If you’ve ever found yourself sitting around after the Lo Hei, scrolling on your phone while waiting for the next round of snacks, you’re not alone. Chinese New Year visits are joyful, but there’s often a lull once the food is done and conversations quieten down. That’s where having a simple, festive activity can make all the difference.
This Lunar New Year, Monopoly Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse Edition offers an easy way to turn those in-between moments into shared laughter and friendly competition, without needing to explain complicated rules or set up anything elaborate.
Designed with Lunar New Year traditions in mind, the board is dressed in auspicious reds and golds, instantly setting the festive mood. It feels right at home on the coffee table during house visits, drawing both adults and children in with its celebratory design. Even relatives who “don’t usually play games” will linger and watch the game once the dice rolls.
The Monopoly Chinese New Year Celebration Edition Board Game includes a festive gameboard, the 3D Zodiac Wheel, 6 gold-colored tokens and markers, 6 title deed cards, 12 Fortune cards, 18 Hongbao cards, 2 dice, money pack, and a game guide.
Instead of the usual properties, this edition has you collecting themed shops and festive gifts, all in the spirit of finding good fortune. One of the most entertaining moments comes from the 3D Zodiac Wheel — a small but exciting twist that keeps the table engaged. It’s the kind of feature that sparks reactions, teasing and laughter, especially when luck takes an unexpected turn.
The Hongbao cards also feel especially fitting for the season. Players give red envelopes to one another, gaining or losing money depending on timing and generosity which is a playful nod to real-life Lunar New Year traditions that makes the game feel timely rather than just themed.
With 6 gold-coloured tokens to choose from - a Horse, Firecrackers, Lion Dance Head and Yuan Bao, it’s easy for everyone to pick something that feels personal. The game supports 2 to 6 players aged 8 and up, making it flexible enough for mixed-age gatherings during visits.
Whether you’re hosting relatives at home, visiting extended family, or looking for something to do while waiting for the next round of visiting, this Monopoly edition fits naturally into the rhythm of Chinese New Year. It’s screen-free, inclusive, and doesn’t require everyone to be deeply competitive, just willing to sit down and play.
If you’re planning ahead for the festive season and wondering how to keep guests entertained beyond food and conversation, this is one option that brings people together around the table — and keeps the good fortune rolling.
The Monopoly Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse Edition is priced at S$51.90 and is available at Toys’R’Us stores islandwide, with festive offers and deals (up to 25% off) available in-store for selected Monopoly & Hasbro Gaming Board Games!
For families with younger kids, there’s also a festive find worth noting. The Lunar New Year Furblet Luck-Ee is currently going at $9.90 for a limited time, available exclusively at Toys’R’Us — a fun, affordable option if you’re looking for something small and festive during the New Year period.
The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) ushers in the new year with its much-anticipated Pongal Open House 2026, held across two festive weekends on 10, 11, 17 and 18 January 2026. This year’s edition welcomes you into a village-themed celebration that captures the heart of Pongal — a time of gratitude, harvest and the enduring strength of community.
Pongal 2026 itself is celebrated from 13 to 17 January, traditionally beginning on the last day of the ninth month in the Tamil calendar. Observed over four days, Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community to express gratitude to the Sun God, Surya, for a successful harvest and to welcome a bountiful new season.
It is also a time when cattle — especially the cow, which is considered sacred in Hindu belief — are honoured for their role in agriculture and daily life. Beyond its agricultural roots, Pongal is marked by temple offerings, lively social gatherings and new beginnings, as families don new clothes and carry out spring cleaning in their homes.
While we may be far removed from traditional harvest seasons in an urban city like Singapore, the Pongal Open House offers a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with these values. It is a chance to introduce children — and remind ourselves — of the importance of respecting nature and animals, while setting intentions for a fresh and hopeful start to the year.
Rooted in the warmth of rural life, the Open House brings together cultural performances, traditional crafts, hands-on workshops and a vibrant festive market, creating a welcoming space where generations and communities gather to celebrate the harvest season together.
