All Things Singapore (AT SG) 2026 – Discover Myths and Legends

Singapore’s Stories Live Here: Discover Myths and Legends at NLB’s All Things Singapore 2026

All Things Singapore AT SG Plaza Party at the Library

Singapore’s stories live here. All Things Singapore (AT SG) 2026, organised by the National Library Board (NLB) and held in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival (SNF) 2026, invites visitors to uncover the myths, legends and hidden stories woven into Singapore’s past.

Centred around the theme of “Myths and Legends”, AT SG brings Singapore’s stories to life through immersive art installations, interactive experiences, live performances and hands-on activities across the National Library Building and National Archives of Singapore (NAS), inspired by the rich collections of the National Library and NAS.

Registration is required for selected programmes, with individual booking pages available in end-July 2026.

For more information and programmes registration, visit here.

AT SG Key Highlights and Programmes

ART INSTALLATION / DISPLAY

Lovebug by ART-ZOO

All Things Singapore ATSG Lovebug Artist Impression of Lovebug. Credit: Art-Zoo National Library Board Singapore Night Festival

Celebrating Singapore’s rich heritage, Lovebug is a co-commissioned outdoor inflatable experience that reimagines the long tradition of local myths shaped by animals and native plants. Across generations, stories of creatures in forests, magical flora, and symbolic seeds have helped communities make sense of the natural world. Inspired by the endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur and the iconic red saga seed, local creative lifestyle brand ART-ZOO reimagines these local natural icons through a whimsical lens.

Beyond being a part of the langur’s real diet, saga seeds hold a deeply nostalgic place in Singaporean heritage as symbols of affection. Set amidst vibrant representations of regional flora such as nutmeg and the mystical rafflesia, they were once abundant in Singapore. Visitors can wander through a playful world of mythical plants and creatures that encourages a meaningful connection to Singapore’s biodiversity and stories.

Keep the curiosity flowing at the nearby book kiosk – browse through a small, curated selection of books and resources from NLB’s collections, featuring nature, legends and timeless tales that continue this rich storytelling tradition.

● Details: 21 August – 5 September 2026 | 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM Daily
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Plaza
● Admission: Free, no registration required. Two infl atables double up as casual reading seats to encourage lingering.
● Suitable for all ages.

Islands of Memory and Myth

Step into a navigable landscape of stories and set off on an island-hopping adventure across Singapore’s offshore islands. This display transforms the atrium into an interactive map where every stop reveals a different local legend. Visitors will encounter gripping place-based folktales and stories paired alongside authentic historical records from the National Archives collections, inviting them to examine the boundaries between community oral traditions and documented history. Features an old-school vinyl records jukebox soundscape playing archival sounds of local shores from the NAS collection.

● Details: 21 August – 5 September 2026 | 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Daily (till 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays)
● Location: National Archives of Singapore, L3 Atrium
● Admission: Free, no registration required.
● Suitable for all ages.

EXPERIENCE

The Legend of the Garfish (Phygital Adventure Hunt)

Race against time to save Hang Nadim! In this interactive building-wide adventure adapted from historical materials in our collection, participants join the legendary boy Hang Nadim as he flees an enraged king after saving the villagers of ancient Temasek from deadly garfi sh attacks. Participants must solve puzzles, decode clues on microfilms, and navigate hidden challenges stretching across multiple building levels to alter his tragic fate.

● Details: 21, 22, 28, 29 August & 4, 5 September 2026 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building (Spanning L1 Plaza, L5 Courtyard, L9 Promenade & Reading Room, L11 Reading Room)
● Admission: Free, no registration required. Complete the hunt and survey via FormSG to redeem a custom linoprint tote bag.
● Suitable for all ages.

PROGRAMMES

Whispers Behind the Stacks: Tabletop RPG

An after-hours interactive, theatrical storytelling experience crafted specifi cally for fans of local supernatural lore. Inspired closely by Singapore and Southeast Asia’s literary horror traditions, participants step into the shoes of 1950s archivists and researchers investigating a rediscovered cache of forgotten horror manuscripts from colonial Malaya, slowly uncovering disturbing truths hidden within the archive itself.

● Details: 21 & 28 August 2026 | 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L5 Imagination & Possibility Room
● Admission: Free, registration required (Limited capacity of 30 pax per session).
● Suitable for adults and youths aged 15 and above.

All Things Singapore AT SG National Library

Film Screening (National Library Building)

Enjoy a public nocturnal cinematic presentation under the stars at the open plaza, showcasing curated stories connected to local myths and legends. (Film title pending final confirmation from the project workgroup).

