Start the new year on a luminous note as Light to Night Singapore returns for its landmark 10th edition in 2026, transforming the Civic District into a glowing, living canvas of creativity, connection, and collective expression. Running from 9 to 31 January 2026, this milestone edition is the festival’s longest yet, unfolding across four vibrant weekends for the very first time.
Anchored by the theme The Power in Us, Light to Night Singapore 2026 celebrates what happens when people come together - the strength of communities, the richness of diverse voices, and the invisible bonds formed through shared experiences with art. From large-scale projection mappings to intimate participatory works, this year’s festival invites everyone to not just observe art, but to be part of it.
Light to Night Singapore 2026 is organised by National Gallery Singapore, in collaboration with Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, The Arts House, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and CapitaLand, bringing together some of Singapore’s most iconic cultural institutions for a city-wide celebration of light and art.
Installation Highlights
Of course, Light to Night wouldn’t be complete without its much-loved projection mappings illuminating the Civic District’s iconic buildings. This year’s Art Skins on Monuments sees the façade of National Gallery Singapore transformed by two multidisciplinary artists exploring entanglements between nature, technology, labour, and belief.
Singaporean artist Fyerool Darma presents Ⱥn§ibℓøm∞ (Ansiblomoo), a hypnotic digital meditation on natural signals, emergent patterns, and technological rhythms. In Memory Gesture, Vietnamese artist Ngoc Nau reflects on contemporary labour and belief systems, drawing inspiration from her hometown’s transformation from agricultural roots to tech production.
One of this year’s most refreshing additions is SANTAI, a brand-new series inspired by the Malay word for “to relax”. Thoughtfully woven into the historic Civic District, these artworks are situated across key gathering spaces such as the Padang, Empress Lawn, the Front Lawn at The Arts House, ACM Green, and Esplanade Park. Rather than rushing from one artwork to the next, visitors are invited to slow down, linger, and experience art as a shared moment of rest and connection within the city.
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| Photo credit: Michael Lin – Gathering on the Lawn |
On weekends, the Padang comes alive through Gathering on the Lawn by Taiwanese artist Michael Lin, where the line between artwork and audience gently dissolves. Festivalgoers carry artist-designed paper lantern bags adorned with batik-inspired motifs, creating a moving constellation of light as they wander, interact, and come together. With every step and encounter, the open field transforms into a warm, glowing space shaped by collective presence and participation.
Also unfolding across the Padang is Rumah Laut by Singaporean artist Firdaus Sani, a fourth-generation Orang Laut and Pulau descendant. This three-part installation traces a path between the Art Connector, Padang, and ACM Green, drawing from the journeys of Singapore’s earliest seafaring communities. At its heart is a reimagined rumah laut, or coastal home, constructed from materials such as nibong palm leaves and mangrove wood. Through this evocative structure, the work reflects on heritage, displacement, and resilience, honouring the stories of the Orang Laut, Orang Kallang, Orang Seletar, Orang Selat, and Orang Pulau communities.
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| Photo credit: Michael Lin – Untitled Gathering |
Michael Lin’s exploration of participation continues indoors at the Gallery’s Singapore Courtyard with Untitled Gathering. Known for his large-scale installations and iconic floral motifs, Lin collaborates with students from the University of the Arts Singapore to create hand-painted wooden furniture pieces. Arranged as a patchwork reflecting the textures and rhythms of the city, the work invites visitors to sit, move, and rearrange the pieces, constantly reshaping both the artwork and the social interactions within it.
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| Photo credit: Navin Rawanchaikul |
Another monumental highlight is SINGAPORAMA by Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul, presented at the Padang Atrium. Developed through a year of research and deep engagement with Singapore’s diverse communities - from migrant workers and artists to indigenous groups, Peranakans, social advocacy groups, and faith organisations; this work features two large billboard-style paintings inspired by vintage cinema posters. Accompanied by video interviews and a travelogue drawn from the artist’s journeys across Singapore, SINGAPORAMA becomes both a tribute and a time capsule of the city’s layered identities.
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| Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore |
Beyond the artworks, the festival atmosphere spills into the streets with the expanded Art X Social: Festival Village, now stretching across both St. Andrew’s Road and Empress Lawn at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Over the weekends, festivalgoers can look forward to a lively mix of food and drink offerings, DJ sets, and roving performances which is perfect for winding down after a night of art-hopping with friends and family.
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| Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore |
Festival Programmes
The four festival weekends are also packed with engaging free and ticketed programmes. Highlights include the Sing Song Social Club (free) on 10 January 2026, where Singapore’s beloved community choir gathers at the Padang Atrium for an open, feel-good singing session that celebrates the joy of voices coming together as one.
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| Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore |
For a more unconventional way to experience art, My Tour, My Rules with Zaki Hussain ($15 per pax) offers a refreshing twist on guided tours. Taking place on 10, 17, and 24 January, social media personality Zaki Hussain leads participants through the Gallery with his signature wit, humour, and irreverence, spotlighting artworks that dared to bend — or break — the rules of their time.
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| Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore |
Those seeking a multi-sensory experience can look forward to Life Prep ($30 per pax), where movement, food, and art intersect. Held on 10 and 17 January, this intimate session draws inspiration from Southeast Asian artworks and flavours, culminating in both savoury and sweet treats from the Gallery’s Bakery Brera. It’s a journey that celebrates shared culinary heritage, where stories behind spices and ingredients are just as meaningful as the tastes themselves.
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| Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore |
Throughout the festival weekends, Gallery Gigs (free) add another layer of energy to Light to Night Singapore 2026, with a line-up of free performances by well-loved homegrown artists taking the stage and bringing the Civic District to life through music.
With its longest run yet, expanded spaces, and deeply community-driven theme, Light to Night Singapore 2026 promises to be a powerful start to the year; one that reminds us of what’s possible when we come together, slow down, and share moments under the glow of art and light.
To stay updated on festival happenings, visit lighttonight.sg and follow National Gallery Singapore on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can also connect with Light to Night Singapore on its dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages.
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