The best things to do in September 2025

Film buffs, catch some movie magic at Painting with Light, featuring over 45 feature-length films and short films from around the globe. There are eight categories to explore, including an Artist Films section for those interested in works and documentaries created by Southeast Asian artists in the 1960s and 1970s. The magic extends beyond the screen, with filmmaker and curator meet-and-greets, curated exhibition tours, and free short film screenings. Read more at the link below. 

Too much doomscrolling? Hit reset at the StarHub 5G Wellness Festival on September 13 and 14 at Capital Outdoor Plaza. Kick things off with the Digital BMI (Balanced Media Index) Quiz to understand your screen habits, then explore StarHub’s five pillars of balance: Gather, Grow, Ground, Glide, and Glow on the vibrant festival grounds. Think silent disco yoga, mindful journaling, leather crafting, life-sized board games, and all-day DJ sets with free-flow coconut water. It’s basically a weekend of fun that’s good for you, too. The best part? It’s free. Just lock in your workshop spots early, take the quiz, and get ready to recharge IRL. Find out more here.

Downtown East is transforming into a food truck heaven this September with the return of the Singapore Food Festival. On September 6 and 7, check out four food trucks outside D'Marquee at the Open Plaza: the Heritage Truck, Innovation Truck, Contemporary Truck, and Bar on Wheels. Brands you can expect to see include Hello Arigato, The Maha Co by Yung Raja. and Dine Kaki. All we can say is: come hungry. 

Mahjong, congkak, Go...there innumerable Asian games we're sure are part of your fondest childhood memories. This September, the Asian Civilisations Museum is exhibiting Let's Play! The Art and Design of Asian Games, which takes a look at how these games, whether sporty or strategic, have evolved and shaped communities and traditions over time. Explore more than 150 games, and actually try them out at interactive installations. There'll be fun outdoor set-ups and talks and programmes throughout the exhibitions long run, too (until June 7, 2026). 

Summer collides with winter at Trifecta this September. The surf-snow-skate attraction has teamed up with Club Med for Ride in the City – two days of action-packed fun for thrill-seekers, families, and adventure lovers. Catch an exciting snowboarding freestyle competition and a surf showcase party, take part in family-friendly activities like face painting nd gingerbread house decorating, go snow sledding, and enjoy snowfall every 15 minutes. It'll be like Christmas come early.

If shopping counts as your cardio, then Island Atelier is the ‘gym’ to be at. Previously known as Sentosa Fair, this refreshed retail fair takes place at One°15 Marina in Sentosa Cove from September 10 to 12. Browse over 50 curated independent and boutique brands across fashion, lifestyle and design, such as Temple Candles, Desti Saint, Del Rio Jewels, She Creates Stories, Takara, Benchmark Wines, and Lap Spirits.

The fair also has children’s storytelling sessions, live music from Raja Rani and champagne on hand to make your shopping spree extra indulgent. To make things even easier, a shopping concierge will be available so you can stash your bags and browse hands-free.

Swan Lake, one of the world’s most beloved ballets, is pirouetting into Singapore this September. Making its debut at Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, the State Ballet of Georgia will perform the timeless classic from September 11 to 14. The production follows the tragic love story of Prince Siegfried and the Swan Queen Odette, brought to life under the artistic direction of Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Audiences will be treated to a company of 70 world-class performers gracing the stage, complete with stunning costumes and elaborate sets. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Tchaikovsky’s famed score. Tickets are priced from $73.

There’s more to Jalan Besar than café-hopping, and Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar is a great way to explore the neighbourhood. The event brings together a curated mix of food and retail experiences, collaborating with local tenants to showcase their unique offerings. Wild Coco will serve up laksa bowls, samosas and kueh bingka as snacks, while Second Thoughts, a new craft beer bar and restaurant, will dish out grilled cheese, tiger mussels, pani puri, alongside a selection of craft beer and wine. Head to Hue for some classic Thai flavours such as char moo and Thai milk tea. Other vendors include Druggists, Chye Seng Huat Hardware, Just Julia and more.

On September 20 and 21, Hamilton Road will be transformed for the Street Festival, featuring thrift markets, skate jams and community art. The entire road will be closed to traffic, so you can wander freely while live music from Darker Than Wax and Nomad Solar Sound sets the soundtrack for the festivities.

Step into a radical vision of the future at the ArtScience Museum, where Another World Is Possible is on display from September 13, 2025 to February 22, 2026. The exhibition presents a distinctly Singaporean perspective on what lies ahead, emphasising environmental pragmatism, careful planning and a sense of responsibility for the world to come. This ethos is reflected throughout the exhibition’s architecture, design and artworks.

Highlights include pieces by filmmaker and speculative architect Liam Young, alongside works from both international and local creatives such as Björk, Torlarp Larpjaroensook, Osbourne Macharia, Ong Kian Peng, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, Ming Wong and others, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how art and design imagine possible futures.

Among Singapore’s many curated marketplaces, Public Garden is arguably one of the most highly anticipated. This mega-marketplace brings together independent brands from across Asia, offering everything from handcrafted accessories and unique ceramics to homeware, stationery and playful apparel. With so many vendors gathered in one place, visitors can browse a wide variety of distinctive products without having to travel across the region.