Do you remember the click of Carrom strikers, the satisfying thud of Congkak seeds, or the heated debates over a Monopoly board? The National Heritage Board (NHB) is bringing those memories back to life with Don’t Play Play — The Games That Shape Us, a new travelling exhibition that celebrates the board games and tabletop pastimes woven into Singapore’s cultural fabric.
The exhibition opens on 14 June 2026 at One Punggol, Level 1, Celebration Square Zone 2, running until 30 June 2026. Admission is free.
More Than Just a Game
Games have always been more than entertainment — they are how communities bond, how strategies are honed, and how stories are passed down. Don’t Play Play explores this through a rich collection of traditional and community games that have shaped generations of Singaporeans: Chinese Chess, Weiqi, Carrom, Congkak, Scrabble, and Monopoly, among others.
The exhibition draws on partnerships with active game communities including the Aliwal Chess Club, the Singapore Scrabble Association, the Punggol Damai Board Games Community, the Singapore Weiqi Association, and the #LaiPlayLeow initiative — proof that these games are very much alive today.
Launch Weekend and Community Takeover
NHB is marking the opening with a weekend of activities. On the launch days — 13 June (11am–5pm) and 14 June (11am–4pm) — visitors can meet local game designers and join drop-in craft activities. A Community Takeover follows on 20–21 June (11am–2pm), where local game communities take the spotlight with live play sessions and demonstrations.
Visit the Exhibition
Don’t Play Play — The Games That Shape Us is on display from 14 to 30 June 2026 at One Punggol, Level 1, Celebration Square Zone 2. Entry is free. The exhibition is organised by the National Heritage Board and supported by the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) and One Punggol.
