https://www.heritage.sg/childrensmuseum

Launch of PLAY + MAKE

Venue: Children's Museum Singapore, Discovery Room (Level 2)
Date: from Jul 2025
Time: 9am onwards (in accordance with museum timeslots)
Fee: Free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents; Admission fees apply for Tourists and Foreign Residents

From traditional family recipes to iconic hawker fare, food has always played a central role in shaping our identity and bringing communities together. Join us as we celebrate our food heritage with the launch of PLAY + MAKE, CMSG’s new maker’s space – a hands-on, creative environment where children can explore, experiment, and learn through  making!

Programme details: https://www.heritage.sg/childrensmuseum

Into the Hawkerverse Special Exhibition

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: Ongoing till 2026
Time: 9am, 11am, 2pm & 4pm (Please note that entry is by a timeslot basis)
Fee:

• Singaporeans / Permanent Residents: Free
• Foreign Residents/ Tourists: $10* (Child) | $15* (Adult) (*subject to prevailing GST rate)

The Children’s Museum Singapore’s (CMSG) new special exhibition, Into the Hawkerverse, introduces Singapore’s Hawker culture as an important part of Singapore’s food heritage and way of life to children (aged 12 and below). This exhibition is curated in consultation with children and aims to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Hawker Culture through play, activity and object-based learning.

For more information, please visit this link. For further enquiries, please e-mail: NHB_CMSG@nhb.gov.sg.

Programmes by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC)

I am a Little Jewellery Designer

Photo Credit: Malay Heritage Centre

Did you know that a diamond village called “Kampong Intan” used to exist in Singapore? It was bustling with diamond traders and jewellery designers!

Join our friends Laila and Oreo in this interactive video game where you can harvest your own intan (diamond), polish it and set it in a beautiful piece of jewellery. Your creation will also be available for download as an image file to keep forever.

Pssst.. redeem a specially designed sticker at the MHC if you flash your creation- while stocks last!

Access this online game here for free.

Programmes by the Indian Heritage Centre

IHC Pongal Open House Celebrations 2026

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Time: 10am – 5pm
Date: 10 - 11 & 17 - 18 Jan 2026
Fee: Free Admission

Join us for the Pongal Open House at the Indian Heritage Centre on 10-11 & 17-18 January! This year’s Open House invites you to experience the charm of a folk village with cultural activities, craft workshops, and performances celebrating the spirit of Pongal. Don’t miss this vibrant festive celebration!

More info: https://ihc-programmes.peatix.com/

Step into Play at the Indian Heritage Centre!

Venue: IHC
Date: Level 3 and 4 of Indian Heritage Centre
Time: 10am – 6pm (closed on Mon)
Admission: Admission charges to galleries may apply

Step into Play - Discover Two New Children’s Spaces! Bring your little ones on an adventure through The Little Town of Trades – Lost & Found, our newly launched children’s space on level 3 of IHC, where they can uncover 10 hidden trades that once kept early Singapore bustling. On level 4, experience interactive fun—from shadow-puppet storytelling and a festival Story Wheel to flip-panels on lively folk dances.

To deepen the experience, pick up our two complementary activity booklets along the way, designed specially for pre-schoolers and primary school children.

More info: https://www.indianheritage.gov.sg/

IHC10 & SG60 Gallery Refresh

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 25 Mar 2025 onwards
Time: 10am to 6pm
Fee: General Admission fees apply

In commemoration of IHC’s 10th anniversary and SG60 celebrations in 2025, IHC will embark on a special refresh at its Permanent Exhibition. In line with the SG60 theme, 60 new artefacts—many of which are being displayed for the first time—will be introduced across the galleries in March and September 2025. This refresh will also feature the addition of new digital content and child-friendly interactive spaces to further enhance the visitor experience.

Don’t miss the first phase of the refresh, showcasing 30 new artefacts in Galleries 1 & 2 at Level 4 from 25 March 2025 onwards. Artefact highlights include the vibrant Bommai Golu (Court of Dolls) – a colourful arrangement of dolls and figurines displayed during the Navaratri festival.

Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5.30pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 5pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs

The Changi Chapel and Museum tells the story of the prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation. Managed by the National Museum of Singapore, the Changi Museum was revamped and reopened in May 2021. The revamped museum features new content and artefacts, including stories and personal objects collected from families of former internees, presented in an intimate and engaging format. The museum’s narrative is centred on remembrance and reflection, encouraging visitors to contemplate both the hardships that the internees underwent, as well as their courage and resilience in the face of difficulties.

Journey to the East: Changi Heritage Trail

Venue: Johore Battery – Changi Prison Wall and Changi Chapel & Museum
Date: 18 Jan 2026
Time: 9am to 11.30am
Fee: $20 per child/adult

Embark on a heritage trail that uncovers the rich and layered history of Changi. From the struggles of prisoners-of-war and civilians during the Japanese Occupation to the vibrant kampong life that once thrived in the area, discover the diverse narratives that shaped this unique community.

