The Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) is back this year from 1 to 25 May, with more than 100 programmes planned to bring people together to celebrate the country’s rich Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), also known as living heritage. This special edition is part of the SG60 celebrations, marking 60 years of Singapore’s independence.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival is organised by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board (NHB). It aims to highlight and honour the efforts of Singapore’s cultural practitioners, traditional businesses, and community partners who continue to keep the nation’s living heritage alive and vibrant.
Building upon Singapore’s two successful UNESCO nominations – the inscription of Hawker Culture in 2020 and multinational inscription of the kebaya in December last year – this year’s SG60 edition celebrates the full range and diversity of Singapore’s rich living heritage.
Through a diverse lineup of workshops, tours, trails, exhibitions and other activities across the island in celebration of SG60, festival-goers will get to access to quality heritage experiences through the decentralization of SHF programmes across the island in celebration of SG60 and immerse in Singapore’s stories and living heritage that have shaped its shared identity.
Qazim Karim, Head of Festivals & Precinct Development, HeritageSG said, “Our living heritage isn’t just something we inherit – it’s traditions, customs and practices that we adopt, practise, and pass down through the generations. So, they should not be taken for granted.”
“For the SG60 edition of Singapore HeritageFest, we celebrate those who have been silently toiling behind-the-scenes to keep our living heritage alive – from hawkers and craftspeople, to performers and community groups.
“As we connect these makers with their crafts and stories, we also hope to foster greater appreciation, especially amongst the younger generations, for their skills, knowledge and passion that have helped sustain our living heritage and sense of belonging to Singapore,” Karim added.
As part of the SG60 celebrations, SHF 2025 is working with more than 90 community partners and practitioners of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) to bring people together and celebrate the vibrant and inclusive nature of Singapore’s cultural traditions. These practices play a key role in shaping the shared identity and unity of the nation.
Among the key partners is YHS Singapore (Yeo’s), returning as SHF’s Official Partner for the second year in a row. This year, Yeo’s is supporting one of the festival’s main highlights – Out of the Red Box, a colourful showcase featuring Chinese opera and getai performances.
This year also marks the fifth consecutive year of support from Official Sponsor Stellar Ace, who continues to back the Ride & Discover exhibition. This exhibition brings stories of Singapore’s living heritage to life across MRT stations throughout the island.
New community partners joining SHF 2025 include Sendok Rakyat, the Heritage Business Foundation, Tied Alliance, Gateway Theatre, and several others.
Explore Singapore’s rich living heritage
This year, as part of the SG60 celebrations, SHF invites people across the country to come together and take part in meaningful heritage experiences. The festival offers a chance to explore the heart of Singapore’s community-based traditions — from traditional crafts and performing arts to food heritage, social customs, and knowledge related to nature.
New SHF programmes
Getai meets Teochew opera in Out of the Red Box, a vibrant theatrical production jointly presented by Nam Hwa Opera and The ETCeteras that reimagines Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry with a lively blend of traditional Chinese opera, modern getai, and contemporary music.
Get hands-on at Creative Hub @ Peranakan Museum, a month-long showcase of Singapore’s living heritage through workshops and sharing sessions throughout the weekends in May. Learn heritage practices such as jamu-making, tea brewing, calligraphy, flower tying, and more – led by the communities who keep these traditions alive.
Discover the artistry behind Singapore’s traditional crafts
Learn the art of traditional rattan weaving with artist Ng Si Ying in Rattan Knot Weaving x anothersole, and customise your very own pair of Belle Mary Janes to bring home.
Craft your own glowing lanterns with Making Traditional Lanterns, hosted by Francis Tan, while learning more about the history and symbolism of traditional lanterns made with classic techniques.
Hear the story of a woodcarver Ng Tze Yong in My Grandma’s Startup, and explore how he upholds his family’s 180-year legacy through storytelling, design and experimentation.
Feel the rhythm of Singapore’s performing arts heritage
Explore two classical Indian music genres in Carnatic Music vs Sopanam Music, a live lecture-demonstration with expert Kalamandalam Vinod from India.
Immerse yourself in the magic of Malay opera with Beats on Baghdad Street: Bangsawan Pantomime by Opera Academy, a dynamic telling of Sang Nila Utama’s discovery of Singapore.
Follow the ancient melodies of Nanyin in An Odyssey to the South, a musical workshop presented by Siong Leng Musical Association that unveils the intricate world of Nanyin.
Savour the stories behind the city-state’s food heritage
Discover the art of Nasi Ulam with Gotong-Royong: Nasi Ulam Recipe Crafting by Sendok Rakyat, where participants will learn the traditional techniques and intricate flavours that make up this iconic dish.
Venture behind the scenes at a 1960s-era bakery in HBF Presents: Night Shift at Sweetlands Bakery and try your hand at baking a cempedak cake while exploring the production floor after hours.
Journey into the origins of Singapore’s well-loved Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Soup) in Savouring Heritage: A Journey through the History of Bak Kut Teh, with storytelling and tea pairing by Song Fa and Pek Sin Choon.
Explore the social practices that bring Singapore together
Explore Singapore’s wedding heritage with Kahwin-Kahwin: Singapore Wedding Stories by Tied Alliance, an immersive exhibition and workshop that celebrates Singapore’s diverse wedding traditions across generations and communities.
Uncover the rich tapestry of ceremonial traditions that mark life’s significant transitions across Singapore’s diverse communities with Rites of Passage by the Eurasian Association.
Relive nostalgic childhood experiences through a tour of traditional games and toys with Kampong Playtime: Singaporean Childhoods Through Toys by MINT Museum of Toys.
Reconnect with nature through heritage workshops
Weave petals and tradition into fragrant garlands in the Flower Tying Workshop by Prabu Raj, where participants learn the meanings behind each bloom.
Blend nature with creativity in Painting with Native Plant Pigments by Marina Central & WithAutumn, a workshop where participants paint on fabric using sustainable dyes and stencils.
Visit the original site where Singapore’s national flower was created in Orchid Cultivation Workshop @ Birthplace of Vanda Miss Joaquim, and learn about its botanical and cultural legacy.
Return of festival favourites
A signature SHF offering, HOMEGROUND, returns with a refreshed focus on Singapore’s living heritage. This year’s HOMEGROUND Village is set against the lush backdrop of the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay, and brings together an exhibition, a series of workshops, and performances that celebrate everyday cultural practices.
At its heart is an exhibition exploring Singapore’s living heritage, complemented by weekend programming that includes a pop-up hawker experience in partnership with the National Environment Agency and a heritage retail market co-presented with the Singapore Tourism Board.
Another signature SHF programme, Ride & Discover, also makes a return to bring heritage into the daily commute. This year’s edition transforms the Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut, and Bayfront MRT stations into vibrant exhibition spaces that spotlight the diversity of Singapore’s cultural practices. Through bite-sized stories and striking visuals, commuters are invited to pause, reflect, and rediscover the living traditions woven into this year’s festival offerings.
Back for its third edition, UNDISCLOSED invites participants to a mystery behind-the- scenes tour that will intrigue senses and spark curiosity. This exclusive tour keeps its location and details under wraps until the very moment participants arrive. This element of surprise adds to the sense of adventure of discovering Singapore’s living heritage in unexpected places.
