Light to Night Singapore 2026: An Iconic January Festival

Photo Credits: National Gallery Singapore

Singapore’s most anticipated cultural celebration returns this January, transforming the historic Civic District into a vibrant canvas of light, colour, and artistic expression. Light to Night Singapore 2026 marks the festival’s landmark 10th edition, extending across four weeks from 9 to 31 January 2026—the longest festival run to date. Organised by National Gallery Singapore in partnership with cultural institutions across the Civic District, this milestone celebration promises an extraordinary blend of interactive art installations, breathtaking projection mappings, and diverse programmes designed to bring communities together through the power of creativity.

At its heart, Light to Night Singapore 2026 centres on a profound theme: “The Power in Us.” This concept celebrates the collective strength that emerges when diverse communities and perspectives converge to create, reflect, and experience art together. Rather than positioning visitors as passive observers, the festival invites participation, encouraging attendees to become co-creators in a shared artistic journey. Throughout the four-week celebration, the message is clear—art belongs to everyone, and its true power lies in how it connects us, regardless of background or experience level.

The Iconic Art Skins on Monuments Experience

One of the most visually stunning elements of Light to Night Singapore 2026 remains the festival’s signature “Art Skins on Monuments” projection mapping displays. Each evening, the façades of iconic Civic District buildings transform into living canvases, showcasing artworks projected onto the National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, The Arts House, and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall. This year’s projections carry particular significance, as they feature the legacy works of three venerated Singapore artists: the late printmaker and Cultural Medallion recipient Chng Seok Tin, renowned painter Goh Beng Kwan, and the late batik artist Jaafar Latiff.

These projection works were created through a distinctive collaboration with Indonesian multimedia design studio ARAFURA and the estates of the late artists, marking the first time these legacies have been showcased on the Gallery’s façade in this format. The visual storytelling unfolds nightly as spectacular light animations bring these seminal artworks to life, transforming historical architectural landmarks into contemporary art galleries. Visitors can experience this showcase entirely free of charge by simply walking around the Civic District or settling on the Padang—the expansive green lawn opposite the National Gallery—for an extended viewing experience.

SANTAI: A New Series Inviting Relaxation and Connection

Introducing a fresh dimension to Light to Night Singapore 2026, the festival debuts SANTAI, a brand-new series of interactive art installations inspired by the Malay word meaning “to relax.” This carefully curated collection spans five key gathering points across the Civic District: the Padang, Empress Lawn, the Front Lawn at The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum Green, and Esplanade Park. The SANTAI concept fundamentally shifts the festival’s rhythm, encouraging visitors to slow down, linger, and genuinely connect with artworks and one another.

One standout within this series is “Gathering on the Lawn,” a participatory artwork by Taiwanese artist Michael Lin. This installation invites visitors to carry artist-designed paper lantern bags adorned with batik-inspired motifs as they move and gather across the Padang grounds on weekends. The beauty of this work lies in its simplicity—participants become part of the artistic composition, transforming a public space into a collaborative creation. Additionally, at the National Gallery’s Courtyard, Michael Lin presents another participatory installation featuring hand-painted wooden furniture pieces that visitors can freely sit upon and rearrange, fundamentally altering the artwork’s final appearance based entirely on public interaction.

Another compelling SANTAI highlight is “Rumah Laut,” a three-part installation by local artist Firdaus Sani, who is a fourth-generation Orang Laut and Pulau descendant. This work, displayed at both the Padang and ACM Green, draws inspiration from Singapore’s early coastal and island communities, celebrating maritime heritage and the people who shaped these histories. Through sculptural forms and spatial design, “Rumah Laut” honours the stories and connections of coastal communities that remain integral to Singapore’s identity.

Broader Artistic Perspectives and Performances

Beyond the flagship installations, Light to Night Singapore 2026 encompasses an eclectic range of artistic voices and perspectives. “SINGAPORAMA,” created by Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul, consists of two monumental billboard paintings positioned at the Padang Atrium, styled as vintage cinema posters. This work emerged from Rawanchaikul’s year-long engagement with various Singapore communities, visually narrating their stories through a nostalgic cinematic lens that resonates with both contemporary and historical references.

