Revel in the arts this May through play! The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Singapore’s pinnacle annual performing arts festival organised by Arts House Group and commissioned by the National Arts Council, returns from 15 to 30 May with a vibrant constellation of performances, installations and encounters from epic productions to engaging, participatory works. Led by the call-to-action “Let’s Play!”, SIFA 2026 invites audiences to explore, experiment, engage and be inspired by the arts.
Soak in the Festival vibes at the iconic Festival Village, which makes its return this edition. Free performances, public installations and communal spaces featuring local artists such as The Observatory, The Theatre Practice and Off Root Theatrics welcome festivalgoers from dusk to dawn, on the Festival grounds and beyond. This year, SIFA brings two large-scale and high-impact artistic experiences from the Festival Village to Nexus, Punggol Digital District, enthralling the community with a soaring aerial performance featuring artists suspended 25 feet in the air, and a speculative theatrical procession full of colour, texture, movement and melody.
Local commissioned productions and international works take the stage to bring together a cross collaboration of cultures and disciplines. From spotlighting homegrown cultural icons such as Jacintha Abisheganaden and Dick Lee, and the reimagining of classics such as Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler by the National Theater Company of Korea, and Hamlet by Peruvian company Teatro La Plaza and its cast of actors with Down syndrome, to dance-based productions that blur the lines of reality through holographic technology and stunning stage illusions, SIFA 2026 opens up multiple pathways and platforms for audiences to rediscover the joy and significance of coming together through art.
From immersive light installations to roving performances and hands-on workshops, the Festival encourages movement and participation, inviting families to engage with the arts in imaginative and unexpected ways. Visitors can wander through a buzzing Festival Village, a vibrant open-air hub that is as engaging for kids as it is nostalgic for parents. This year, SIFA also brings art directly to where families live and play with free performances and arts activations at Nexus, Punggol Digital District during the second and third festival weekends.
Family-friendly highlights include:
The Lighthouse by Patch Theatre (Ticketed): Designed for children and their families, this immersive experience invites audiences to journey through a series of interconnected rooms that explore the many wonders of light. Blending art, science and play, the production encourages visitors to experiment and discover how light shapes the way we see the world.
A Light Between Rains by Off Root Theatrics (Free): A roving, multisensory performance that transforms Empress Lawn into a vibrant landscape of colour, sound and movement. With walking theatre and community workshops, the work draws inspiration from the five natural elements to create a multisensory encounter for audiences.
Noli Timere by Rebecca Lazier and Janet Echelman (Free): For its first-ever outdoor premiere, this aerial performance features performers suspended up to 25 feet in the air, combining contemporary dance and avant-garde circus. Workshops accompanying the presentation will also invite families to learn more about the creative process behind the work.
For more information and to purchase early bird tickets (20% savings), please visit the Festival website at sifa.sg.
