Explore creative workshops, storytelling and interactive activities for kids and teens at the Singapore Writers Festival 2026, from 13 to 22 November, including free programmes.
Venue: Various locations across Singapore
Date: 13 to 22 Nov 2026
Time: Varies by programme
Admission: Free programmes available; Festival Passes from $15 and single-ticketed programmes from $5
Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) 2026
The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) returns for its 29th edition with workshops, interactive experiences and author sessions for readers of different ages. Families can choose from creative activities for children and engaging literary programmes for teens.
Family-Friendly Programmes to Look Out For
Bring Your ‘Chou Chou’ Day!
Venue: Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Music Studio
Date: 21 Nov 2026
Time: 1.30pm to 3pm
Admission: $15 per adult-child pair
Children can bring their favourite soft toy or comfort companion to this storytelling workshop led by children’s book author and illustrator Quek Hong Shin. Through guided activities and creative prompts, they will create an illustrated story featuring their beloved cuddly friend.
Recommended for ages 4 to 6. Each ticket admits one adult and one child.
Treasure Hunting in Dunhuang
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, Discovery Room
Date: 14 Nov 2026
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Admission: $20 per adult-child pair
Co-presented with the Asian Civilisations Museum, this parent-child programme invites families to explore the Dunhuang gallery and discover details hidden in its murals. After a guided tour, children can use drawing and writing activities to turn their discoveries into poems.
Recommended for ages 8 to 12. Each ticket admits one adult and one child.
Slay Your Giants: A Comics Workshop with Kathrinna R.
Venue: Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Music Studio
Date: 15 Nov 2026
Time: 10am to 12pm
Admission: Single ticket
How would you draw your fears? Indonesian comics creator Kathrinna R., also known as Nana, invites children to turn everyday worries — from exams to friendship troubles — into mythical Yaksa giants in a one-panel comic illustration. The workshop draws inspiration from the creatures in her Tanaraya comics series.
No art experience is required. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. Co-presented with Difference Engine.
Girls Who Don’t Follow the Rules
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, River Room
Date: 21 Nov 2026
Time: 4.30pm to 5.30pm
Admission: Festival Pass
Authors Jessica Townsend (Nevermoor) and Robin Stevens (Murder Most Unladylike) discuss heroines who challenge expectations and refuse to follow the rules. Young readers can discover how these memorable characters are created and why stories about girls who speak up continue to resonate.
Live Drawing Battle
Venue: The Arts House at the Old Parliament, Level 2, Play Den
Date: 14 Nov 2026
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Admission: Single ticket
Live Drawing Battle returns with a four-way showdown featuring children’s book writers and illustrators Vera Brosgol, Darel Seow, Billy Yong and Kathrinna R. Pick a team, watch the artists draw and join a guessing game against the opposing teams.
Recommended for ages 7 and above. Each admission requires a ticket.
Mystery Book Doctor (Paediatrician Edition)
Venue: The Arts House at the Old Parliament, Level 2, Living Room
Dates: 15 & 21 Nov 2026
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Admission: Free with registration
Feeling book-sick or running out of reading ideas? Visit the Mystery Book Doctors for a fun conversation about favourite characters, adventures and interests. Children will receive a personalised “book prescription” with reading recommendations tailored to them.
Recommended for children aged 6 to 12 and their families. Each session features two Mystery Book Doctors.
Storytelling Shiok!: The Value of Humour
Venue: Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Dance Studio
Date: 21 Nov 2026
Time: 11am to 12.30pm
Admission: Single ticket
Led by writer Suffian Hakim, this workshop explores how humour, wordplay and Singaporean wit can bring stories to life. Developed by Youth Curator Lim Yuxuan, it is part of SWF’s Youth Fringe programme for youths aged 13 to 25.
SWF Playground: Interactive Activities for Families
Venue: The Arts House at the Old Parliament, Level 2, Living Room
Date/Time: Various dates and timings
Admission: Free
Inspired by the festival’s theme, Hidden in Plain Sight, and its key visual, SWF Playground invites young readers and their families to explore the mystery of The Visitor through interactive activity zones. From solving a missing-book mystery to discovering stories through art and play, there are different ways for children to get involved.
Look Again!
Put on your detective hat and follow the trail in this interactive scavenger hunt to solve the mystery of the missing books. Explore a whimsical town, look for clues and get to know its characters along the way.
Peek & Seek
Travel through time and place to spot familiar and unfamiliar landmarks in a series of collages. Children can grab their colour pencils and discover details in the artwork.
The artwork is commissioned by SWF in collaboration with the Yellow Ribbon Project and Visual Arts Hub, an arts programme for inmates at Changi Prison Complex’s Institution B4.
The Reading Corner
Take a break with a book and discover titles by SWF 2026’s featured children’s authors and illustrators. The Reading Corner will also feature storytelling sessions and other family-friendly programmes.
A Stamping Investigation
Follow a stamp trail featuring a translation phone booth, a missing-diamond mystery, a bookstore and other activities. Collect stamps to build your own Living Room and uncover the answer to the overarching mystery: who is The Visitor?
More Ways to Experience the Festival
Undercurrents
Venue: Funan Underground Pedestrian Link, Basement 2
Date: 15 to 30 Nov 2026
Time: 10am - 10pm
Admission: Free
This exhibition follows Isaac and Emma, two people who process their thoughts differently. While Isaac finds space in silence, Emma fills each moment with noise. As they navigate their inner turmoil, can they find a way to meet in the middle?
A collaboration between Singaporean author Quek Hong Shin and Malaysian conceptual illustrator Tang Yau Hoong, the exhibition is commissioned by SWF with venue support from Funan.
Reading by the River
Venue: Singapore River
Date: To be confirmed
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Admission: Free
Organised by AHG in conjunction with SWF 2026, Reading by the River offers a relaxed riverside reading space where visitors can browse curated books, settle down with a favourite title and connect with fellow book lovers.
Tickets and Discounts
Tickets and Discounts
The festival features free programmes alongside ticketed events from 13 to 22 November 2026.
- Festival Pass: $30 — Access to Festival Pass programmes, excluding separately ticketed events.
- Youth Pass: $15 — For eligible students, with access to Festival Pass programmes except those with content advisories. A valid student card is required for on-site verification.
- Single-ticketed programmes: From $5 — Selected events require separate tickets.
Discounts Available
- Early Bird: Enjoy 20% off Festival Passes, Youth Passes and selected single-ticketed programmes until 18 October 2026.
- Concession Discount: From 19 October, students, seniors aged 55 and above, and NSFs receive 20% off Festival Passes and single-ticketed programmes. Identification is required for verification.
- Pass Holder Discount: Festival Pass and Youth Pass holders receive 20% off single-ticketed programmes from 19 October to 22 November 2026.
All tickets are issued digitally. Entry to Festival Pass programmes is on a first-come, first-served basis, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early.
Explore the full programme, check age recommendations and ticketing details, and book your family’s festival experiences through the Singapore Writers Festival website.
