The best things to do in Singapore this week (May 12-18)

Calling all sake lovers: Singapore’s largest independent sake festival returns bigger and better for its 10th edition this year. Held at a larger event space (level three of the F1 Pit Building) from May 16 to 18, Sake Matsuri 2025 will feature over 100 sake breweries and more than 300 labels from across Japan. Festival-goers will get to enjoy free-flow samples of sake, receive a complimentary Sake Matsuri tasting glass to bring home and purchase bottles of sake and spirits at exclusive festival prices. Standard tickets are priced at $60 and the all-day weekend pass goes at $95. Get your tickets here.

Pack a picnic, gather your friends, and stretch out on the grass under the stars as Singapore’s most anticipated outdoor theatre event is back. From May 7, Shakespeare in the Park returns to the lush grounds of Fort Canning Park, where over 300,000 audience members have revelled in the magic of its live outdoor productions beneath the night sky. And this time, it’s bringing you a night of power, and paranoia with the Bard's iconic tragedy Macbeth – but with a bold, modern spin.

Watch award-winning actor Ghafir Akbar don the crown as Macbeth, with Julie Wee as the ever-persistent Lady Macbeth. In this reimagining, the king’s hunger for power feels unsettlingly familiar, mirroring a world where social media, capitalism, and the relentless chase for success push people to their limits. Will he be able to survive this world? There’s only one way to find out.

With an epic, futuristic outdoor set, this production promises live cinematic grandeur, puppetry, and enough theatrical sorcery to make even the witches envious. Tickets start from $68. Enjoy an additional free ticket with every five tickets purchased here. Plus, here’s a Time Out exclusive: save 15 percent when you book the Picnic category for Sunday performances on May 11 and 18 here.

Buy yours here

There are movie nights, and then there’s Hendrick’s Sunset Cinema. Returning to Tanjong Beach, Sentosa from May 8 to 25, this much-loved alfresco film fest delivers a lush blend of balmy sea breeze, golden-hour cocktails, and award-winning titles under the stars. 

But this isn’t your typical outdoor film screening – it’s a beachside bash complete with live DJ sets, Hendrick’s Gin cocktails, and tasty bites. Plus, you’ll be sinking into a deckchair with state-of-the-art wireless headphones, giving you full control over the volume and crisp surround sound with every dramatic gasp, whispered confession, or plot twist – all without the distraction of mid-movie chatter.

This year's lineup is seriously strong. Expect a mix of buzz-worthy new releases, acclaimed favourites, and cult classics that feel made for watching under the night sky. Secure your seats to body horror The Substance (May 8), pope-litical thriller Conclave (May 17), action-packed sequel Gladiator II (May 19), gravity-defying musical Wicked (May 24), and more. Must-see biopics are on the cards too, with Robbie Williams monkeying around in Better Man (May 10 and 23), and Pharrell Williams in Lego form in Piece by Piece (May 18). Closing the show is none other than Steven Spielberg’s timeless E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (May 25). 

Tickets are $44.80, including a Hendrick’s Gin cocktail, beach deckchair, wireless headphones, and shuttle service to Harbourfront MRT. Gates open at 5.30pm, with screenings starting at 7.45pm. Book your tickets here – this is one movie night out you won’t want to miss.

Local creative community GOFY presents Melting Thresholds, a group exhibition spotlighting four emerging Southeast Asian artists – Shu and Money Wang from Malaysia, Nina Sach from Thailand, and Jaeyyelle from Singapore. Running from May 17 to September 14, 2025 at Sweet Cheeks, the show explores dreamlike spaces through a series of quirky artworks that reflect on identity, memory, and transformation. The exhibition also features limited-edition gelato flavours by Sweet Cheeks, and all artworks are available for purchase on-site. 

Japanese restaurant Rappu is launching a limited-time pop-up from May 16 to July 5. Instead of traditional sushi handrolls, the pop-up will serve seaweed rice burgers filled with options like spam and egg, salmon mentaiko, Peking duck, unagi, and wagyu beef. To celebrate the opening on May 16, free Rappu-giri burgers will be given out from 11.30am onwards until they run out, with regular service continuing daily from 11.30am to 2.30pm for walk-ins only.

Maison Margiela has just launched its latest fragrance, Afternoon Delight, and it's one that'll have you dreaming of tasty teatime treats. In celebration of this launch, the French luxury brand is hosting a limited-time pop-up café occupying two floors of a cosy shophouse along Beach Road from now till May 18, 2025. Drop by to test out this vanilla cake-inspired scent as well as other favourites from the Replica perfume collection, and explore all the immersive checkpoints to score free perfume samples as you learn about how scents evoke memory. As part of the event, there are also special perfume bottle customisation opportunities, creative masterclasses hosted by local artists, and attractive gifts with purchase including the brand's scented candles and bath products. Don't leave without picking up some madeleines, tea cakes, and brews at the chic Parisian-style café corner which makes for many a good photo op. Find out more about the Maison Margiela pop-up café in Singapore.

K-pop group NCT Wish is bringing their 2025 Asia Tour Log to Singapore for a one-night-only performance at Arena @ Expo Hall 7. The six-member band is known for its dynamic stage presence and sharp choreography, and it has been rumoured that the K-pop stars will showcase their latest hits including Wish, Steady and Sail Away in the upcoming concert. Tickets are available via the Ticketmaster website. 

