The best things to do in Singapore this week (April 13-19)

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.

Ready to give your wine rack a proper refresh? The Great Wine & Spirits Clearance Sale is popping up at Cellarbration Singapore’s Ubi showroom on April 18 and 19, from 10am to 8pm, bringing with it seriously good deals worth showing up for. Across two days, expect up to 70 percent off more than 100 wines and spirits. There’s everything from easy-drinking reds and crisp whites to celebratory bubbles and staples like whisky, gin and vodka, plus soju from just $4.90. Look out for big names like The Glenlivet, Burn McKenzie, Jinro, Bacardi, Lanson and more. There’s also a $5 wine deal with purchase for early birds. Everything is while stocks last, so get in early and stock up. Find out more here.

Esplanade’s annual Pesta Raya offers a deep dive into the Malay Archipelago’s rich cultural heritage. This year, theatre takes centre stage with Randai MacBeth, which reimagines Shakespeare with a Minangkabau twist, and La Luna, a romantic comedy-drama adaptation. The music lineup is equally stellar, featuring legendary musician Dato‘ Zainalabidin, psy-rockers Margasatwa, and the Esplanade debut of Indonesian R&B sensation Adrian Khalif. With free dikir barat showcases and kid-friendly storytelling sessions, the festival is a vibrant closing celebration for Hari Raya Aidilfitri that caters to all ages.

Things get super meta in [title of show], a musical about two writers writing a musical about... well, two writers writing a musical. This Tony-nominated comedy follows struggling artists Jeff and Hunter as they race against a three-week deadline to submit an original piece to a festival. Directed by Eric Larrea, the Singapore adaptation features a cast of homegrown talents including Andrew Marko and Vanessa Kee. It’s a chaotic, laugh-out-loud, and vulnerable look at artistic ambition and what it truly takes to be a creative in the modern world.

Beer, food, and shared experiences collide at People People Brewing Co., a new social space at Resorts World Sentosa by the team behind Burnt Ends. Equipped with an in-house brewing programme, it serves everything from premium lagers to experimental sours directly from 1,500-litre tanks. Pair your fresh pour with wood-fired sourdough pizza or gourmet burgers in an open-layout space designed for mingling. Don't miss their signature weekly events like the Saturday Long Lunch for free-flow drinks or Thirsty Thursdays for a guided brewery tour. 

London-born collective Aprtment Life brings its "living room" intimacy to Bottega Di Carna for their Southeast Asian debut. Blending hip-hop, R&B, and Amapiano, the soulful music community features producer Dean M.F. Johnson and vocalist Shea Soul for a night of endless grooves. This one-night-only affair follows a strict neutral-tone dress code, so dress your best in beige, cream, or tan to match the immaculate vibes. It’s a global movement turned local party, promising a night of creative connection and sophisticated beats.

Formerly known as Sentosa Fair, Island Atelier returns to Sentosa Cove with over 40 independent designers and lifestyle brands. This curated showcase features resort-style fashion, jewellery, and homeware, including a new Sale Salon for archive pieces and samples. Look out for local designers supported by the Singapore Fashion Council, as well as the debut of White Ginger’s bold, vibrant prints. While you shop, the kids can enjoy face painting and crafts, or grab viral sweets from The Candy Store. It’s the ultimate two-day retail therapy session by the waterfront.

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.

Celebrate the craft and heritage of French winemaking through a heady mix of performances, tastings, concerts, and cultural experiences.

French Excellence Programme – À TABLE! is an immersive theatre journey that guides you from room to room, unfolding scenes of poetry, song, and monologue. Elsewhere, wander through an immersive gallery tracing the rich tapestry of French winemaking, complete with sensorial zones where you can explore aromas, learn the art of pairing, and unpack the processes behind red and white wines. Music lovers can opt for a music-and-wine programme, where three wine pairings mirror the musical arcs of early 20th-century music. There’ll be live performances too, blending piano and drums with contemporary dance, poetry, and cinematic visual art.

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).