The best things to do in Singapore this National Day

Step into six decades of Singapore cool at ArtScience Museum’s latest blockbuster: SingaPop! 60 Years of Singapore Pop Culture. This vibrant multimedia exhibition is a punchy, nostalgic ride through the sights, sounds and slang that shaped a nation. From kopi breaks and Kit Chan to Singlish sass and sizzling streetwear, it celebrates the cultural DNA of Singapore, told through the sharp, fabulous lens of Dick Lee. Explore five immersive chapters spanning music, fashion, film and food, with cameos from icons like Kumar, Rahimah Rahim and more. No matter which generation you are, this love letter to Singaporean identity will have you laughing, reminiscing and maybe even tearing up.

Celebrate SG60 at Suntec City from now till August 31 with Together In Jubilee Joy – a festive showcase of heritage, hawker culture and community spirit. The Atrium (Tower 1 & 2) transforms into a hawker-inspired playground, complete with a chendol ball pit, dragon slide, and fun food-themed games like prata flipping and chicken rice stacking. Complete all challenges to redeem local-themed keepsakes. Then, take a moment to give back by donating $5 to Community Chest’s SGSHARE and penning your wish on a 600-tile digital mural by local artist Kow Fong (Ah Guo). Don’t miss the mallwide Step Into SG60 Trail, a series of heritage showcases by community partners, from stories of Singapore’s pioneers to a tribute to hawker heritage. And on August 8 and 9, Suntec Plaza comes alive with free ice cream, live music, and a buzzing outdoor marketplace featuring homegrown brands. Find out more here.

Now in its seventh year, the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day concert returns with even more heart and spirit, as part of this year’s SG60 celebrations. Expect an evening of stirring performances and Singapore pride, brought to life by some of our most beloved homegrown talents, including Kit Chan, Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza, Yung Raja, Charlie Lim and more. For the first time ever, sisters Tay Kewei and Tay Kexin will perform together on stage. Hosting the night’s festivities are Gurmit Singh, Yasminne Cheng, Zhin Sadali and Nithiyia Rao, leading the crowd through a night filled with laughter, memories and the shared pride of being Singaporean. The night will also include the live debut of ‘Ties That Bloom’, a new National Day song by Hady Mirza.

In case you missed it, The Projector will return to its original home at Golden Mile Tower this August. But the reel good news doesn’t stop there – The Projector is marking Singapore’s 60th birthday with Majulah Cinema!, a month-long celebration of homegrown films and filmmakers running through August and September. Expect a curated selection of 10 compelling titles, created and handpicked by five acclaimed local directors: Calleen Koh, He Shuming, Kirsten Tan, K. Rajagopal and Quen Wong. From bold indies to rarely screened gems, this is a cinematic love letter to Singapore told through the lenses of the very talents shaping its film scene. With director introductions and intimate post-screening Q&As, it’s more than just a film fest – it’s a front-row seat to the future and history of local cinema.

This National Day, National Museum of Singapore is pulling out all the stops. From now till August 9, the city’s oldest museum transforms into a buzzing hub of patriotic pride, creative play and family fun. Highlights include Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage Brick by Brick, a vibrant LEGO-powered showcase filled with dioramas, digital colouring and a record-breaking mural-in-the-making. After sunset, stick around for the museum’s stunning Canvas of Light projection show – it’s back, brighter and more meaningful than ever. And on August 9? Expect four floors of themed activities, a heritage hunt, crafty fun, and a live NDP screening on the Front Lawn picnic-style. It’s nostalgia, innovation and national spirit rolled into one unmissable celebration. Find out more here. 

Get hyped for Majulah Fiesta, Singapore Sports Hub’s National Day weekend bash. This free, three-day celebration is all about local love, featuring a pet fair (cue adorable costume parade), homegrown music acts like Iman Fandi and The Island Voices, and a bustling artisans market packed with indie gems. There’s also a high-energy fitness party if you fancy sweating it out for the nation, and of course, the grand finale: live screenings of the NDP at OCBC Square, Stadium Roar and Water Sports Centre, aerial flypast up in the skies and jaw-dropping fireworks for a full five minutes. Red and white outfit: mandatory. Find out more here.

Class is officially in session at New Bahru this August – but don’t worry, there’s no homework here. As part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations, the new school of cool launches City In Session, a month-long festival brimming with collabs, creativity, and craft gin. Look forward to musical lawn parties, guided photowalks, design jam sessions, and pop-up tea sanctuaries, all helmed by New Bahru’s newly minted Heads of Department, an initiative that gives a home to leading creative voices and culture-shapers. Sip Brass Lion G&Ts while making bonsai or leather keychains, or feast on seafood and kueh paired with bold local spirits. It all wraps with Singapore Food Festival’s roving food truck for the grand finale weekend. Find out more here.

This year’s National Day celebrations are levelling up – and for the first time ever, Marina Bay’s getting in on the Parade action. Head down to Gardens by the Bay, one of five satellite sites where you can soak in the festivities with a live telecast of the big show on August 9. But it’s not just about watching on screen – there’ll be live performances on-site too, bringing the buzz of the Padang right to the waterfront. And did we mention the dazzling fireworks display? Bonus: the Supertrees make for a pretty epic backdrop to all that patriotic energy.

If you grew up rushing for the iconic green Milo van whenever it pulled up at school, this cool collab with Adidas is about to stir some serious feels. Dropped just in time for Singapore’s 60th birthday and MILO’s 75th (cheers to double celebrations), the nostalgia-heavy capsule features playful tees repping peak local energy: ‘Running’, ‘Lepak’ and ‘Stay Home’. Score adorable Milo-inspired pins and a sachet kit of treats when you spend $150 in-store. But the real cherry on top? The iconic milo van is pulling up outside Adidas Brand Centre Orchard on August 2 and 9, between 2pm to 5pm to serve free cups of ice-cold Milo to AdiClub members. That’s one sweet way to toast the nation’s birthday.