Local bedding brand SOJAO has launched its Art Pop-Up at its store at 251 Joo Chiat Road, running from May 10 to June 15. The pop-up features a curated selection of homeware and decoration by local artists. If you’re looking to refresh your living space, swing by and discover a range of unique finds – from Big Red Chilli’s vibrant, quirky artworks, to Rousong.ware’s one-of-a-kind ceramics, and Every Knitted Thing’s handmade trinkets like knitted coasters to brighten up your home.

Local brand Beyond The Vines celebrates its 10th anniversary with Dumpling District – a  tribute to its cult-favourite Dumpling Bags. This special experience invites shoppers to personalise their bags with bold, playful touches. For an additional $10, a BTV Doodle – available in two designs – can be added to your Dumpling Bag. You can also customise a beaded keychain charm and attach it to your bag. The Dumpling District is happening at the Beyond The Vines Design House, New Bahru, and Takashimaya S.C. stores from now until May 30, 2025. Online shoppers will receive a pre-assembled BTV Doodle and keychain with orders placed on June 1, 2025.

The European Union Film Festival returns to The Projector at Cineleisure with a month-long showcase of award-winning films that celebrate Europe’s film industry and culture. This year’s edition features 26 screenings, from gripping dramas to striking animations. In honour of Singapore’s 60th birthday, the Six at Sixty segment spotlights six short films by young local filmmakers, followed by a post-show dialogue. Upcoming films include Waltzing Matilda, Close, The Girl with the Needle, and My Grandfather’s Demons. More information can be found here.

Catch it before it’s gone – the With Love Pop-Up store at 23 Keong Saik Road is wrapping up on May 25, 2025. Since its launch in September 2024, the curated retail space has featured over 30 brands from Asia Pacific, including loungewear by Malaysia’s Wustler, footwear by Indonesia’s Nakedsol, and tailored womenswear by Singapore’s Paper Palette. More information can be found here.

Though only 60 years young, Singapore boasts a vibrant tapestry of cultures and stories. Singapore HeritageFest 2025 celebrates this rich heritage with over 100 engaging programmes – think craft workshops, immersive walking trails, interactive exhibitions and more. Highlights include a brand-new theatrical production that mixes traditional Chinese opera, modern getai and contemporary music, as well as hands-on craft sessions where you can try your hand at tea brewing, lantern making and the art of calligraphy. More details can be found here. 

Transport yourself to the scenic landscapes of Türkiye at Tulipmania, located at the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, where larger-than-life replicas of majestic Turkish landmarks are standing against the backdrop of hundreds and thousands of tulips. These include the Trojan Horse from the battle in ancient Troy, carved pillars of Göbekli Tepe, and rustic conserved stone houses of Mardin. Keep your eyes open for intricate touches like traditional mosaic art, colourful stained glass lamps, and Turkish carpets. There’s also a floating hot air balloon installation near the Flower Dome’s entrance – needless to say, a popular photo spot that’ll take shutterbugs to cloud nine. Get a close-up look of tulips of various species and shapes, all in one place. These include the spiky Fire Wings, the rounder Spryng Break, and unique Striped Crown with varicoloured stripes and speckles. Other species of florals from the Middle East – such as poppies and bellflowers – are also blooming within the same exhibit. Find out more about Tulipmania 2025 and book your tickets here.

Step through a vine-covered entrance and into the realm of Wonders of Nature, the New Art Museum Singapore's newest kid-friendly exhibition that highlights the significance of the natural world. Featuring works by eight international artists including Yayoi Kusama and Go Yayanagi, the exhibition unfolds across five sections, each offering interactive artworks and immersive projections that bring the beauty of nature to life through art.

National Gallery Singapore’s latest show highlights the journeys of influential Asian artists like Foujita Tsuguharu, Georgette Chen, and Liu Kang, who brought their unique cultural backgrounds to Paris at the height of its modern art movement. The exhibition uncovers how their personal stories and heritage shaped their work, leaving a lasting mark on Paris’s art scene and influencing the course of modern art. 

Experience the inner workings of the mind like never before in Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind, opening on March 1 at Marina Bay Sands. Created by Moment Factory, this immersive exhibition takes visitors through eight interactive rooms that explore themes such as memory, perception, and ego. Using innovative technology and artistic expression, the exhibit brings the intangible aspects of the human psyche to life in a visually stunning and thought-provoking way.

The stunning Gardens by the Bay is set to get even more magical this festive season. For the first time in Singapore, all your Disney and Pixar favourites are coming to life at the floral wonderland’s new Garden of Wonder showcase. As you stroll through Gardens by the Bay’s Floral Fantasy, you’ll be greeted by eight stunning themed topiaries featuring lovable characters like Winnie the Pooh, Ariel and Flounder from The Little Mermaid, and Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Get in on the magic here.

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic promises to be even bigger and better, with an additional 10,000 square feet of space for even more magical moments to unfold. Step into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. With realistic replicas of what you see in the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, there are sure to be a ton of photo-worthy opportunities. Find out more here.

Batik, a timeless art form and symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, takes centre stage at the Peranakan Museum. This captivating exhibition shines a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial journeys of three remarkable Peranakan women from the bustling port city of Pekalongan, Indonesia. Meet Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and granddaughter Jane Hendromartono, each a batik master in her own right. Discover their inspiring stories through about 200 objects, including cherished family heirlooms and 60 stunning batik pieces from the 1890s to the 1980s. You can also explore batik’s evolution through time at the interactive stations. Then take a fun mobile quiz to uncover your personal batik style and score an exclusive bookmark to take home. Keep an eye out for exciting pop-up performances, hands-on craft activities, and engaging curator tours during your visit.