The best things to do in Singapore this weekend (July 3-5)

The SG Garden Festival returns to Gardens by the Bay for its 10th edition under the theme Carnival of Blooms. Expect a spectacular showcase of rare flowers, stunning floral displays and intricate tropical garden installations by international and local landscape designers. At the centre of the festival is the Show Gardens competition, an all–stars version featuring eight past winners going head–to–head. Other highlights include the My Living Space competition, focusing on greenery for compact homes, and the Singapore Orchid Show, displaying over 100 rare varieties.

The Asian Film Archive invites you to explore life beyond Earth with its latest film programme, Earthlings Welcome. This July, blast off into stories about extraterrestrial life and intergalactic encounters across various genres. Highlights include 4K restorations of Gregg Araki’s Mysterious Skin, Wong Kar–Wai’s 2046, and the classic sci–fi horror The Thing. The programme also features the Southeast Asian premiere of Lajka, a stop–motion film inspired by the famous space–travelling Moscow dog. Regional sci–fi works like the Filipino features Miss Bulalacao and For My Alien Friend will include post–screening Q&As, while Aliens in Your Area pairs short films with an offbeat PowerPoint presentation party.

A play disguised as a wedding? That is what A Mirror is in a nutshell. From British playwright Sam Holcroft comes a sharp, darkly funny drama that blurs the line between fact and fiction. Set in an unnamed authoritarian state where artistic freedom is challenged, the story follows a writer who decides to stage a theatre production without government approval – and you are in on the secret. Inspired by Holcroft’s visit to North Korea, the acclaimed West End play makes its way to the Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Directed by Tracie Pang alongside Timothy Koh, the Singapore edition stars Andrew Marko and Ghafir Akbar, offering a provocative look at censorship and truth.

STPI honours the late printmaker Zarina Hashmi with the gallery’s latest major exhibition, Zarina: Directions to My House. Better known as Zarina, the Aligarh-born artist was known for her minimalist yet striking geometric art, which features the recurring themes of home, displacement, borders, journey, and memory. Curated by Zarina’s former studio manager, Sarah Burney, the showcase captures the printmaker’s deeply cross-cultural life. Displayed are 50 artworks that chronicle her nomadic journey across Bangkok, New Delhi, Paris, Bonn, Tokyo, Santa Cruz, and New York.

At the centre of the exhibition is a series of woodcut prints that explore the sense of belonging. Home is a Foreign Place (1999) features 36 minimalist woodblock prints that reference her childhood home and weave her mother tongue, Urdu, while These Cities Blotted into the Wilderness (2003) features abstract, aerial woodcut maps of cities scarred by conflict.

No submarine? No problem. You can still embark on an aquatic adventure to the darkest parts of the sea with Into the Ocean: Journey Beneath, the latest exhibition from ArtScience Museum, made in collaboration with OceanX. Marking its world premiere, this showcase plunges you into the deep blue using advanced filming technology to gather unseen footage of the ocean for the very first time.

Featuring five immersive zones, the exhibition is designed to make you feel like you’re actually descending into the ocean: it starts at the surface and brings you all the way down to the seabed, each section revealing how mesmerising and vast the body of water can get. The cinematic ocean visuals are completed with the works of internationally renowned artists like Marshmallow Laser Feast, Marco Barotti and Jana Winderen, alongside scientific studies by the National University of Singapore. Interspersed between the research and artworks are interactive activities that aim to help both kids and adults understand the importance of marine conservation.

Irish cartoonist Niall Breen makes his highly anticipated Singapore debut at Heartware Store with Lazy Days with Dog & Frog. The solo exhibition features the artist’s beloved duo, the adorable pup and green amphibian, aptly named Dog and Frog. Over the years, Breen has gained a cult following online for his minimalist comic style, which pairs everyday observations with gentle humour and quiet wisdom that are unexpectedly poignant. As its name implies, Lazy Days offers a welcome respite from the fast-paced world, creating a meditative space where visitors can linger, reflect and simply be present. At the centre of the showcase are giant plushies of Dog & Frog that you can cuddle and take pics with.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Breen’s work or dropping by for a casual visit, be sure to pick up one of the many official merch available. Select from cosy blankets and pillowcases to picnic mats, mugs, pins and baseball caps. You can cop the merch in-store or shop them online from June 13, 2026, onwards.

An immersive floral wonderland made out of over 800,000 LEGO bricks has sprouted at Jewel Changi Airport. It marks the launch of Celebrate Jewel Blooms with LEGO Botanicals, the largest showcase of LEGO Botanicals in a mall in Southeast Asia. The larger-than-life installation begins at Jewel Forest Valley, where towering rose sculptures bloom amid the space’s lush, indoor greenery, before extending all the way up to the Canopy Park. There, the colourful bricks are turned into whimsical, floral-themed displays inspired by gardens from around the world.

