Singapore HeritageFest 2026 Sets Sail with Islandwide Celebration of Maritime Heritage

Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) returns from 1 to 24 May 2026, bringing over 100 programmes islandwide that spotlight Singapore’s deep maritime roots. Now in its 23rd edition and organised for the first time by HeritageSG (HSG), a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board (NHB), this year’s festival is themed around the stories, trades, and communities shaped by the sea.

From historic ports and river life to seafaring traditions and naval heritage, SHF 2026 invites the public to rediscover how Singapore’s waterways helped define its identity.

Over 100 Partners Bring Maritime Stories to Life

This year’s festival is powered by more than 100 community partners and heritage practitioners, offering programmes that range from immersive theatre and archaeological showcases to food trails and hands-on workshops.

Returning partners include YHS Singapore (Yeo’s) for the third consecutive year and Stellar Ace for the sixth year running. New collaborators such as Aroma Nostalgia, Kebon Dapor, Thong Siek Global, and the Singapore Navy Museum add fresh perspectives to the programme line-up.

A key highlight, HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green, returns with exhibitions, performances, and workshops at the Asian Civilisations Museum waterfront, while the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) marks its 30th anniversary with guided tours, vessel visits, and maritime trails.

Immersive Journeys Through Singapore’s Maritime Past

SHF 2026 features a wide range of new experiential programmes that explore how trade, migration, and culture shaped the nation.

Theatrical and Immersive Experiences

• Port of Dreams transforms Fullerton Bay Hotel and Clifford Pier into a roving 1930s-inspired theatrical journey
• A Bump Through Time offers SHF’s first bumboat theatre experience along the Singapore River
• SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World showcases underwater archaeology discoveries
• Culture Beats @ CapitaLand and Wave & Rave at RASA Space blend music, movement, and maritime-inspired soundscapes
• A lecture series with the National Library Board explores Singapore’s evolution through trade and migration

Behind Singapore’s Ports and Global Trade Networks

Festival-goers can also explore the hidden systems that power Singapore’s maritime economy:

• Unlocking Singapore’s Port Legacy includes exclusive access to PSA terminals and the Singapore Maritime Gallery
• Spice to Meet You! shares generational stories of spice trading families
• Fish to Port offers a behind-the-scenes look at Jurong Fishery Port
• The Fullerton Heritage Spice Trail traces historical spice routes through the city
• A Cocoa Bean Adventure introduces children to global trade through storytelling and art activities

Food, Culture, and the Journeys That Shaped the Island

A series of hands-on programmes highlight how maritime exchange shaped Singapore’s food and culture:

• From Port to Plate explores the origins of hawker culture
• Kway Guan Huat Popiah Workshop teaches traditional preparation techniques
• Scents of the Nusantara lets participants craft perfumes using regional ingredients
• Cherita Singapura by Bhaskar’s Arts retells the legend of Sang Nila Utama through dance
• Tastes of the Tides: Laksa Siglap explores coastal culinary heritage through sensory storytelling

Beliefs, Rituals and Coastal Traditions

SHF also examines spiritual and cultural traditions tied to the sea:

• Mazu Heritage Tour explores maritime faith from Thian Hock Keng Temple
• Haunting Tales of Ubin presents an immersive night exploration of Pulau Ubin folklore
• Tides of Heritage celebrates multicultural coastal traditions through performance
• Woven Waves lets visitors create batik-inspired maritime story cloths
• Tied to the Tides explores fishing village and kelong heritage

Honouring Singapore’s Naval Legacy

Naval history takes centre stage through programmes such as:

• Navy Day 2026, marking the Republic of Singapore Navy’s 59th anniversary
• Battleships and Bunkers, a guided heritage walk through Sembawang’s military and coastal past

Returning Festival Favourites

HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green

A signature SHF experience, HOMEGROUND returns as a waterfront marketplace inspired by migration journeys. Featuring exhibitions, craft showcases, and performances, the programme runs on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the festival.

This year’s exhibition, designed by local artist HAFl, opens on 24 April 2026 and explores maritime migration narratives.

Ride & Discover

The Ride & Discover initiative brings heritage into everyday life by transforming MRT stations into interactive storytelling spaces with installations and bite-sized historical insights.

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