The best things to do in Singapore this week (April 27-May 3)

After fine-tuning its operations, independent cinema Filmhouse is ready for its grand housewarming from April 30 to May 30. The month-long celebration kicks off with the Music in Film series, featuring titles like Whiplash and La La Land. The rhythm continues with a Michael Jackson sing-along, live R&B jams with Tim De Cotta, and a vinyl market by Bizarro Market on May 23. Wrap up the festivities with a late-night concert featuring local bands and DJs. It’s a soulful homecoming for film buffs and music lovers alike in the cinema's newly polished, cosy theatres.

Relive the heritage-rich glory of Chinatown at the Five Footway Festival on May 2 to 3 and May 9 to 10. Smith Street comes alive with lion dances, Chinese opera, and puppet shows, alongside old-school games like five stones and paper flipping. Beyond the free performances, you can dive into tea appreciation workshops, learn the art of making wife cakes, or experience a traditional Beijing Opera make-up transformation. It’s a vibrant, nostalgic journey through the district’s storied history, offering a rare chance to experience the traditional crafts and culture of Singapore's early settlers.

Uncover underwater treasures and tales of shipwrecks at SHIPPED!: Memoirs from Our Maritime World at ArCH Square. Part of Singapore HeritageFest 2026, this exhibition traces Southeast Asia’s maritime legacy through relics retrieved from beneath the sea, including intricate Jingdezhen ceramics and fragments from the Empress of Asia. Throughout the run, join fascinating conversations like Framing the Sea with Dr. Michael Flecker or explore the history of regional coffee trade in Coffee Cultures. Whether you're a history buff or a curious explorer, it’s a fascinating deep dive into the objects that once defined life at sea.

Resurrack Vintage Flea Market takes over the vibrant Bugis Street Art Lane for a weekend of nostalgic treasure hunting. This bustling marketplace brings together vintage dealers, thrift curators, and local indie brands offering everything from retro toys to handcrafted accessories. It’s more than just a shop – it’s a platform for local creatives to showcase paintings, prints, and custom nail art. Whether you are hunting for a rare collectible or just soaking in the live performances, this back-alley market offers the perfect offbeat vibe for your weekend retail therapy.

Celebrate the grand opening of YOUNGS Restaurant and Bar at Cosford Container Park’s three-day Spring Weekend Festival from May 1 to 3. The first two days are packed with family-friendly treasure hunts, arm-wrestling contests, and outdoor movie screenings. On the third day, the park transforms into an ARMY mania, a dedicated BTS fan appreciation event featuring trivia, dance competitions, and photocard trading. Relive the music with screenings of the Arirang World Tour as you gear up for the boys' arrival in Singapore later this year. It’s a high-energy weekend of fun, food, and fan devotion.

Step into the Minecraft universe as Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue makes its Asian debut at Mandai Wildlife Reserve. From April 24 to September 13, fans of all ages can embark on a thrilling, interactive quest through eight larger-than-life themed rooms. Equipped with an “Orb of Interaction,” you’ll craft, build, and battle to save a village from a zombie attack – all in under an hour. Successful heroes can even claim a limited-edition in-game cape. With theatrical sets and plenty of photo ops, it’s a high-stakes, blocky adventure that brings the digital game to life in the real world.

Play and discovery collide at the National Gallery’s newest children's exhibition, When Art Meets Nature, opening April 30. Co-curated with Taiwan’s Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts, the showcase transforms the gallery into a multi-sensory forest ecosystem. Explore Peace Forest by Soh Ee Shaun, a soft-sculpture playground that teaches kids about biodiversity, or dive into Where the River Runs, an interactive audio experience by Yenting Hsu centred on indigenous Taiwanese traditions. Through art and play, this immersive journey encourages young explorers to reimagine their relationship with the natural world and the creatures that protect our planet.

The Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society returns with Infinite Rasa, a 17-day celebration of the Indian concept of "aesthetic flavour." The 22nd edition features a diverse lineup across classical music, dance, and visual arts, including the earth-inspired concert Bhumi: Feel the Beat and the vibrant dance production anumārga. Beyond the performances at the Esplanade, the SIFAS campus at Middle Road transforms into a community bazaar filled with food stalls, art exhibitions, and craft stations. It’s an immersive dive into Indian culture and spirituality that spotlights both local alumni and international award-winning vocalists.

