SG Science Fest 2026 Dives Into Ocean Science with Free National Day Weekend Programme

SG Science Fest 2026 is bringing mermaids, shipwrecks, water battles and marine science to Science Centre Singapore this National Day weekend, with free admission for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents from 8 to 10 August.

Running from 10am to 6pm daily, this year’s festival takes inspiration from the ocean and combines science, storytelling and play through a range of interactive experiences for visitors of different ages. Guests can investigate a mysterious shipwreck, watch live science demonstrations, take part in outdoor water activities, explore marine science stations and meet Quby, the Science Centre’s lovable online character, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The festival is supported by partners and sponsors including Applied Materials, Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) and Yeo’s. Their support helps bring science experiences to the public while encouraging curiosity, lifelong learning and interest in STEM.

SNAS is also marking its 50th anniversary this year. Scientists from its constituent societies will be taking part in the Meet a Scientist zone, where visitors can participate in hands-on activities, demonstrations, talks and daily workshops covering areas including regenerative medicine, marine science, physics, mathematics and clinician science.

One of the featured experiences is Shipwrecked: Uncover the Mystery, where visitors examine evidence at a staged shipwreck site and use observation and scientific reasoning to determine what happened.

Robot’s Bytes to Bites combines live entertainment with science demonstrations, featuring seasoned hawkers, a robot chef and a series of science experiments. Shows take place at The Annexe Hall 1 at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4.30pm daily. Admission is included with the festival ticket, although onsite reservations are required due to limited capacity.

Visitors can also meet Syrena, founder of the Singapore Mermaid School, who will use professional mermaiding to demonstrate scientific principles including buoyancy, hydrodynamics and human physiology.

For those looking to cool off, Splash Battle and What Time Is It, Mr. Shark? offer two outdoor water experiences running every 15 minutes from 10.15am to 4.30pm. Splash Battle puts teams against each other in a friendly water challenge, while What Time Is It, Mr. Shark? gives the familiar playground game an ocean inspired twist. Onsite reservations are required for both activities.

Marine science takes centre stage at activity stations located across Science Centre Singapore. Visitors can discover how ships stay afloat, investigate corrosion, learn how marine organisms colonise underwater surfaces and explore coral restoration through interactive activities inspired by real world marine science.

Participants can also collect locally themed stickers and use them to create a personalised acrylic keychain as a festival keepsake.

Younger visitors can head to KidsSTOP for SG Science Fest Juniors, where the space will be transformed into three ocean themed zones: Island Cove, Ocean Depths and Research Reef. The experience explores Singapore’s maritime heritage, marine biodiversity and ocean conservation and is suitable for children aged 18 months to eight years, with parents encouraged to participate.

Sessions run daily from 10am to 12pm, 12.30pm to 2.30pm and 3pm to 5pm.

The experience can continue at the Omni Theatre, where visitors can enjoy two immersive dome productions with a S$9 bundle ticket. Ocean Paradise explores the Pacific’s marine ecosystems and conservation efforts, while Earth: Our Only Home examines the relationship between people and the oceans, from early seafaring to the effects of climate change.

Selected screenings of Earth: Our Only Home will also feature a live performance by 10-year-old musician Shayne Ko alongside narration by a Science Centre educator.

Ocean Paradise screens on 8 August at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm, and on 9 and 10 August at 10am, 11am, 4pm and 5pm. Earth: Our Only Home screens on 8 August at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm, and on 9 and 10 August at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Quby will also make an appearance at the festival as part of the Science Centre’s collaboration with the online character. The partnership aims to introduce a playful approach to science communication and make scientific ideas more accessible to the public.

Admission to SG Science Fest 2026 is free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. Special bundled tickets are available for selected experiences, while standard admission rates apply to other visitors.

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can also purchase a special S$9 bundle combining the festival with the ONE Ocean exhibition, representing up to 50 per cent savings on the usual price and including the ONE Ocean VR experience, subject to availability. The SG Science Fest Junior bundle at KidsSTOP is priced at S$5 per adult and S$10 per child for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.

Visitors taking part in Splash Battle are advised to bring a change of clothes, although shower and changing facilities are available onsite. Due to limited parking at Science Centre Singapore, public transport is recommended. Alternative parking and a complimentary shuttle service are available at Jurong Town Hall.