The festival also provides platforms for underrepresented voices. Claire Teo’s multi-sensory installation “Through The Looking Glass” offers an intimate exploration of experiences as a visually impaired individual, inviting sighted visitors to perceive the world through different sensory dimensions. Similarly, TraseOne’s light projection “Now You See Us?” on The Arts House façade traces the evolution of Singapore’s graffiti scene, shedding light on a creative community whose contributions often remain unseen. Meanwhile, Beverley Ng’s “In Return to Paradise (Play),” displayed at Funan’s Underground Pedestrian Link and extended to the Gallery’s Padang Atrium Corridor, evokes nostalgic memories of 2000s Singapore through depictions of arcades, theme parks, and pasar malams—sites of unforgettable adventures and creative freedom.

A particularly innovative performative piece comes from local artist Ang Song Nian, titled “Blades, Shrapnel.” This installation features a roving live performance art piece utilising laser-emitting grass cutters at the Padang and Empress Lawn on selected days. The work cleverly draws attention to the unseen labour and meticulous efforts that maintain Singapore’s manicured public landscapes, prompting reflection on the invisible workers and processes that shape our shared urban environment.

Vibrant Programming for All Ages

Beyond visual installations, Light to Night Singapore 2026 offers an expansive programme of ticketed and free activities catering to diverse interests. “Sing Song Social Club” welcomes singers of all experience levels to participate in open community choir sessions, creating moments of collective expression and joy. These free sessions embody the festival’s core message about community and shared creativity, allowing participants to contribute their voices to a larger artistic endeavour.

For those seeking a more immersive multisensory experience, “Life Prep (Art x Bakes)” combines movement, culinary exploration, and artistic engagement, culminating in treats from Gallery’s Bakery Brera. This ticketed programme invites participants to engage with iconic Southeast Asian flavours sourced from the National Gallery’s own collection, intertwining gastronomy with artistic appreciation.

The expanded “Art X Social: Festival Village,” now stretching across St Andrew’s Road and Empress Lawn, serves as a vibrant social hub throughout festival weekends. Visitors can indulge in diverse food and drink offerings whilst enjoying live DJ sets and roving performances that create an electric atmosphere. This extended festival street transforms the Civic District into an accessible cultural commons where celebration and creativity become woven into the urban fabric.

Additionally, “Gallery Gigs” features free live performances by Singapore’s finest musicians, theatre practitioners, and dancers, whilst guided tours with social media personality Zaki Hussain provide playful explorations of artworks and spaces. For those seeking deeper introspection, a specialised tarot card reading experience with reader Elaine (@tarotonthemoon) offers personalised consultations centred on the festival’s “Power in Us” theme, with each reading guiding a unique gallery tour based on the cards drawn.

Accessibility and Extended Hours

A significant advantage of Light to Night Singapore 2026 is its commitment to accessibility. The festival’s core attractions, including all projection mappings and SANTAI installations, remain completely free to experience. This democratic approach ensures that high-quality contemporary art and cultural programming reaches audiences across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Importantly, National Gallery Singapore extends its opening hours until 11 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays during the festival period, and offers free admission to the gallery itself on these same days—a substantial benefit for visitors wishing to explore both the physical gallery collection and the broader festival installations.

The extended four-week duration also represents a fundamental shift in accessibility. Unlike previous editions concentrated into shorter periods, this expanded timeline allows greater flexibility for visitors to attend at their convenience, whether during weekday evenings or weekend explorations.

A Celebration of Collective Creativity

Light to Night Singapore 2026 ultimately embodies a vision of culture as a shared resource and creative endeavour. By honouring the legacies of influential Singapore artists, platforming emerging voices, and inviting participation across age groups and skill levels, the festival affirms that artistic expression transcends professional gatekeeping. The “Power in Us” theme resonates beyond mere marketing language—it reflects a genuine commitment to demonstrating how communities, when united through art, possess transformative capacity.

Whether visitors arrive for the photogenic projection mappings, the participatory installations that encourage physical engagement, the communal performances that celebrate shared expression, or the multisensory programmes that challenge perceptual boundaries, Light to Night Singapore 2026 delivers something profound. It reminds us that cultural vitality emerges not from solitary genius alone, but from the convergence of diverse perspectives, collaborative effort, and the willingness to create meaning together. This January, as the Civic District becomes illuminated with possibility, the festival invites Singapore and its visitors to experience firsthand the very power that resides within the collective community.