August in Singapore usually means one thing: it’s National Day season. Whether you’re patriotic at heart or not so much, it’s the one month of the year to ride extra hard for all things local. There are National Day parties, livestream events of the parade, and exhibitions that put homegrown talent and stories in the spotlight.

But the month’s not just all about red and white celebrations. There’s the return of Singapore Night Festival, the annual Outdoor Fair, and Pop Mart’s biggest toy convention (Molly fans, take note). Here are all the best things to do in Singapore.

The best events in August

1. Step into a fantasy world after dark at the Singapore Night Festival

Artist Impression of 'Tales of Earth and Sea.' — Photograph: The Fox, The FolksArtist Impression of ‘Tales of Earth and Sea.’

Over three weekends, the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct takes on a new life as the sun sets. Back for its 17th edition, the Singapore Night Festival returns with a fantastical twist, featuring a programme inspired by myths, legends and folklore from Singapore and across Southeast Asia. Expect larger-than-life installations, live performances and immersive experiences that bring stories of the Merlion, Sang Kancil, La Galigo and many other legendary figures to life, turning the arts and museum precinct into an enchanting wonderland after dark.

Photograph: Home Dawn & DuskSingapore laksa linguine

If your idea of a perfect weekend involves hopping from one tasty bite to the next, make a date with Jiak by the Quay at CQ @ Clarke Quay on August 22 and 23, from 3pm to 10pm. This one-weekend-only festival brings together some of Singapore’s favourite restaurants and homegrown brands, serving up exclusive creations that put inventive spins on familiar local flavours. Tuck into laksa linguine from Home Dawn & Dusk, and chilli crab tteokbokki at Hanjip, or Peking duck tacos and satay shooters from Mimi.

There are plenty more treats to discover, alongside interactive workshops like edible cookie painting (redeemable with a minimum spend of $20 at CQ or any Jiak by the Quay booth), a complimentary customised artwork of your favourite dish on canvas, live entertainment and pet-friendly experiences, making it an easy day out for foodies and families alike. ICYMI, you’ll still be able to enjoy selected festival-exclusive menu items at participating CQ dining outlets until September 13. Find out more here.

To coincide with the 2026 Singapore Night Festival, the annual eco-conscious Green-House Festival returns to Temasek Shophouse for its fifth edition with a day-to-night lineup. Centred on the theme Don’t Waste A Good Time, the event highlights sustainable dining with a six-course dinner co-curated with Nottofu made entirely from discarded ingredients. Visitors can also explore a marketplace of over 70 local sustainable brands spanning fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, alongside hands-on workshops such as crafting herbal dehumidifiers or dog-safe chendol.

Photograph: Sarkasi SaidSarkasi Said, NAUTI: All Things Naughty and Nautical

Presented by ART AGAIN, NAUTI: All Things Naughty and Nautical pairs paintings of bumboats with sensual nude sketches to examine how societal views contrast celebrated symbols of modernisation with hidden depictions of the human form. Surprisingly, many of these contrasting works were created by the same artists. The showcase features over 50 mid-20th-century artworks from 15 private collections, including pieces by local masters Cheong Soo Pieng, Chua Ek Kay, Anthony Poon, Ng Eng Teng, and Teng Nee Cheong.

Photograph: Tan Lip SengIn A Singapore Market, 1962, Chinatown, Singapore, part of the Collection of the National Museum of Singapore

Get to see Singapore as you’ve never seen it before. Or maybe you have, but you just haven’t been paying close attention. Presented by Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, A Life in Colour is a landmark solo exhibition showcasing the archive of prolific photographer Tan Lip Seng. Timed alongside National Day, the exhibition captures everyday Singaporean life – from wet markets to construction workers – in vibrant detail, tracing the nation’s journey to a modern metropolis. The showcase launches with a new photobook created with Tan’s sons, featuring unseen final works that highlight his evolution from film to smartphone photography.

The fourth edition of the Outdoor Fair returns with a two-day lineup for sports and adventure enthusiasts. Spread across interactive zones, the event features a Discovery Zone with sports massage and recovery demos, live bouldering obstacle courses, trail runs, and free Pilates sessions. A major highlight is the debut of the Singapore Snow Expo, offering ski and snowboard gear, expert travel advice, and a free ski trip giveaway. Participating brands include Fjällräven, Mammut, Goliath, Helinox, and Nitecore.

Singapore’s first and largest shochu festival, Shochu Yoka Loka, brings together four Japanese-owned brands – Suiraku, Isego Honten, Orihara Shoten, and Meihin – at One&Co for a day of unlimited tastings. Guests can sample over 100 types of shochu, including rare and exclusive labels, and meet guest representatives from three renowned Kagoshima distilleries. Each ticket includes a complimentary bento box prepared by Chef Jing of Suiraku, with options to join a post-event masterclass led by top shochu sommeliers.

