The Ngee Ann Teochew Cultural & Food Festival 2026 will serve more than 20 Teochew delicacies, alongside Teochew opera and music performances from five local troupes.
The audience of the Teochew Cultural and Food Festival 2023 being captivated by a traditional Teochew opera and music performance. Image: Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
The Ngee Ann Teochew Cultural & Food Festival returns to Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza in Orchard Road from 2 to 4 October 2026. Fully sponsored by The Ngee Ann Kongsi, the festival is presented by the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre (NACC) and co-organised by Teochew Federation (Singapore). The three-day Festival will once again bring Teochew heritage, cuisine and performing arts to the heart of Orchard Road, reflecting the organisations’ shared commitment to preserve and promote authentic Teochew culture, keeping its traditions alive for generations to come.
Arriving on the back of a groundswell of renewed public interest in Teochew culture, NACC is expecting more than 12,000 attendees this year. NACC opened 1,000 complimentary coupons for the festivals to the public via online reservation, and they were snapped up within the hour of their release on 1 September 2026, reflecting the strong appetite for this celebration of Teochew identity.
Mr Chia Chor Meng, President of The Ngee Ann Kongsi, said: “The Ngee Ann Teochew Cultural & Food Festival is a popular and highly-anticipated event within our Teochew community, and it is heartening to see a renewed interest in Teochew culture among the wider public. The Ngee Ann Kongsi is dedicated towards preserving our Chinese history, heritage, and culture, whilst promoting our local arts groups. We are glad to heed the call of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to continue using this platform to promote the Teochew dialect and to showcase multiple facets of our Chinese culture. We hope to continue to be a bridge that connects Singaporeans to the Chinese heritage and culture.”
A Taste of the Teochew Heritage
Attendees lining up at the food stalls at the Teochew Cultural and Food Festival 2023. Image: Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Among the highlights at this year’s food fair is bo bi kueh (无米粿), the humble chive-filled kueh that features prominently in Dear You. Festival-goers will be able to sample the very same kueh that captured hearts on screen. In addition to continuing the food elements from previous Cultural Food Festivals, the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre will bring a variety of classic Teochew delicacies to guests over the three-day event. This year’s event will also introduce several new Teochew dishes for the first time, including Kityang stir-fried kway teow with bamboo shoots (揭阳竹笋炒粿条), Nam Ao Seaweed Fried Rice (南澳紫菜炒饭) and luo tang qian (glutinous rice mochi with peanut and sesame) (落汤钱).
Experience the rich Teochew culture through Teochew opera, music and tea ceremony
Beyond the food fair, the festival will showcase Teochew opera and music by five local Teochew opera and music troupes, several of which trace their roots back more than a century in Singapore. These include the Er Woo Amateur Musical & Dramatic Association and the Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association — among the earliest Teochew music societies formed in Singapore — alongside Nam Hwa Opera, The Teochew Drama Association, and the Chui Huay Lim Teochew Opera Group. This marks the first time all five troupes will be putting up a joint performance to showcase traditional art forms.
Performances will be held daily from 11am to 1pm and 6pm to 8pm. For members of the public who are unable to secure an event coupon, a separate viewing area with a live video feed of the Teochew Opera performances will also be available, so that no one has to miss out on the show.
The event will also include demonstrations of the Teochew Gongfu Tea ceremony, a centuries-old brewing tradition from Chaozhou. As the saying goes, ‘wherever people from Chaozhou live, you will find gongfu tea’, it is a tradition that reflects the values of hospitality, respect and harmony deeply woven into the Teochews. It is a tradition that remains integral to their daily lives.
Giving back to the community
As part of The Ngee Ann Kongsi’s efforts to promote the Teochew culture and heritage and give back to the community, complimentary tickets will be given to distributed to the Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation seniors, as well as some families from multiple civic organisations.
For the public who were unable to reserve their tickets through the online reservation, 300 complimentary food coupons will be distributed at each session on a first-come-first-served basis, split into batches of 100 coupons per hour, while stocks last.
Festival Details
The Teochew Cultural & Food Festival 2026 opens on Friday, 2 October 2026, with an Opening Ceremony from 10am to 12pm (by invitation only), till Sunday, 4 October 2026.
The Teochew food fair will run over two 4-hour sessions daily: 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm. For more information of the event, the public may browse the event website and NACC’s Facebook. There will be no sale of coupons onsite.
Children’s Day
Children’s Day is on 2 October 2026. Do check out our list of fun Things To Do This Children’s Day long weekend.
Children’s Day Promotions
From free kids meals to special discounts, these restaurants, eateries and businesses are celebrating this special day together with your little ones. Find out more via Money-Saving Children’s Day Promotions You Need to Know
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