Get ready to sail the currents that shape us. Singapore HeritageFest 2026 (SHF 2026) returns from 1 to 24 May 2026 with over 100 islandwide programmes, all exploring the city-state’s rich maritime heritage. Now in its 23rd edition and organised for the first time by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board (NHB), this year’s festival looks to the sea to tell Singapore’s story — from historic trading waterways to the modern global maritime hub we know today.
A festival built on Singapore’s maritime heritage
Singapore’s story is inseparable from the sea. SHF 2026 Festival Director Qazim Karim put it this way: “From bustling ports and thriving trades to the communities who lived and worked along our shores, our maritime heritage is a living legacy that continues to shape our identity today.”
The festival brings together more than 100 community partners and heritage practitioners to present a mix of cultural performances, guided trails, water and land tours, workshops and exhibitions. Returning supporters include YHS Singapore (Yeo’s) as Official Partner for the third consecutive year, and Stellar Ace, marking their sixth year as Official Sponsor. New partners this year include Aroma Nostalgia, Kebon Dapor, Thong Siek Global and the Singapore Navy Museum.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) also joins the festival to mark its 30th anniversary, offering guided tours, vessel visits and maritime-themed trails.
HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green: the festival hub
The festival highlight this year is HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green, a central exhibition and programme space right in the heart of the Civic District. Expect weekend performances, hands-on workshops and a main exhibition that showcases Singapore’s living maritime traditions. Keep an eye out for Pitta, the SHF 2026 mascot, across the island — snap a photo and you could win a limited-edition festival keepsake at HOMEGROUND.
Theatre on the water: Port of Dreams and A Bump Through Time
Two of the most intriguing new programmes take storytelling directly to historic waterfront sites.
Port of Dreams is a lively roving theatrical experience set against the backdrop of The Fullerton Bay Hotel and the historic Clifford Pier. It transports audiences from the 1930s to today through characters, soundscapes and vignettes. Performances run on 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 May at 2pm, 3.30pm and 5pm.
A Bump Through Time is SHF’s first-ever theatrical bumboat experience, inviting festival-goers to discover the Singapore River anew through interactive encounters along Clarke Quay and Marina Bay. The show sails on 9, 16 and 23 May at multiple time slots from 3.30pm to 8.30pm — and yes, you’ll get to see the river from the water itself.
Maritime archaeology and seafaring past
At ArCH Square, SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World spotlights submerged treasures and underwater discoveries from across the region. The showcase traces the trade, craft and cultures that moved across Southeast Asia’s sea routes — and raises questions about the ethics of underwater archaeology. It runs daily throughout the festival from 1 to 24 May.
Walk Singapore’s maritime history
If you prefer to cover ground on foot, the Maritime Heritage Trail is a 2.5-hour guided walk that takes in Fort Canning Park, the Singapore River, the Fullerton Hotel and Clifford Pier, with an exclusive SHF gift at the end. Trails run on 2, 9, 16 and 23 May from 10am.
Other notable experiences include A Lighter Side of History: Our Trading Port, a curator-led tour of the “Once Upon a Tide” exhibition paired with a Singapore Strait expedition and a visit to Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, and Voices of the Sea: A Maritime Journey with Kumar, a self-guided video tour in Little India that blends Kumar’s family story with Singapore’s maritime history.
Food, music and community
Culture Beats @ CapitaLand dials up the festival energy with live performances celebrating the rhythms of maritime cultures. Meanwhile, food fans can tuck into Port to Plate, a walking trail and family craft activity that explores hawker heritage around the Singapore River in the 1930s — complete with characters, tasks and ingredients to “collect” along the way.
When, where, and how to book
Dates: 1 to 24 May 2026
Venues: Islandwide — highlights at ACM Green, Clifford Pier, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore River, Fort Canning, ArCH Square and more
Tickets: On sale from 22 April 2026, 12pm SGT — subscribe via the Singapore HeritageFest website to get alerts.
For more heritage coverage on Little Big Red Dot, see our earlier features on Singapore’s heritage centres and our previous SHF guides.
Media enquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Images courtesy of HeritageSG / National Heritage Board.
