This National Day, the National Museum of Singapore is inviting everyone to celebrate the nation’s 61st birthday through the myths, legends and stories that made us. From 1 to 9 August 2026, the museum fills with immersive storytelling, performances, workshops and after-dark spectacle, capped by a full day of festivities on 9 August.
The theme, Myths, Legends & the Stories That Made Us, threads Singapore’s founding tales and folklore through the museum’s galleries and grounds. It is a family-friendly way to mark National Day at the National Museum, and most of it is free to enjoy.
Light up the facade: Voyage of Icons
After sunset, artist Howie Kim transforms the museum’s neoclassical facade with Voyage of Icons, a projection-mapping work that reimagines national symbols and stories in motion. It is the kind of set piece best enjoyed on a balmy evening walk through the Civic District.
Stories, scents and decoded histories
Inside, the programme runs deep. Once Upon a Shore: The Founding of Singapura retells the island’s origin story, while SG: Decoded and Scents of History invite visitors to experience heritage through play and even smell. Look out too for Writings on the Wall and The Snapshot Corner for hands-on, photo-friendly moments.
Our Favourite Haunts: through the lens of migrant workers
Returning for its fourth edition, the Migrant Workers Photography Festival presents Our Favourite Haunts: Through the Lens of Migrant Workers, a moving series of images that shows the city through the eyes of the people who help build and run it. It is a thoughtful counterpoint to the celebration, and a reminder of the many hands in Singapore’s story.
The big day: 9 August
On National Day itself, expect full-day programming, a heritage hunt around the galleries, and a live telecast of the NDP 2026 parade on the Front Lawn, a fuss-free, family-friendly way to catch the celebrations together.
Plan your visit
National Day Celebrations run 1 to 9 August 2026 at the National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road. Check the museum’s website for programme timings, as some workshops and performances require advance registration.
Making a day of it? Pair it with our guide to the Dunhuang exhibition coming to ACM, or the Singapore Flyer’s National Day line-up.
Images courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, via Tate Anzur.
