With just one month to go before Singapore turns 60, the city-state is already abuzz with festivities.
From music festivals and floral showcases to food trails and immersive tech experiences, there’s something for everyone—families, foodies, arts lovers, and history buffs alike.
We’ve rounded up some of the exciting events and experiences you won’t want to miss:
1. World Aquatics Championships (July 11 – August 3)
Sports enthusiasts, this one’s for you.
For the first time ever, Singapore is hosting the World Aquatics Championships—and it is the first Southeast Asian nation to do so.
Running from July 11 to August 3, the event is expected to draw more than 2,500 elite athletes from over 200 countries, and Team Singapore will field its largest-ever contingent, with 72 athletes competing on home ground.
This makes it one of the largest international sporting events Singapore has ever hosted, and a fitting tribute to the nation’s spirit as it celebrates SG60.
Competitions will take place across several venues:
- World Aquatics Championships Arena, Kallang: swimming, artistic swimming
- OCBC Aquatic Centre: water polo, diving
- The Palawan, Sentosa: open water swimming, high diving
Tickets for the World Aquatics Championships range from S$10 to S$140, and are now available for purchase here.
Singapore will also host the World Aquatics Masters Championships from July 26 to August 22, which is expected to attract an estimated 6,000 competitors. Tickets for this event have yet to go on sale, but you can stay tuned for updates here.
2. It’s Giving Fest (July 12 – July 13)
It’s Giving Fest is a free two-day festival held in collaboration with Gov.sg at *SCAPE, celebrating Singapore’s 60th birthday with a vibrant mix of music, art, and community spirit.
Headlining the event is a live concert featuring 10 local acts, including Benjamin Kheng, Shazza, Alyph and Shye. Beyond the music, festival-goers can take part in an interactive SG60 Digital Tapestry, where youths can share their hopes for Singapore’s future.
The event also showcases creative works—including short films and original song compositions—by students from Institutes of Higher Learning, reflecting their hopes for the nation.
Other highlights include a flea market, food trucks, and other fringe activities designed to bring the community together in celebration of this national milestone.
It’s Giving Fest will take place from July 12 to 13, starting at 11AM daily. No tickets are required; however, do note that for the concerts, which begin at 7PM, entry will be limited to the first 1,000 attendees each evening on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can find out more about the festival here.
3. National Museum’s LEGO exhibition & light projection (July 18 – August 9)
From July 18 up to National Day on August 9, the National Museum of Singapore will launch Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage Brick by Brick, a vibrant LEGO-themed exhibition celebrating the nation’s rich heritage.
The showcase features large-scale dioramas of iconic Singaporean landmarks, and visitors will be able to engage with digital colouring, take part in hands-on LEGO workshops, and contribute to a mural.
In the evening, the museum’s façade will be illuminated in a multimedia light art installation reflecting Singapore’s resilience and unity.
On National Day itself, the museum will host a full day of activities across four floors, inspired by the 1987 National Day song We Are Singapore.
Visitors can participate in heritage hunts, craft workshops, and family-friendly events before gathering on the Front Lawn to picnic and watch a live broadcast of the National Day Parade from 5:30PM.
Admission to the LEGO-themed showcase is free, and all visitors can also enjoy free admission to the National Museum on 9 August 2025. Find out more here.
4. Hidden SG Food Trail (July 25 – October 26)
For three months starting July 25, Changi Airport will roll out a food-themed experience in celebration of SG60.
Visitors can pick up a Food Hunt Map and embark on a self-guided walk that through 60 years of Singapore’s culinary heritage, from nostalgic hawker favourites to modern fusions.
Full details have yet to be announced, but you can visit this site to stay updated.
5. SG60 Charity Walk (July 27)
If you’re looking to get your steps in (and support a good cause), Changi Airport will also be hosting its SG60 Charity Walk on July 27.
The walk starts off at Terminal 2’s Race Village, covering a 2km SG60-themed route along the Changi Airport Connector. Along the way, participants can stop at trivia stations and enjoy nostalgic local snacks such as iced gem biscuits and ice cream sandwiches.
Every participant will get a race pack filled with goodies, worth S$85, including event t-shirts, bags, and retail vouchers. And for those who cross the finishing line at Terminal 4, they’ll obtain a medal and an exclusive mini plush keychain.