Celebrating Community at the Heart of Pongal
Community takes centre stage at Pongal Open House 2026 through two meaningful initiatives that honour collective participation and shared traditions.
One of the highlights is the creation of the largest kolam made with harvest crops, an ambitious and symbolic artwork led by Mdm Vijaya Mohan. Created in collaboration with volunteers from Singapore’s migrant and domestic worker communities, this kolam will be showcased on 18 January 2026 from 11am to 1pm at the Indian Heritage Centre façade, and will be submitted to the Kolam Book of Records. Admission is free, and visitors are invited to witness this powerful expression of unity and tradition.
Running throughout the Open House period from 10 to 18 January 2026, the Centre will also present a community art installation created in collaboration with SunLove Active Ageing Centre, Serangoon. Displayed along the Level 1 Lobby Staircase, the installation features 30 hand-painted Pongal pots, lovingly crafted by seniors from the centre. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, the installation celebrates creativity, memory, and the passing down of cultural heritage across generations.
Experiencing Pongal Through Craft, Performance and Cuisine
Beyond its community showcases, Pongal Open House 2026 offers visitors an immersive journey into Pongal traditions through live demonstrations and performances.
Across all four event days, the Indian Heritage Centre façade will come alive with free live cultural performances from 11am to 4pm, featuring folk dances and dramatised storytelling inspired by village life. On 18 January, performances will begin from 2pm, inviting visitors to soak in the festive atmosphere alongside the community.
Visitors can also witness the artistry of traditional pottery through a live pottery demonstration by master potter Shri V.K. Munusamy from Villianur, India. Held on 10 and 11 January at the Level 1 Lobby from 10am to 5pm, the demonstration showcases the crafting of miniature Pongal pots. *Selected visitors may even bring home one of these handcrafted keepsakes.
Adding flavour to the festivities, the live Pongal cooking demonstration takes place on 10 and 11 January from 2pm to 3pm at the Centre’s façade. Watch traditional Pongal come together live as chefs share the stories and significance behind this beloved harvest dish.
Hands-On Workshops and Guided Experiences
For those keen to explore deeper, a curated selection of workshops and guided programmes offers opportunities to learn, create and experience Pongal traditions firsthand. *Registration is required via https://ihc-programmes.peatix.com.
The Pulli Kolam Workshop, held on 10 January from 10.30am to 12.30pm, introduces participants to this classical South Indian art form in a beginner-friendly setting. Conducted at the Indian Heritage Centre Office Seminar Room, the workshop is priced at $10 per participant.
On 11 January, the Tanjore Art Workshop invites participants to create their own Pongal-themed artwork using rich colours, gold foils and inlaid glass gems. This session runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm and is priced at $25 per participant.
Families can also join the Village Trail & Banana Leaf Pongal Meal on 10 January, a guided experience around Little India that explores how village customs live on in modern Singapore. The trail concludes with a village-inspired banana leaf lunch and runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm, priced at $30 per person.
For younger audiences, Mongal Pongal – Interactive Children Storytelling offers a playful and engaging session combining storytelling, craft-making and music. Conducted in Tamil and English, the programme takes place on 10 January from 11am to 12.30pm at the Level 2 Activity Room, priced at $20 per parent-child pair, and is suitable for children aged 4 to 12.
Free Family-Friendly Activities Throughout the Open House
Throughout the Open House weekends, visitors of all ages can enjoy a wide range of free activities designed for relaxed exploration and creative play.
Drop-in craft activities are available at the Level 2 Special Exhibition Gallery from 10am to 5pm on selected dates. These include decorating a DIY cattle toy inspired by Indian folk designs on 10 and 11 January, painting a Pongal pot pin on 17 and 18 January, and creating a personalised Pongal charm keychain across all four event days. Pongal-themed colouring sheets are also available, with completed artworks displayed on the Colouring Wall of Fame.