Photograph: National Gallery SingaporeCrossing (Home Coming) (1964). Lai Foong Moi. Collection of Singapore Airlines Limited

National Gallery Singapore presents Crossing, a solo exhibition dedicated to the Malayan-born Singaporean artist Lai Foong Moi – her first in over six decades. A key yet understated figure in local art history who trained at NAFA and in France, Lai captured transitional Singapore life through portraits, still lifes, and landscapes of women and workers. A key highlight is Crossing (Home Coming), an oil painting depicting two women and a boy on a boat that subtly reflects on migration and nationhood.

Photograph: Eian SiewPrototype Island Homecoming

Following its debut at Milan Design Week, where it earned a Special Mention at the Fuorisalone Awards, Prototype Island arrives at the ArtScience Museum. Inspired by Singapore’s constant state of evolution, the exhibition features 15 experimental in-development projects by local designers addressing challenges in community care, technology, and infrastructure. The homecoming presentation marks the start of a year-long collaboration between Marina Bay Sands’ ArtScience Museum and the DesignSingapore Council.

Photograph: Pop Mart SingaporePop Toy Show Singapore

The Pop Toy Show returns for its sole 2026 edition, focusing on the 20th anniversary of Pop Mart’s iconic character Molly. Attendees can look forward to anniversary merchandise, collectibles, and appearances by creator Kenny Wong alongside fellow artists Libby Frame (Peach Riot), BAO (KUBO), Kaka (Nyota), and Chokocider (DUCKOO). Collectors can also queue for the first-come, first-served release of Matt Gondek and Ron English’s Lil’ Shit POPaganda figurines, limited to 100 pieces.

Photograph: Chua Ek Kay, Confluence Art SpacePalm Trees and a Fountain (Raffles Hotel) 1992

Confluence Art Space presents The Quiet Revolutionary, a month-long exhibition dedicated to late Cultural Medallion recipient Chua Ek Kay. Gathering over 50 career-defining works spanning three decades, the showcase traces his impact on contemporary Chinese ink through his blending of classical techniques with abstraction and modern composition. Highlights include his atmospheric depictions of old Singapore streets like Cecil Street and City Hall, as well as the 2.5-meter-wide lotus illustration Peace by the Pond.

Katong Square, Kim Choo Kueh Chang, CREO Customs, and Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy transform into a neon-lit playground for Kampung Elektrik. Over four days, the street festival brings together over 30 local indie fashion and lifestyle brands – including VIVRE activewear, Untaian, Tonêff, and Pakar Batik – giving visitors a chance to meet the creators. Live music features musical duo Jack and Rai alongside Amanda Tee, Krysta Joy, and a Southeast Asian “batik trance” house set by Better Say Yess.

MINT Museum of Toys presents Stitched with Hope, Driven by Speed, a pop-up exhibition exploring women’s history and femininity across two chapters. Century-Long Journey of the Modern Woman displays antique Asian dolls, Barbies, Chanel and Hermès accessories, and rare perfume bottles, alongside pop culture icons like Shirley Temple. Meanwhile, Tin 2 Turbo highlights eight pioneering women in motorsport with historic racing memorabilia. Interactive programmes include drink-blending, perfume bars, model-making, and an October screening of Le Mans.

Photograph: F1® Exhibition SingaporeF1® Exhibition Singapore

Warm up your engines before the Singapore GP with the F1 Exhibition at Gardens by the Bay. This immersive showcase features seven themed galleries tracing the sport’s evolution from the 1950s to today’s high–tech spectacle. Explore iconic circuit moments, engineering breakthroughs and legendary cars like the 2011 championship–winning Red Bull RB7 up close. The display includes race suits and artefacts from teams like Ferrari and McLaren, a racing simulator to test your skills in the cockpit and a final gallery dedicated to the city’s historic night races.

Photograph: Lisson GalleryHiroshi Sugimoto’s ‘Brush Impression, Heart Sutra’ (2023

Renowned Japanese contemporary artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto’s first major solo exhibition in Southeast Asia lands at Singapore Art Museum. Arranged in a continuous mandala layout based on the five Buddhist elements, Form is Emptiness features over 60 works and personal fossils spanning five decades of his practice. Highlights include the 2023 calligraphy installation Brush Impression, Heart Sutra alongside classic black-and-white photographs like U.A. Walker, New York (1978) and Tyrrhenian Sea, Scilla (1993), showcasing his work across photography, sculpture, and architectural design.