Registration fees start from S$60, and all proceeds will go to Community Chest programmes for youths-at-risk and children with special needs. You can sign up here.
6. Shaping Hearts 2025 (July 28 – August 3 & September 13 – September 28)
Shaping Hearts 2025 is an arts festival showcasing over 700 artworks by artists with disabilities from organisations like Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and Touch Community Services in public spaces.
Centred around the SG60 theme, these artworks reflect each artist’s personal journey, imagination, and connection to the nation.
The festival began on June 21 with a series of roving exhibitions at Bayfront MRT station and Gardens by the Bay, featuring live painting demonstrations, interactive art booths, and inclusive merchandise designed by the artists themselves.
The roving exhibitions will continue at Suntec City from July 28 to August 3, before culminating in a main showcase at Our Tampines Hub from September 13 to 28, where the largest collection of Shaping Hearts 2025 works will be on display.
Find out more about the festival here.
7. SG60 Homecoming Concert (August 1)
Held at Jewel Changi Airport, the SG60 Homecoming Concert will bring together some of Singapore’s most iconic and emerging musical talents for a one-night-only performance on August 1, 2025.
Headlined by Stefanie Sun and Kit Chan, the concert will also feature performances by regionally-celebrated singer-songwriter Sezairi Sezali, pop princess Regina Song, Mandopop folk-duo The Freshman, and pop band SuperSonic.
While admission is free, tickets are required and will be distributed via public ballot. You can register here, but be quick, as it closes today (July 10) at 11:59PM.
8. Red Dot August 2025 (throughout August)
As part of a month-long celebration of the nation’s creative spirit, Esplanade will commemorate the nation’s 60th birthday with Red Dot August 2025—a showcase of music, theatre, poetry, and film by homegrown talents.
The programme will feature performances by both veteran and contemporary artists, along with cross-border collaborations between Singaporean and international musicians.
A special showcase will also chart the key phases of Singapore’s musical development, highlighting the diverse sounds that have shaped the nation’s identity.
In addition to music, audiences can look forward to poetry readings and screenings of well-loved local films, exploring the themes of identity, belonging, and what it means to call this “little red dot” home.
Further programme details will be announced soon, but in the meantime, you can check out its website here.
9. Light shows & installations at Changi Airport (throughout August)
As Singapore turns 60, Changi Airport is marking the milestone with a visual spectacle.
Along Airport Boulevard, the 60 Years of Homecoming light-up features larger-than-life illuminated installations of iconic Singapore landmarks, including the Merlion, Toa Payoh Dragon Playground, and Gardens by the Bay.
Inside Jewel Changi Airport, over 1,200 orchids transform Jewel’s Forest Valley into a vibrant sea of red and white.
And at nightfall, watch as Jewel’s Rain Vortex lights up in a special edition of its nightly light and sound show, set to the 1998 National Day classic “Home” by Kit Chan.
It runs nightly throughout August, with shows at 8PM and 9PM daily and an additional show from Fridays to Sundays at 10pm.
(P.S. For those looking to make the most of their visit, Jewel is also offering 1-for-1 Individual Attraction Tickets—perfect for families, friends, or date nights. Find out more here.)
10. Heart&Soul Showcase (August 27 – December 31)
Launched by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the National Library Board, the Heart&Soul Showcase at library@orchard will offer an immersive look into Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 vision.
This multi-sensory exhibition demonstrates how digital transformation is reshaping lives across the island, from advancements in artificial intelligence to efforts promoting digital inclusion.
Visitors will embark on an interactive journey that highlights key Smart Nation initiatives across the public, private, and people sectors, illustrating how technology fosters a more connected, inclusive society.
Admission to the exhibition is free; you can find more information on this website.
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These events may offer plenty of excitement, but the centrepiece of the nation’s birthday remains the National Day Parade—and this year, it is getting a major glow-up.
For the first time, NDP will stretch beyond the Padang into the Marina Bay area, offering a more expansive stage for this year’s milestone celebrations. Audiences can look forward to a dazzling aerial display by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the return of the Mobile Column—its first appearance since 2019—featuring a combined showcase of air, land, and maritime assets.
The celebrations this year will also include an integrated aerial flypast over the Padang and a maritime display at Marina Bay.
And don’t worry if you miss the main event on August 9—festivities will continue in the heartlands on August 10, too.
- Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.
Featured Image Credit: Changi Airport Group/ Catch.sg