Young visitors can pick up the Pongal Special: Kids Activity Booklet from the Visitor Staff Counter at the Level 1 Lobby between 10 and 18 January, offering fun activities and easy-to-understand facts that introduce the festival’s meaning and traditions.
Additional lobby activities run across all four days, featuring interactive panels, games and festive booths that share bite-sized Pongal facts in an engaging way.
Festive Treats, Market Finds and More
A visit to Pongal Open House 2026 wouldn’t be complete without food and festive shopping. Complimentary Pongal snacks and beverages will be available at the Level 1 Lobby at 11am and 3pm on all four event days.
On 10 and 11 January, the Pongal Festive Market opens at the Level 2 Special Exhibition Gallery from 10am to 5pm, offering a curated selection of unique finds while supporting local Indian home-based businesses.
A Warm Invitation to Celebrate Together
With its village-inspired setting, strong community focus and a wide range of free and paid programmes, Pongal Open House 2026 at the Indian Heritage Centre offers a meaningful and welcoming way to celebrate the harvest season.
If you’re in the area for the festivities, it’s also worth spending time around Little India. From 13 to 17 January 2026, the neighbourhood comes alive with even more colour and energy for the Pongal Festival, featuring dazzling light displays at the Little India Pongal Light-up and the rare opportunity to see live cattle adorned with flowers at the Pongal Cattle Farm along Clive Street.
Whether you’re there for the performances, workshops, food, or simply to soak in the festive atmosphere, this annual celebration invites you to gather, give thanks and begin the year together in the spirit of community and renewal.
To learn more about the traditions of Pongal, visit https://www.roots.gov.sg/ich-landing/ich/pongal.
Just like that, we’re down to the final days of 2025, and whether you’re counting down with excitement or ready to close this chapter with a bang, there’s no better way to welcome 2026 than with a proper celebration 🎆
From dazzling fireworks and K-pop concerts to rooftop parties, riverfront countdowns, heartland festivities and even a classy New Year’s concert experience, Singapore is pulling out all the stops this New Year’s Eve. Here’s your ultimate guide to where (and how) to ring in 2026.
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ONE Countdown 2026: Islandwide Celebrations
Singaporeans can welcome the New Year across multiple locations on 31 December, including Marina Bay, Sentosa, and seven heartland sites. As part of ONE Countdown 2026, expect islandwide celebrations complete with performances, activities and fireworks displays.
With the scale of festivities planned, public transport operators are also expected to extend services for the night, with details to be announced in December.
Marina Bay: Fireworks, Light Art & Festive Markets
The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2026 promises a vibrant mix of art, music and festive cheer.
Highlights include:
Togetherland by World Christmas Market for festive bites and shopping
Live performances at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Brightening Lives, a series of light projections on The Fullerton Hotel Singapore showcasing artworks by artists with disabilities
The night culminates in a spectacular midnight fireworks display, lighting up the Marina Bay skyline as 2026 arrives.
CQ @ Clarke Quay: “The Next Stage: New Age”
This free-to-public countdown event is the only official countdown along the Singapore River.
Step into the future as music and immersive art collide across four themed Biomes, all connected by a central Command Centre at Fountain Square. The night features:
A five-act Drone Show above the river
Live performances by electronic band Nation One and Zouk’s DJ Gainzter
Futuristic visuals and neon-lit installations created with local artists
If live music is your vibe, head to the Countdown 2026 Concert at Singapore Sports Hub, headlined by K-pop legends Super Junior. Joining them on stage are Chinese singer Cheng Huan and local favourites Benjamin Kheng, Tabitha Nauser and Iman Fandi.
Beyond the concert, the precinct will be buzzing with stage performances, interactive activities and festive processions. Over at Kallang, expect the longest fireworks display in Singapore, spanning 35 minutes across four chapters, with the first segment starting around 9pm — perfect for families.
Celebrations extend to seven heartland sites — Boon Lay, Keat Hong, Marsiling, Nee Soon, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands.
