Description

Legends from Singapore and across Asia take on new forms at SMU Arts Fest 2026: LEGENDARY, a free festival running from 21 August to 5 September.

Presented in collaboration with Singapore Night Festival, the festival brings together around 400 performers, including undergraduate and postgraduate students and SMU alumni. Exhibitions, shadow puppetry, movement and live music will transform venues around the city campus into a contemporary celebration of folklore and cultural memory.

INTO THE LORE

Explore Asian folklore through art, photography and text at the SMU de Suantio Gallery. Running throughout the festival, INTO THE LORE brings contemporary perspectives to familiar stories and includes contributions from seniors at St Vincent Home.

The exhibition is open from 12pm to 7pm from Monday to Thursday and 12pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.

ONCE UPON AN ISLAND

Watch large-scale shadows move across the façade of SMU Connexion in this non-verbal outdoor performance developed with The Finger Players.

Presented on 28 and 29 August and 4 and 5 September, the 15-minute production revisits the founding of Singapura, the legend of the swordfish at Redhill and the story of Kusu Island through shadow puppetry, movement and music. Performances begin at 7.45pm, 8.45pm and 9.45pm.

BEATIFIC

Feel the pulse of Campus Green when SMU Samba Masala and other percussion groups fill the city campus with rhythmic performances on 28 and 29 August.

Approximately 30-minute sets begin at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10pm, combining multiple percussion traditions in a lively outdoor showcase.

ICONS

The festival closes with musical tributes to legendary performers at Campus Green on 4 and 5 September. The 30-minute sets begin at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10pm.

Families beginning the September school holidays on 5 September can pair the daytime INTO THE LORE exhibition with evening performances of ICONS and ONCE UPON AN ISLAND.

Service Information

  • Dates: 21 August–5 September 2026
  • Opening hours: Programme timings vary
  • Venues: SMU de Suantio Gallery, SMU Connexion and SMU Campus Green
  • Admission: Free
  • Registration: No advance registration required for the featured public programmes; visitors may walk in
  • Suitability: All ages; children are welcome, though parents should consider individual programme content and evening timings

More Information:

🔹SMU Arts Fest 2026
🔹INTO THE LORE
🔹ONCE UPON AN ISLAND
🔹BEATIFIC
🔹ICONS

🔹Events in Singapore in August 2026
🔹Events in Singapore in September 2026
🔹All Things Singapore 2026
🔹Singapore Night Festival 2026