The best things to do in Singapore this week (May 26-June 1)

i Light Singapore returns from May 29 to June 21, 2025, illuminating the city with 17 sustainable light installations by 20 local and international artists. Centred around the theme To Gather, the festival expands beyond Marina Bay to include South Beach, the Singapore River, and Raffles Place for the first time. Admission is free, with festival hours from 7.30pm to 11pm daily, and extended to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

GastroBeats 2025 is set to light up the Bayfront Event Space from May 29 to June 22, 2025, offering free live music, street food, and carnival fun. This year's edition introduces a collaboration with Jelilo, with life-sized characters of Captain Skull, One Eye, and Scarface roaming the grounds for photo opportunities. Foodies can indulge in offerings from popular local vendors such as Warabimochi Kamakura, Papi’s Tacos, and more. Music enthusiasts shouldn't miss the new immersive experience, Rewind. Replay. Remix: SG Edition, which takes you through immersive zones spotlighting three generations of music in Singapore.

Pasar Pink returns with its boldest edition yet. This market features over 70 vendors spanning fashion, food, art, wellness, and more. Expect a buzzing line-up with everything from storytelling sessions by drag queens and live pro wrestling to DJ sets, pet parades, and tasty bites from local eateries.

The Gallery Children's Biennale returns to National Gallery Singapore from May 31, 2025 to March 29, 2026 for its fifth edition, themed Tomorrow We'll Be.... Coinciding with the Gallery’s 10th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, this year’s event invites visitors to explore the possibilities of their future through the values of joy, kindness, dream and love. Families can look forward to eight immersive and multi-sensory installations by local and international artists, alongside a series of engaging programmes designed to inspire creativity and reflection.

Get ready to move, groove, and get a little weird in the best way possible – Thundercat is heading back our way with more genre-bending goodness. The Grammy-winning bassist, vocalist, and musical chameleon is set to take the stage with his trusty six-string bass at the Esplanade Concert Hall on May 29 as part of the Mosaic Music Series. Best known for cult favourites like 'Them Changes' and 'Walk On By', the LA native’s live show is as unpredictable as it is unforgettable. ICYMI, he recently hit the Coachella stage as an orange cat with Yo Gabba Gabba! With festival cred from Glastonbury to Fuji Rock, collabs spanning Kendrick Lamar to Childish Gambino, and a Grammy-winning album (It Is What It Is) in his arsenal, this is one wild sonic ride you'd want to take.

Reel Rock returns to The Projector at Cineleisure with a lineup of climbing films that dive deep into themes of tenacity, redemption, and human connection. These documentaries include Death of Villains, The Cobra & the Heart and Riders on the Storm. On May 17, guests can also check out a one-day market and shop bouldering essentials from brands like Full Crimp Milk and Isaac Thread. More information can be found here.

Local creative community GOFY presents Melting Thresholds, a group exhibition spotlighting four emerging Southeast Asian artists – Shu and Money Wang from Malaysia, Nina Sach from Thailand, and Jaeyyelle from Singapore. Running from May 17 to September 14, 2025 at Sweet Cheeks, the show explores dreamlike spaces through a series of quirky artworks that reflect on identity, memory, and transformation. The exhibition also features limited-edition gelato flavours by Sweet Cheeks, and all artworks are available for purchase on-site. 

Local bedding brand SOJAO has launched its Art Pop-Up at its store at 251 Joo Chiat Road, running from May 10 to June 15. The pop-up features a curated selection of homeware and decoration by local artists. If you’re looking to refresh your living space, swing by and discover a range of unique finds – from Big Red Chilli’s vibrant, quirky artworks, to Rousong.ware’s one-of-a-kind ceramics, and Every Knitted Thing’s handmade trinkets like knitted coasters to brighten up your home.

Local brand Beyond The Vines celebrates its 10th anniversary with Dumpling District – a  tribute to its cult-favourite Dumpling Bags. This special experience invites shoppers to personalise their bags with bold, playful touches. For an additional $10, a BTV Doodle – available in two designs – can be added to your Dumpling Bag. You can also customise a beaded keychain charm and attach it to your bag. The Dumpling District is happening at the Beyond The Vines Design House, New Bahru, and Takashimaya S.C. stores from now until May 30, 2025. Online shoppers will receive a pre-assembled BTV Doodle and keychain with orders placed on June 1, 2025.

Step through a vine-covered entrance and into the realm of Wonders of Nature, the New Art Museum Singapore's newest kid-friendly exhibition that highlights the significance of the natural world. Featuring works by eight international artists including Yayoi Kusama and Go Yayanagi, the exhibition unfolds across five sections, each offering interactive artworks and immersive projections that bring the beauty of nature to life through art.

National Gallery Singapore’s latest show highlights the journeys of influential Asian artists like Foujita Tsuguharu, Georgette Chen, and Liu Kang, who brought their unique cultural backgrounds to Paris at the height of its modern art movement. The exhibition uncovers how their personal stories and heritage shaped their work, leaving a lasting mark on Paris’s art scene and influencing the course of modern art. 

Experience the inner workings of the mind like never before in Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind, opening on March 1 at Marina Bay Sands. Created by Moment Factory, this immersive exhibition takes visitors through eight interactive rooms that explore themes such as memory, perception, and ego. Using innovative technology and artistic expression, the exhibit brings the intangible aspects of the human psyche to life in a visually stunning and thought-provoking way.

The stunning Gardens by the Bay is set to get even more magical this festive season. For the first time in Singapore, all your Disney and Pixar favourites are coming to life at the floral wonderland’s new Garden of Wonder showcase. As you stroll through Gardens by the Bay’s Floral Fantasy, you’ll be greeted by eight stunning themed topiaries featuring lovable characters like Winnie the Pooh, Ariel and Flounder from The Little Mermaid, and Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Get in on the magic here.

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic promises to be even bigger and better, with an additional 10,000 square feet of space for even more magical moments to unfold. Step into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. With realistic replicas of what you see in the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, there are sure to be a ton of photo-worthy opportunities. Find out more here.

Batik, a timeless art form and symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, takes centre stage at the Peranakan Museum. This captivating exhibition shines a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial journeys of three remarkable Peranakan women from the bustling port city of Pekalongan, Indonesia. Meet Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and granddaughter Jane Hendromartono, each a batik master in her own right. Discover their inspiring stories through about 200 objects, including cherished family heirlooms and 60 stunning batik pieces from the 1890s to the 1980s. You can also explore batik’s evolution through time at the interactive stations. Then take a fun mobile quiz to uncover your personal batik style and score an exclusive bookmark to take home. Keep an eye out for exciting pop-up performances, hands-on craft activities, and engaging curator tours during your visit.