● Details: 22 August 2026 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Plaza
● Admission: Free, no registration required.
● Suitable for all ages.

Film Screenings in Collaboration with the Asian Film Archive and Singapore Night Festival

A specially curated cinema series presented in collaboration with the Asian Film Archive (AFA) and Singapore Night Festival. This series brings supernatural folklore from across the region to life on the silver screen, screening curated horror films tied to historical regional myths and supernatural tales.

The line-up includes The Oily Man, Tiger Stripes, and Roh, each offering a distinctive interpretation of folklore on the silver screen.

● Details: 22, 23, 29, 30 August 2026 | 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM
● Location: National Archives of Singapore, L3 Oldham Theatre
● Admission: Tickets on sale on the SNF portal.
● Suitable for adults and youths aged 15 and above.

Listening Party with DJ Vinceshi & Live Art

Folklore gets a fresh remix in this one-of-a-kind listening party. Groove to a specially curated vinyl set by local DJ Vinceshi, featuring tracks inspired by regional folklore, while a live mural artist transforms a blank canvas into a bold artwork unfolding in real time. It’s an immersive fusion of sound, visual art and storytelling that brings age-old tales into a contemporary creative space.

● Details: 28 & 29 August 2026 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Plaza
● Admission: Free, open walk-in.
● Suitable for adults and youths aged 15 and above.

PERFORMANCES

Sister’s Island – Meena & Leena (Roving Sensory Performance)

A live roving theatrical performance produced in collaboration with the Children’s Museum Singapore. Travelling across the surrounding precinct from Lewin Terrace straight into the archive spaces, the script follows the classic legend of Sisters’ Island. Watch Meena risk her life to save Leena as they give themselves to the sea, using a distinctive shadow play stage setting to bring their enduring bond to life.

● Details: 21, 22, 28, 29 August & 4, 5 September 2026 | 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
● Location: National Archives of Singapore, L2 Archives Reading Room
● Admission: Free, walk-in seating.
● Suitable for families and children.

The Borrowed Storybook: Tabletop RPG Live Play

When an enchanted children’s book is accidentally checked out of the library stacks, Singapore’s forgotten myths begin slipping out into the real world. In this real-time open stage performance, watch a specialised team of librarians unravel a chain of magical mishaps in an investigation taking them through historic landmarks, hidden city corners, and live encounters with remnants of regional legends.

● Details: 22 August 2026 | 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Lobby
● Admission: Free, open viewing format.
● Suitable for all ages.

TALK

Archives Unlocked: Singapore Tales ‘Isle’ Remember: The Spin-Offs

Were they swordfish, or were they garfish? Beneath this modern city state lie stories that have been told across generations, but there may be much more to them than meets the eye. Join two Record Management archivists as they explore the tales behind some of Singapore’s folklore-famous places from Bukit Merah to Pulau Brani, and take you through the colourful variations that you may not have heard before.

● Details: 22 August 2026 | 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
● Location: National Archives of Singapore, L3 Oldham Theatre
● Admission: Free, registration required.
● Suitable for adults and youths.

DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

Build Your Fantastical Maps

A creative, hands-on workshop where participants design their own imaginative, historical maps. Get inspired by ancient archival maps from the National Library collections that feature imaginative and illustrative elements.

● Details: 28 August 2026 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Lobby
● Admission: Free, walk-in basis.
● Suitable for all ages.

Remix Your Own Local Myths

A collaborative activity challenging participants to step into the storyteller’s seat and remix familiar myths and legends from across the region. Add your own plot twists, reimagine beloved characters, or create unexpected endings as part of a collaborative artwork that celebrates fresh perspectives on timeless tales.

● Details: 29 August 2026 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
● Location: National Library Building, L1 Lobby
● Admission: Free, open to all walk-ins.
● Suitable for all ages.

Islands’ Treasure Hunt

Embark on a myth-filled treasure hunt through the “Islands of Memory and Myth” display at the National Archives of Singapore. Uncover clues hidden within the stories to solve a series of puzzles. Complete the hunt and redeem a special token as proof of your quest.

● Details: 21, 22, 28, 29 August & 4, 5 September 2026 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
● Location: National Archives of Singapore, L3 Atrium
● Admission: Free, open to all walk-ins.
● Suitable for all ages

September School Holiday 2026

It is the one-week September school break. Do check out our compilation of exciting September School Holidays Activities 2026 in Singapore.