Organised by the People’s Association, these countdowns feature live performances and family-centric activities, bringing the festive spirit right into the neighbourhoods. Details will be shared in early December.
Celebrating with Our Migrant Worker Community
Five migrant worker recreation centres — Kranji, Penjuru, Soon Lee, Terusan and Tuas South — along with over 10 dormitories, will host New Year’s Eve celebrations. Expect live performances, food stations, carnival games and lucky draws, with fireworks at the Soon Lee centre — a meaningful way to ring in 2026 together.
CÉ LA VI: Glamorous Rooftop Countdown
For a luxe New Year’s Eve experience, CÉ LA VI offers breathtaking views from 57 floors above the city.
Throughout December, guests can enjoy festive brunches, seasonal cocktails like Jingle Juice and Santa’s Nightcap, and indulgent Christmas dining. On New Year’s Eve, the celebrations peak with:
A five-course NYE dinner at S$298++ per person
The Midnight Rouge Countdown Party at the Club Lounge — think music, dancing and front-row views of Marina Bay fireworks
If you’re welcoming 2026 in style, this is the ultimate rooftop destination.
Capitol Singapore: Countdown to 2026 – Colorburst Edition
Capitol Singapore turns New Year’s Eve into a vibrant, high-energy celebration.
Dance to live performances by 4Play, SISAY and DJ TMO, enjoy stage games with prizes, snack on complimentary popcorn and nachos, and snap photos at Instagram-worthy zones like the Color Burst Photo Zone and Hologram Mirror Resolution Wall.
The night ends with midnight fireworks and a magical foam snow drop, making it a colourful way to welcome 2026. Tickets start from S$38.
Golden Village: A Classy Start to 2026
If you prefer a quieter, more refined start to the year, Golden Village presents the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert 2026, streamed live from Vienna on 1 January 2026 at 6:15 PM.
Conducted by Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, this iconic concert will be screened live at Golden Village Suntec, complete with welcome drinks and a limited-edition bookmark — a beautiful way to ease into the New Year.
However you choose to celebrate…
Whether you’re counting down under fireworks, dancing into the New Year, celebrating with your community, or starting 2026 on a cultured note, Singapore has no shortage of ways to make the final night of 2025 unforgettable.
Here’s to a bright, joyful and exciting 2026! See you in the brand new year! ✨🥂
Singapore Art Week 2026returns at Singapore Art Museum (SAM) with an expanded programme of exhibitions, performances and public art initiatives that activate both the museum and the city. Spanning sound, performance, contemporary art and research-driven practices, SAM’s 2026 offerings bring together local and international artists across multiple sites, positioning listening, material inquiry and collective experience at the centre of this year’s edition.
Sonic Shaman 2024. Image courtesy of TheCube Project Space.
Sonic Shaman 2026: Borderless — Singapore Debut
A key highlight of the first weekend of Singapore Art Week is the Singapore debut of Sonic Shaman 2026: Borderless, a large-scale international sound festival presented in collaboration with TheCube Project Space (Taipei). The festival brings together more than 20 artists, musicians and thinkers working across experimental sound, performance and contemporary art.
Drawing on Southeast Asia’s diverse sonic traditions and vernacular musical histories, Sonic Shaman foregrounds emerging experimental practices while creating a shared platform for cross-cultural exchange. Live performances, sound works and oral presentations unfold across the festival, inviting audiences to engage with sound as both artistic practice and collective experience.
Cheryl Ong, Louis Quek, DuckUnit and Yuen Chee Wai. Images courtesy of the artists
Co-curated by Singapore Art Museum and TheCube Project Space, Sonic Shaman 2026: Borderless is presented as part of Singapore Art Week and features commissions from Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention. This edition is jointly initiated by the National Arts Council, Singapore Art Museum and Mapletree Investments, with support from the Singapore Tourism Board.