Mark the 100-day milestone of River Wonders’ capybara newborn Ollie with a month-long birthday festivity that celebrates the pup and his large rodent family. Discover the gentle giants in action over at Amazonia Encounters and experience their quirky personalities first-hand through enrichment sessions with their keepers. Then, watch the herd show off their talent at the Once Upon A River presentation, where you can get the chance to snap pics with the stars themselves. Elsewhere, you can hop on a boat that takes you through the Amazon River Quest, and catch the capybaras relaxing in their natural habitat next to other native South American animals. More capybara-themed activities abound, including a Capy Crew Trail, which takes you across River Wonders to learn more about the adorable mammal. 

The annual PolandSHIOK! returns for its 10th edition with a jam-packed programme filled with loads of music, film, food and cultural experiences that put the central European country and its rich heritage at its heart. Held for over a month, this year’s Polish festival focuses on bringing its contemporary creativity to the masses through Polish Food Weekend, a showcase of traditional and contemporary Polish cuisine, and screenings of family-friendly movies like Chopin, Chopin! and Diplodocus. Round things off with an open-air concert at Singapore Botanic Gardens, headlined by multi-instrumentalist and composer Professor Maria Pomianowska, who will be accompanied by Singapore-based artists for an epic cross-cultural performance.

The European Film Festival is back, featuring 29 screenings of titles from over 20 countries across three film venues: Capitol Theatre, Filmhouse, and German European School Singapore. The festival’s 35th edition curates films for every type of moviegoer, from drama and comedy to documentary and musicals, presenting diverse and distinct European voices on the silver screen. Expect feminist stories from Austria and Belgium, thrilling Danish adventures, laugh-out-loud comedies from Finland and Italy, and more.

Opening the festival is Horseshoe, a 2025 Irish dramedy directed by Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe. Centred around grief and fragile familial bonds, the film follows four estranged siblings who reunite to support each other after their father’s death. But their relationships get tested even further when new secrets are unravelled. Another gem not to be missed is Flow, the Oscar-winning animated film by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis.

For the eighth edition of Objectifs’ Documentary Awards Exhibition, the gallery presents a lineup of new photography showcases, meet-the-artist sessions and an exclusive masterclass. The artists featured this year tell important stories from Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia – Victoria Perote’s In Honour of Tranquil Shores, for example, uses photography to chronicle the experiences of a group of women during the Martial Law period in the Philippines. Beyond the exhibitions, you can also sign up for masterclasses, including The Art of the Pitch. Led by award-winning Filipino photojournalist Ezra Acayan, it details the pitching process, drawn from his real-life experiences and professional insights. 

Bangkok-based illustrator Nene, otherwise known as Nanthawan Jamsai, marks her first-ever solo Singapore exhibition at Heartware Store & Gallery with 555 MART. Aimed at capturing the humour and quirks of everyday items, the showcase features a series of playful illustrations inspired by staples at the convenience store. Think ramen cup noodles, bananas, probiotic drinks and other random objects Nene encountered during her trips to the shops. They’re all drawn in her distinctive art style, a striking combination of the ballpoint pen, neon risograph printing and meticulous observation. 555 MART also features exclusive, never-before-seen artworks specially created for the exhibition, all of which are available for purchase.

Explore the human body through Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy at the ArtScience Museum. This landmark exhibition, in partnership with the Getty Research Institute, traces how the body has been imagined from the 16th century to today. This Singapore edition highlights Asian perspectives, featuring over 40 objects from the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and insights into Ayurveda. With 160+ artefacts, including life-sized illustrations, medical manuscripts, and scientific specimens, it’s a deep dive into medical history and art.

South Korea’s giant pink teddy bear, Bellygom, lands at Changi Airport Terminal 3 for a massive Hawker Carnival. Snap a photo with a 7-metre-tall inflatable or play hawker-themed games like "inflatable wok" to win plushies and vouchers. Beyond the carnival, hunt for Bellygom against nostalgic backdrops like kopitiams and HDB void decks. It’s a joyful, pink-hued pop-up spreading cheer across the terminal until May.

Books are most definitely not dead. Steidl Book Culture. Magic on Paper celebrates the printed word in a world of digital overconsumption. Presented by DECK and Goethe-Institut Singapore, this exhibition marks legendary publisher Gerhard Steidl’s return to Singapore after nearly a decade. Immerse yourself in sculptural installations by powerhouse artists Dayanita Singh, Theseus Chan, and Jim Dine as they explore the craft of bookmaking. Don’t miss public programmes, artist conversations, and the Steidl Bookshop pop-up, where you can browse and buy limited edition releases and the latest titles.

