From thrilling sporting spectacles to the crème de la crème of art and creativity, Singapore’s sensational events leave no stone unturned. This month, prepare for the party atmosphere and electrifying excitement of the Singapore Rugby Sevens and take to the water when the dazzling Singapore Yacht Show cruises into town.
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For fanatical foodies, the World Gourmet Summit promises once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences with some of the world’s top chefs, while in the art world, the city explores its diverse history through the immersive and celebratory Singapore Heritage Festival. Cementing its status as a ground-breaking and vibrant destination, Singapore will also make history again this April and showcase the Minimalism: Space. Light. Object. exhibition – the first minimalism exhibition ever hosted in Southeast Asia.
Buckle up for an exhilarating month of unforgettable events!
1) Raffles in Southeast Asia exhibition
When: 1 February–28 April 2019
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum
Part of Singapore’s Bicentennial commemorations, this complex and exciting exhibition presents a multi-layered picture of Raffles, exploring the journey of Sir Stamford Raffles, widely regarded as the founder of modern Singapore. The exhibition is a collaboration between the British Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum and will delve into the varied opinions of Raffles; from scholarly statesman to progressive reformer and committed Imperialist, while showcasing the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Java and the Malay world.
2) Singapore Heritage Festival
When: 15 March–7 April 2019
Where: Multiple venues
Singapore hosts a special Bicentennial edition of this exciting festival, which will commemorate the key milestone in Singaporean history. Its longest-running community outreach platform, the Singapore Heritage Festival aims to make heritage more accessible to the public and to encourage the public to explore its varied and beautiful culture. Running over four weekends, the festival will run programmes around precincts including Kampong Gelam and Bedok. Visitors will be able to get under the skin of these neighbourhoods, hear the hidden stories and discover fascinating people behind the precincts’ heritage.
3) Singapore Experience Lab
When: Until May 2019
Where: Singapore Visitor Centre
Get the lowdown on what to see and do in Singapore and learn more about its fascinating culture at the Experience Lab, in the Visitor Centre on Orchard Road. During the 30-minute experiential tour, visitors can learn about the diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods of Singapore and their history. Mini adventurers can also get involved with colouring activities that focus on some of Singapore’s most iconic sights; the city is brought to life when the children’s’ artwork is projected on a digital art wall.
Head into the Experience Lab time tunnel, which unveils Singapore’s colourful history through to the modern day and see a glimpse of the Singapore of the future. A great way to get a snapshot of what the city has to offer, the Experience Lab tours are scheduled daily at 10.30am, 11.30am and 4pm.
4) Minimalism: Space. Light. Object.
When: Until 14 April
Where: National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum
See more than 150 works of art by 70-plus artists from four continents at the first minimalism exhibition in Southeast Asia. This groundbreaking event is hosted across two sites, the National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum, and runs until 14 April. Art lovers can expect a wide range of historical and contemporary works, multi-faceted displays, immersive and site-specific installations. The exhibition will showcase works from artists such as Mark Rothko, Carmen Herrera, Tatsuo Miyajima, Anish Kapoor and Mary Miss. The Art Science Museum’s exhibition explores the themes of form, colour and spirituality; the exhibition at National Gallery Singapore looks at the emergence, development and legacies of minimalism from the 1950s to the present day.
5) World Gourmet Summit
When: 22–28 April
Where: Multiple venues
A truly mouth-watering prospect, the annual World Gourmet Summit brings together the elite of the gourmet world, including Michelin-star chefs, and showcases the pinnacle of fine dining with chef collaborations, exquisite wine tasting and incredible foodie experiences.
At Southeast Asia’s premier haute cuisine festival, visitors can savour everything from vintner dinners to themed tasting menus, meals cooked by celebrity chefs and gourmet talks, alongside cooking demos led by the industry’s top names. Some of the finest restaurants in Singapore such as Bacchanalia Singapore, Hua Ting Restaurant, Gattopardo Ristorante Di Mare, Majestic Restaurant and Tippling Club curate special menus during the summit and the unique dining experiences offer once-in-a-lifetime memories for keen gourmands.
Find out more
6) HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
When: 13–15 April
Where: National Stadium, Kallang
Hear the crowds roar, rock out to great music and get set for some of the most exhilarating rugby you’ll ever see. The thrill-a-minute, try-topping Singapore Rugby Sevens is a two-day rugby extravaganza and boasts one of the best sporting atmospheres in the world.
The Singapore fixture in the hard-fought 10-leg Rugby Sevens Series sees the 16 top rugby nations in the world – including 12–times title champs New Zealand – do battle amid the deafening cheers of a packed–out National Stadium. Watch 45 heart-pounding matches and see the tries come thick and fast in this show-stopping, seven-a-side form of the game.
Can rugby titans New Zealand clinche another world title? Will powerhouse Fiji show their strength? Visitors are guaranteed thrills galore and a raucous, festival atmosphere like no other – get into the party spirit in fancy dress and rock out to the mid-match dancing and music.
7) Singapore Yacht Show
When: 11–14 April
Where: ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove
Now in its ninth year, the Singapore Yacht Show returns with a dazzling on-water display of the world’s top yachts and maritime innovation. Discover the world’s most glamorous superyachts, take a look at what’s new from the world’s premier boating brands and enter the luxury boating world during this four-day event. The on-water exhibition boasts the largest fleet of world-class yachts in Asia, and is held at ONE°15 Marina in stunning Sentosa Cove. Alongside the prestigious displays, the event is synonymous with glittering yacht parties, gala dinners and the yachting lifestyle in all its glory – from supercars to art and high fashion.