‘Memory Market’ as part of SAW at SAM. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Memory Market
Developed alongside Sonic Shaman 2026: Borderless, the Memory Market extends the festival’s focus beyond sound into other sensory registers. Through creative booths, workshops and culinary collaborations by Singapore-based creatives and designers, the programme engages taste, scent and touch as pathways to memory, encounter and collective participation.
(Left) Elia Nurvista, Long Hanging Fruits, 2024. Image courtesy of Mikael Lundgren. (Right) Bagus Pandega. Detail of L.O.O.P. (Loss Overgrown Organic Pulse), 2025. Image courtesy of Philipp Hänger and Kunsthalle
Material Intelligence Series: Nafasan Bumi ~ An Endless Harvest
Ahead of Singapore Art Week, SAM opens Elia Nurvista and Bagus Pandega: Nafasan Bumi ~ An Endless Harvest, the third presentation in the museum’s Material Intelligence series. The exhibition features kinetic, multimedia and sculptural works that examine Indonesia’s extractive economies and the material flows associated with plantations, mining and emerging electric futures.
Through their practices, the artists trace the intersections of resource extraction, colonial legacies and the climate crisis, situating material inquiry within broader environmental and socio-political contexts.
Momentary Pulses: Art in the Central Business District. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Momentary Pulses: Art in the Central Business District
Beyond the museum, SAM launches Momentary Pulses: Art in the Central Business District, a new two-year public art trail under The Everyday Museum initiative. Featuring newly commissioned, site-specific works by local artists, the trail unfolds across building facades, passageways and pedestrian routes within Singapore’s CBD.
Responding to the rhythms, sounds and logics of the commercial district, these works introduce moments of listening, reflection and engagement within everyday urban movement.
Singapore Biennale 2025 Curator Tour, Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention — Citywide Activation
During Singapore Art Week, visitors can also experience Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention, which continues across multiple citywide venues, including SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Featuring over 100 artworks and 30 new commissions by more than 80 artists, the Biennale presents contemporary art across heritage sites, commercial spaces and neighbourhood environments.
Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) Tour of Singapore Biennale 2025 (Tanglin Halt). Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
An expanded programme of tours, including curator-led walkthroughs, Singapore Sign Language tours and special bus tours, further activates the Biennale during SAW, offering additional entry points into its themes and sites.
Exhibition view of ‘Talking Objects’ at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Collection Exhibitions at SAM
Within SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, exhibitions such as Talking Objects and The Living Room present works from the museum’s collection alongside international loans.
Talking Objects explores the emotional and experiential dimensions of everyday objects, examining how ordinary materials carry layered histories and memories. Running in parallel, The Living Room reflects on the afterlives of performance through participatory works, archival materials and ephemeral gestures.
Exhibition view of ‘The Living Room’ at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
These exhibitions are supported by artist talks, performances, workshops and drop-in activities throughout Singapore Art Week.
Exhibition view of the Learning Gallery at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Learning and Research Programmes
SAM’s broader programme includes the Learning Gallery, which invites younger audiences and families to engage with contemporary art through experimentation and material exploration across themes of identity, home, nature, memory and place.
Exhibition view of the Learning Gallery at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
In Conversation with SAM Residencies presents a multi-modal overview of the research-driven practices of artists, curators and creative practitioners in residence, offering insights into ongoing artistic processes and collaborative methodologies.
Subodh Gupta. Image courtesy of Le Bon Marche
Public Access During Singapore Art Week
With free admission to all exhibitions and Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention presentations from 22 to 31 January 2026, SAM’s Singapore Art Week programme offers wide public access to a diverse range of contemporary art experiences across the museum and the city.
More information on Singapore Art Museum’s Singapore Art Week 2026 programmes is available on the museum’s official website.
Singapore Art Week
📍 SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark and various locations in Singapore📅 22 to 31 January 2026
⏰ 10am to 7pm
Extended Hours: 10am to 9pm on 23, 24, 30 and 31 January 2026
🎫Free throughout SAW 2026
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