Calling all Pokémon fans, a Pokémon truck might be headed your way. From now until June, this roving gaming station is travelling across Singapore and various shopping malls to let you step inside its new Pokémon Pokopia world. The game, to be released on Nintendo Switch 2 this March, is a cosy life simulation where you play as the character Ditto to rebuild a desolate world with the help of your new Pokémon friends. Try out the game at four demo stations in the truck, head to the colouring zone, or snap a picture at the Pokémon Pokopia-themed photobooth.

You can also cop exclusive Pokémon Pokopia merch to add to your collection and get the chance to meet with Pikachu himself. His appearance is limited to selected sessions, so keep an eye out for his whereabouts.

Discover the art and culture of tea at Garden of Senses: A Tea Reverie, a brand-new exhibition by the Asian Civilisation Museum, in collaboration with CHAGEE. This multi-sensory showcase goes beyond the taste and smell to trace the history of tea, from how it has shaped different rituals, practices and cultures for centuries to its role in our daily lives. The exhibition features collections from the past, such as historic tea wares and 3D-printed replicas, as well as newly commissioned contemporary art from local creatives. Step into an atmospheric display of tea leaves in floating paper forms, or tease your ears with a series of ASMR-inspired videos produced that explore the symphonic experience of tea.

The exhibition also extends outside of the gallery walls with a CHAGEE pop-up along the Singapore River. It offers a menu of its standard beverages alongside exclusive merchandise, including a horse plushie charm available in two special variations: blue and light brown.

Start the year with a visit to Singapore Art Museum’s latest installation, Nafasan Bumi – An Endless Harvest, featuring works by Indonesian artists Elia Nurvista and Bagus Pandega. The exhibition explores the environmental costs of economic growth in an era of climate crisis, while exploring how the items we use today may leave their mark on the future.

This immersive environment brings together kinetic, multimedia and sculptural installations that trace the impact of extractive economies across regional and global networks. Highlights include batik and palm oil sculptures depicting plantation labourers, mechanical systems powered by biofeedback from live plants and more.

In this larger-than-life artwork taking over the National Gallery’s Padang Atrium, contemporary Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul captures the dynamic and passionate cultures and lives that make up the diverse Singaporean community. Following a year-long engagement with migrant workers, indigenous groups and faith organisations, the artist’s revelations and discoveries are translated into spectacular billboard paintings, video interviews and a travelogue that celebrates their vibrant stories and voices.

The showcase is supported by an enriching two-part programme that highlights the people who have inspired the installation. Join in on fireside chats with the artist to explore behind the scenes and the empowering migrant stories. Singaporama Unfolded Part I centres on Kaugnay, an organisation for Filipina domestic workers, and its fabulous Trashion Show, while Part II traces the history of migration in Singapore. The latter presents a performance of a traditional Indian folk dance by Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) Ambassadors, alongside a discussion on identity, community and collaboration.

Five women, over 50 artworks and one shared mission. This exhibition brings Southeast Asian artists Amanda Heng (Singapore), Dolorosa Sinaga (Indonesia), Imelda Cajipe-Endaya (Philippines), Nirmala Dutt (Malaysia) and Phaptawan Suwannakudt (Thailand) to display their work together in Singapore for the very first time. But more than just an art showcase, Fear No Power is a space to have a conversation about meaningful change and the artists’ decades-long commitment to it. Featuring photography, paintings, sculptures and performances that date all the way back to the 1960s, this multidisciplinary exhibition examines the concept of communal world-building across the region and what it means to forge a community. Every piece of work is an intimate and powerful reflection deeply rooted in care, collaboration and resistance.

How much do you really know about lion dance, apart from the loud drums and colourful costumes? Find out more about the history and heritage behind lion dance at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s vibrant exhibition just in time for Chinese New Year. The exhibition showcases over 50 artefacts, including rare lion head designs in Hainan and Fujian styles. You’ll also be able to learn more about different lion dance styles, local lion dance troupes, and lion dance culture in Singapore today. Admission to the exhibition is free.

Whether you’re a peacock enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Peacock Power: Beauty and Symbolism Across Cultures uncovers the majestic bird’s impact across Asia. Featuring over 100 artefacts, from ceramics and clothing to intricate jewellery,  the exhibition traces the peacock’s symbolism, especially in Peranakan art and wedding traditions. It also debuts Thousand Eyes, a new ecological reinterpretation of the motif by Singaporean artist Ernest Goh.

Beyond the displays, visitors can explore peacock species and behaviours through holographic tech and interactive stations. Round out your visit with curated public programmes or join a guided tour for deeper insight into the stories behind the pieces.

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).