SIFA 2025: Celebrating Singapore’s Cultural Identity Through the Arts

The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2025 returns from 16 May to 1 June, bringing a bold and dynamic celebration of Singapore’s cultural identity under the theme “More Than Ever”. Organized by Arts House Limited (AHL) and commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC), this year’s festival coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence, marking a historic moment with its largest showcase of homegrown talent.

A Festival Rooted in Singapore’s Creative Spirit

With an unprecedented 15 commissioned local works, SIFA 2025 is set to be the biggest platform for Singapore artists in the festival’s history. Among them are two works-in-progress first introduced at SIFA 2024, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to nurturing innovation and excellence in the performing arts.

Six curation strands guide this year’s programming:

• New Urban Realities – Exploring contemporary city life
• Classics Reinvented – Reimagining timeless works
• History Reimagined – Offering fresh perspectives on the past
• We, International – Showcasing global collaborations
• State of the Arts – Highlighting Singapore’s artistic evolution
• PRISM 48 – Reflecting on SIFA’s legacy and impact

Expanding the Festival’s Reach

In a bid to bring the arts to all, SIFA 2025 introduces the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square, a pop-up arts space designed for multidisciplinary expression and community engagement. Meanwhile, Little SIFA at Empress Lawn returns, offering interactive installations, performances, and family-friendly experiences, inspiring the next generation to embrace the arts from an early age.

A Global Stage for the Arts

Beyond its local focus, SIFA 2025 also welcomes international artists and collaborations, strengthening Singapore’s presence on the global arts scene. With a carefully curated selection of international works and a brand-new international commission, the festival continues to bridge artistic expressions across cultures while elevating Singapore’s creative landscape.

SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square: A Hub for Artistic Expression

A key highlight of this year’s festival is the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square, designed as a space for collaboration, co-creation, and public engagement. Throughout the festival, the Pavilion will host multidisciplinary works that connect artists and audiences in new and unexpected ways.

Opening the festival is The Sea and the Neighbourhood, a large-scale performance inspired by Bedok’s coastal heritage and urban transformation. At the heart of this work is a coral-inspired installation by visual artist Wang Ruobing, doubling as both an artwork and a performance stage. The piece brings together composer Philip Tan, choreographer Christina Chan with Singapore Ballet, and video artist Brian Gothong Tan, creating a dynamic blend of music, movement, and visual storytelling.

Ruobing’s installation also stands as a commentary on Singapore’s coral reefs and ongoing conservation efforts, reflecting themes of sustainability and climate resilience. Meanwhile, theatre company Drama Box presents hello, is this working?, an interactive performance exploring the future of work and shifting societal narratives around labor. Expanding the festival’s reach beyond traditional venues, these works invite audiences to experience the arts as part of their everyday environments.

Little SIFA: Immersive Art for Young Audiences

Returning for its second edition, Little SIFA at Empress Lawn features a curated selection of family-friendly experiences spanning multiple weekends. This year’s lineup includes The House Between the Winds, an installation and performance by Yang Jie that recalls the plantations of Orchard Road and the trees that sustained its early communities.

Audiences can also experience a special 30-minute adaptation of The Finger Players’ Animal Farm, bringing George Orwell’s classic allegory to life through innovative puppetry. This adaptation will be presented in two formats: a full theatrical production at the SOTA Drama Theatre and a free outdoor variation at Empress Lawn, offering diverse ways to engage with the work.

Beyond these signature performances, Little SIFA provides a variety of activities that introduce children to the arts, from puppetry and film to interactive installations, nurturing an appreciation for artistic expression from a young age.

Singaporean Artists Take Center Stage

SIFA 2025 continues to champion homegrown talent with a series of commissioned works that showcase the depth and diversity of Singapore’s artistic community.

• Waiting for Audience by Nine Years Theatre expands on its work-in-progress debut at SIFA 2024, examining the enduring power of theatre and its reflection of society.
• COLONY – A True Colors Project, directed by Remesh Panicker, unites 13 dancers from Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan to explore diversity and interconnectedness through movement.
• LEAR by Ramesh Meyyappan, in collaboration with Scotland’s Raw Material, reinterprets Shakespeare’s tragedy through visual and physical storytelling, focusing on fractured familial relationships.
• Umbilical, a work by Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod, and thesupersystem, traces the evolution of an island, weaving together natural forces and human innovation in a journey through time.

Alongside these performances, PRISM 48, a conversation series curated by Hong Xinyi, explores Singapore’s evolving cultural identity. Discussions will include What Difference Can Singapore Storytelling Make, highlighting the role of the performing arts in reframing cultural narratives.

International Highlights at SIFA 2025

SIFA 2025 also presents four globally acclaimed productions, bringing distinct artistic voices to Singapore’s stage.

• HOME by Geoff Sobelle is a visually stunning performance that blends illusion, choreography, and music to examine the concept of home and the passage of time.
• Told By My Mother by Ali Chahrour delves into themes of love and loss, drawing from the choreographer’s personal history and the complex cultural landscape of Lebanon.
• Vampyr by Manuela Infante is a darkly comedic mockumentary set in Chile’s unregulated wind turbine parks, blending myth and environmental commentary in a thought-provoking exploration of energy and labor.

Experience SIFA 2025

With a lineup that spans public installations, theatre, dance, and thought-provoking discussions, SIFA 2025 invites audiences to experience the performing arts in fresh and unexpected ways. Early bird tickets offering 20% savings are available from March 11 to April 14, 2025.

For more information, visit SIFA’s official website.