Stroll through a zen Japanese garden, complete with water lilies and koi fish, before transporting yourself to a Mediterranean landscape filled with LEGO sunflowers, tulips and vine-covered pergolas. The floral adventure ends with a cosy autumnal scene inspired by the English countryside, featuring gnomes, woodland mushrooms and more.

From now until 26 July, 2026, don’t forget to join the stamp rally – collect stamps from seven locations across the mall for a chance to redeem a special souvenir at Jewel’s LEGO pop-up store.

Ever wanted to explore the deepest depths of the ocean? Well, now you can – and you won’t even have to take a submarine to experience it. Science Centre Singapore has teamed up with Tara Ocean Foundation, a leading nonprofit oceanographic research organisation, for the world debut of One Ocean: Every Action Ripples. It’s a multi-sensory exhibition that uses ocean research, technology and storytelling to let you discover the hidden worlds of the deep blue.

Across 10 immersive zones, the exhibition reveals how the vast ocean connects us all and acts as Earth’s heartbeat. Discover the wonders of the sea through 360-degree projections, free-roaming VR, spatial soundscapes, interactive research exhibits and more. The exhibition’s main highlight is 7 Wonders of the Ocean, a captivating installation that lets you experience a whale migration, witness bioluminescent marine life, and come face-to-face with the Great Barrier Reef.

Other unmissable highlights include a replica of the Arctic’s Tara Polar Station, a section on Singapore’s marine life, and a virtual reality exploration of how ecosystems such as mangroves, kelp forests, and plankton communities help manage the world’s carbon cycle.

Renowned Japanese contemporary artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto’s first major solo exhibition in Southeast Asia lands at Singapore Art Museum. Titled Form is Emptiness, a line drawn from foundational Buddhist text, the exhibition features over 60 works and fossils from his personal collection that outline five decades of artistic journey and expression.

Inspired by the concept of the Five Elements in Buddhist philosophy (earth, water, fire, air and space), the showcase unfolds in the shape of a mandala, inviting viewers to explore the works in a looping motion that feels continuous and seamless rather than linear. It also reflects the themes in Sugimoto’s works, which are marked by his curiosity and fascination with time and metaphysics. Beyond photography, the exhibition also dives into the expansion of the Tokyo-born artist’s photographic thinking, featuring his works in sculpture, large-scale installation, writing, and architectural design. Artwork highlights include the Brush Impression, Heart Sutra (2023), a magnificent curved wall with 288 gelatine silver calligraphy prints of Kanji characters, as well as U.A. Walker, New York (1978) and Tyrrhenian Sea, Scilla (1993), a series of black-and-white photographs of theatres and landscapes.

A Life in Fullness pays homage to renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero with a 40-minute audiovisual portrait at IMBA Theatre. Narrated by his eldest son, this world-first immersive experience uses large-scale projections and soundscapes to trace Botero's journey from his humble beginnings to global icon. The biography is filled with personal anecdotes and family memories, offering a rare peek into his creative struggles and joys. The installation runs alongside Heart of Volume, an exhibition featuring his vibrant paintings and sculptures in a thoughtfully designed setting. It is a detailed, moving celebration of the auteur's enduring legacy and unique artistic vision.

Desire and intimacy take centre stage at the National Gallery in Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art. Featuring over 70 works across various media, the exhibition examines how regional artists interpret human connection through diverse cultures and beliefs. Building on a 1953 essay by Nanyang artist Liu Kang, the showcase explores deep passion as a creative force across three sections: Asian Mythos and Ritual, Conventions of the Erotic, and Public Arenas/Private Interiors. Note that this thought-provoking exhibition is rated R18, so valid identification is required for entry to explore these delicate expressions of longing and historical contexts.

Pottery, paintings, and plants take centre stage at Appetite restaurant’s new exhibition, Elemental Form. The showcase explores fire, earth, air, and water through the works of five diverse artists. Fawn World’s botanical arrangements complement ceramic masterpieces by Hans Chew and Sean Lim, while Tay Bak Chiang’s abstract Chinese ink paintings focus on the stillness of nature. Adding a vibrant pop to the presentation are Hannah Lim’s colourful, multicultural snuff bottles. 

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.

Once a trading port and now a commercial hub, the CBD isn’t just a workspace – it’s a district with plenty of forgotten stories, quiet characters and hidden memories. This is what Momentary Pulses: Art in the Central Business District, a commissioning series by The Everyday Museum and initiated by Singapore Art Museum, aims to uncover. Amid the city’s hustle and bustle are seven showcases by Singapore-based artists that have been seamlessly woven into public spaces along buildings and walkways. Each artwork has been designed to reflect, rather than distract, as it responds to the sights and sounds of the ever-evolving landscape. They invite us to look more closely at our everyday surroundings, pause, and let our imagination wander, offering a moment of calm and curiosity in a fast-paced environment.

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.