This May and June, National Heritage Board (NHB) will be running an array of programmes and events for you and your family!
So much is happening this May and June across the venues managed by the National Heritage Board! Here's a closer look at what you can expect in these two months:
Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2025
Venue: Various locations
Date: 1 to 25 May 2025
Discover the vibrant tapestry of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage at the 22nd edition of the Singapore HeritageFest (SHF). This year’s festival shines a spotlight on our nation’s rich living traditions, celebrating the dynamic and inclusive nature of our cultural practices. From our first UNESCO inscription, Hawker Culture, to the latest addition, the Kebaya, SHF2025 invites you to explore the essence of Singapore’s community-based traditions. Enjoy an immersive journey through interactive workshops, guided tours, captivating performances, and engaging exhibitions that bring these cherished practices to life.
Details can be found on sgheritagefest.gov.sg.
Indian Heritage Centre’s 10th Anniversary (IHC10) Open House
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 10 to 11 May 2025
Time: 10am to 5pm
Fee: Free admission to the museum for Singaporeans & Permanent Residents (PRs) + Paid Programmes & Workshops
The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) invites everyone to celebrate our 10th anniversary at the IHC10 Open House on 10 and 11 May 2025! Enjoy free admission to our galleries, discover 30 newly unveiled artefacts and experience our all-new Lively Soapbox Gallery Tours—an open-format walkabout where passionate storytellers bring these fascinating objects and their histories to life. Plus, look forward to free drop-in craft activities, limited-edition IHC10 tote bags for the first 1000 visitors, kids colouring contest, and complimentary tea and snacks throughout the weekend!
Held in conjunction with Singapore HeritageFest 2025, visitors can also sign up for specially curated IHC10 programmes spotlighting the rich traditions of the Chetti Melaka community and receive exclusive magnets when participating in any IHC10 programmes. Join us for this double celebration and be part of our special milestone!
To register, please visit https://ihc-programmes.peatix.com/.
Kebaya Catwalk
Venue: Various locations
Date: 24 Mar to 16 Jun 2025
The National Heritage Board has collaborated with Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media to release a limited-edition series of kebaya-themed keychains featuring cats in kebayas, which launched on 24 March 2025. With four designs to collect, these keychains will be available for free (while stocks last) via vending machines island-wide. Simply play a game at the vending machines to get yours!
The “Kebaya Catwalk” celebrates the multinational inscription of kebaya onto the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and aims to raise awareness about Singapore’s living heritage.
Details on the Kebaya Catwalk and locations of the vending machines can be found here.
Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco
Photo Credit: Asian Civilisations Museum
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: Until 1 Jun 2025
Time: 10am to 7pm (Sat to Thu) | 10am to 9pm (Fri)
Fee: Ticketed
Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco reunites a set of 84 hand-carved model pagodas for the first time in over a century. Originally made in Shanghai, they travelled thousands of miles away to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 – a massive world’s fair that attracted over 18 million visitors during its 288-day run.
Exquisitely detailed, the models are based on real structures, and embody the diversity of iconic pagodas from different regions and historical periods. For many visitors to the exposition they offered a first, tantalising glimpse of China’s rich architectural heritage. Together with related works, they paint a vivid picture of cosmopolitan Shanghai and San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century.
Pagoda Odyssey will be complemented by Towers of Faith, a photography display of religious landmarks in Singapore, and Journey into the Pagoda, a virtual reality fantasy experience. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of public programmes, including weekend festivals, curator-led tours, and talks.
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
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.
Hyde Goes to the Museum (Special School Assembly Programme for Primary Schools)
Venue: Programme will be conducted at the requested school's venue
Date: Available till Nov 2025, and subject to slots availability
Time: Approx. 30min
Fee: Free Assembly programme for primary schools
An ordinary school learning journey to the museum soon turns extraordinary when Hyde time travels back into the 1960s where some street hawkers need help.
Watch as your students become part of history in a live enactment inspired by an oil painting “Here they come!” by Koeh Sia Yong.
To make a booking, please email us at cmsg_edu@heritage.sg
Programmes by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC)
Public Lecture Series (PLS) - Conflict as a Catalyst: The Impact of Post-WWII Turmoil on Seni (Theater and Literature) in Malaya
Venue: Black Room, Esplanade
Date: 3 May 2025
Time: 11am to 12.30pm
Fee: Free admission, registration required
In conjunction with Teater KAMI’s production in May and organised by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC), this session of MHC’s Public Lecture Series (PLS) will explore the impact of post-World War II on Malay theater and literature in Malaya, as portrayed in Salina, a seminal novel by A. Samad Said. The discussion will examine how the turbulence of war, colonial rule, and the struggle for national identity shaped the themes, narratives, and artistic expressions of that era.
This programme will be presented in English.
To register, please visit this link.
Beats on Baghdad Street: Bangsawan Pantomime by Opera Academy
Venue: Baghdad Street
Date: 17 May 2025
Timings: 6pm to 6.45pm | 9pm to 9.45pm
Fee: Free
Watch history come to life with Bangsawan Pantomime, an experimental performance that tells the story of Sang Nila Utama through dialogues, movements, gestures and dances. The narrative traces Sang Nila Utama's royal lineage, beginning with his grandfather Raja Suran and father Sang Sa Purba, culminating in his discovery of Singapura.
Experience a Bangsawan performance showcasing a multigenerational cast by Opera Academy, a training hub specializing in traditional Asian Pacific languages, culture and the arts.
This programme will be presented in Malay and English.
To register, please visit this link.
Of Dyes, Delicacies, and Diegesis: Exploring Malay Natural and Cultural Heritage through the Jackfruit
Venue: Centre for Ethnobotany, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Date: 5 Jun 2025
Time: 9am to 3pm
Fee: TBA
Registration Details: TBA
Calling all educators! Curious about how you can incorporate elements of Malay heritage in your lessons? Held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and in collaboration with storyteller Hafiz Rashid, botanical art studio Wild Dot, and culinary heritage advocate Ms Suria of Dapur Cahaya, this workshop will explore Malay natural and cultural traditions using the humble jackfruit. Immerse yourselves in folktales, roll up your sleeves to paint using natural inks, and get ready for a sensorial culinary experience.
This programme will be presented in English.
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
Let’s Try a Trade – Exploring Traditional Indian Trades (Travelling Exhibition)
Venue: Our Tampines Hub, Tampines Regional Library
Date: Apr to 30 May 2025
Time: 10am to 9pm, closed on Public Holidays
Step back in time to the 19th century, when Indian traders settled along Singapore River, providing essential goods and services to the community. Among them were the Tamil Muslims (or Chulias), who traded textiles, gems, cattle, and tobacco, shaping Singapore’s heritage.
Today, explore our refurbished Travelling Exhibition titled – Let’s Try a Trade – Exploring Traditional Indian Trades, that highlights five master tradesmen, each with a unique craft and story. Join us in celebrating the rich history of Indian traders and their lasting impact on Singapore’s culture.
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.
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.