Walk in the footsteps of the past and explore shared memories with an experienced heritage activist as he brings these stories to life.

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/changichapelmuseum
Recommended Age: Open to all ages

Battle for Singapore 2026

Venue: Changi Chapel & Museum
Date: 21 to 22 Feb 2026

Battle for Singapore is an annual signature event that commemorates the fall of Singapore during World War II. This programme offers visitors an opportunity to explore the pivotal moments leading up to the surrender in February 1942 and its lasting impact on Singapore’s history.

Through immersive experiences at Changi Chapel and Museum and Reflections at Bukit Chandu, participants will uncover stories of resilience, sacrifice, and survival during one of the darkest chapters in Singapore’s past. The event serves as a space for remembrance and learning, honouring those who endured the hardships of war.

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/changichapelmuseum

Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Address: 31-K Pepys Road, Singapore 118458
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 4.30pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs 

Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a World War Two interpretative centre that commemorates the battle of Pasir Panjang and the men of the Malay Regiment who fought in it, as well as the history of Bukit Chandu itself. Housed in a bungalow that is closely connected to the site’s history, the interpretative centre uses immersive experiences and contextual artefacts to present a multi-faceted look at Bukit Chandu and Pasir Panjang, while inviting visitors to reflect on our nation’s wartime experience and the brave sacrifice of the soldiers. 

[RBC x NP] Legacy Quest: Time Together, Time Remembered

Venue: Reflections@Bukit Chandu
Date: 17 Jan 2026
Time: 10am to 4pm

Experience history like never before at Legacy Quest, a three-day heritage programme created and organised by youths from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management in collaboration with Reflections at Bukit Chandu! Happening on 17, 24 & 25 January 2026, the programme invites visitors to explore Singapore's wartime past through interactive programmes and hands-on activities.

Designed for children & families to learn, appreciate, and reflect on Singapore's wartime history, Legacy Quest: Time Together, Time Remembered features immersive activities such as a museum scavenger hunt where participants solve riddles while exploring historical exhibits, a live skit that vividly portrays the Malay Regiment soldiers' courageous stand, a costume-making workshop, and many others!

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/bukitchandu

[RBC x NP] Legacy Quest: Mysteries of Bukit Chandu

Venue: Reflections@Bukit Chandu
Date: 24 Jan 2026
Time: 10am to 4pm

Experience history like never before at Legacy Quest, a three-day heritage programme created and organised by youths from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management in collaboration with Reflections at Bukit Chandu! Happening on 17, 24 & 25 January 2026, the programme invites visitors to explore Singapore's wartime past through interactive programmes and hands-on activities.

Get ready for Legacy Quest: Mysteries of Bukit Chandu, a high-energy adventure designed for youths! Dive into an electrifying scavenger hunt packed with puzzles, secret codes, and race-against-the-clock challenges as you explore the museum and uncover stories of the Battle of Pasir Panjang. Between missions, relax at various fun stations around the museum. Fast-paced, interactive, and full of surprises, this immersive quest turns history into an unforgettable hands-on experience.

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/bukitchandu

[RBC x NP] Legacy Quest: Echoes of History

Venue: Reflections@Bukit Chandu
Date: 25 Jan 2026
Time: 10am to 4pm

Experience history like never before at Legacy Quest, a three-day heritage programme created and organised by youths from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management in collaboration with Reflections at Bukit Chandu! Happening on 17, 24 & 25 January 2026, the programme invites visitors to explore Singapore's wartime past through interactive programmes and hands-on activities.

Legacy Quest: Echoes of History goes beyond learning about the Battle of Pasir Panjang, it creates meaningful conversations and immersive experiences that leave a lasting impression. Through interactive games, puzzles, and even an escape room challenge, young adults can explore history in a fun, hands-on way while reflecting on themes of resilience and courage. With opportunities to relax and connect, this programme is all about discovery, bonding, and making memories that matter.

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/bukitchandu

Battle for Singapore 2026

Venue: Reflections@Bukit Chandu
Date: 28 Feb to 1 Mar 2026

Battle for Singapore is an annual signature event that commemorates the fall of Singapore during World War II. This programme offers visitors an opportunity to explore the pivotal moments leading up to the surrender in February 1942 and its lasting impact on Singapore’s history.

Through immersive experiences at Changi Chapel and Museum and Reflections at Bukit Chandu, participants will uncover stories of resilience, sacrifice, and survival during one of the darkest chapters in Singapore’s past. The event serves as a space for remembrance and learning, honouring those who endured the hardships of war.

Programme details: https://heritage.sg/bukitchandu