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Performances & Showcases
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 5:00pm – 5.15pm (approx. 15mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Catch an intimate acoustic set by award-winning singer-songwriter Art Fazil, setting the stage for an evening of musical celebration.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm & 8:30pm – 9:30pm (approx. 60mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Don’t miss out on this headline festival highlight featuring an exclusive live performance by 1970s EMI recording star J. Mizan, performing beloved hits like Hari Ini Dan Semalam and Hujan Sore Sore. He is joined by veteran multi-instrumentalist Kadir Lontong, famous for his 1970s hit Lontong, with Kadir & The Breakthru in leading a masterclass ensemble through Latin jazz, Samba, and Rumba beats.
Date: 12 & 13 Sep 2026, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 1:30pm – 2:00pm (Saturday), 5:45 – 6.15pm (Sunday) (approx. 30mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Experience the epic tale of the Ramayana brought to life through the lens of Bangsawan (Malay opera). Follow Prince Rama on his quest to rescue Sita from the demon king Ravana in a captivating performance by Opera Academy.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 11:00am – 12:15pm & 2:00pm – 3:15pm (approx. 75mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
(In English, Malay and Javanese)
Enjoy a dramatised storytelling based on a story by local writer Hidayah Amin, following 10-year-old Asiah and her beloved cockatiel (burung kakak tua), Surya, in 1950s Singapore. When her grandaunt, Wak Jara, arrives from Jalan Eunos and causes a stir in Kampung Kaji, Asiah must use her quick wit and the knowledge she has picked up from her neighbourhood shopkeepers to save the day. Through Asiah’s adventure, discover the colourful characters and community life of Kampung Kaji. Stay on after the storytelling for a fun, interactive craft session inspired by the story.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm (approx. 30 mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Journey into the world of Malay folklore with Teater Kami's dramatised retelling of Badang, the legendary strongman whose feats of extraordinary strength have captivated generations. Through storytelling, audience interaction and theatre, the performance brings to life one of the Malay world's most enduring legends—including the tale of the Singapore Stone—while exploring the timeless values of courage, resilience and character.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 3:00pm – 3:45pm @ Sultan Gate Park | 5:15pm – 6:00pm @ Baghdad Street (approx. 45mins)
Admission: Free
Immerse in a high-octane Malay traditional percussion performance fusing thunderous rhythmic choreography with contemporary energy across the precinct.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 7:30pm – 8:15pm & 9:15pm – 10:00pm (approx. 45mins)
Venue: Baghdad Street
Admission: Free
Experience traditional Hadhrami Arabic cover songs and Samrah poetry honouring the legacy of Singapore’s Yemeni diaspora.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm (approx. 120mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Pencak Bawean Dheun showcases the distinctive silat traditions of the Baweanese community through a dynamic display of movement, rhythm and artistry. Rooted in Baweanese heritage, the performance offers audiences a glimpse into a living cultural tradition that has been passed down through generations.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm @ Baghdad Street (approx. 120mins)
Admission: Free
Discover the next wave of local music talent as aspiring musicians take over Baghdad Street! This open mic segment gives selected emerging acts a platform to share their music in the heart of Kampong Gelam, bringing fresh sounds and youthful energy to the historic precinct.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 4:30pm – 5:00pm (approx. 30mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Journey through the history of Silat as this performance showcases the martial art as a living expression of Malay identity, discipline and tradition.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 5:00pm – 5:45pm @ Baghdad Street | 7:30pm – 8:15pm @ Sultan Gate Park (approx. 45mins)
Admission: Free
Revel in a showcase of unplugged, fingerstyle acoustic mastery and soulful vocals by Shaminor (J. Sham), son of late Bangsawan legend Haji Jaffar Aris, presenting Bossa Nova and Rumba world rhythms.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 6:15pm – 7:00pm @ Baghdad Street | 8:45pm – 9:30pm @ Sultan Gate Park (approx. 45mins)
Admission: Free
Enjoy an evening of acoustic retrospective of pop hits from the 1960s to the 2000s by Singapore’s premier independent band, Iman’s League.
Workshops & Activities
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm (Session 1) and 10:00am – 1:00pm (Session 2)
Venue: ArCH Square
Admission: Ticketed
Registration links: Session 1 | Session 2
Discover Singapore's living heritage at ArCH Square's first Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Open Studio, presented in collaboration with Sendok Rakyat. Through engaging activities and heritage experiences, explore how traditions, skills and cultural practices are passed down across generations, celebrating the communities and craftsmanship that continue to keep Singapore's intangible cultural heritage alive.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm (approx. 90mins)
Venue: Serambi (45 Sultan Gate)
Admission: Free (Registration needed)
Registration link here
Enjoy a dynamic live demonstration as Oud master and Sri Mahligai co-founder Azrin Abdullah traces the 400-year integration of Arab musical traditions into regional Malay soundscapes.
Date: 12 Sep, Saturday
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm (approx. 60mins)
Venue: MHC Auditorium
Admission: Free (Registration needed, capacity limited to 30 pax)
Registration link here
Immerse yourself in an evening of hands-on percussion session introducing participants to traditional rebana drums, five fundamental Malay beats, and the hadrah rhythm.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm (approx. 90mins)
Venue: Serambi (45 Sultan Gate)
Admission: Free (Registration needed, capacity limited to 25 pax)
Registration link here
Originally presented at London Craft Week 2026, this hands-on workshop explores the kebaya as a living expression of craftsmanship, fashion, and Nusantara identity.
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Highlights include Persatuan Bawean Singapura (sharing traditional recipes and Pencak Bawean Dheun martial arts demonstrations) and Sri Kallang (exhibiting archival photographs and oral history interviews of 19th-century stilt villages).
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
An all-day play zone where little ones can discover traditional games such as capteh, congkak and batu seremban, and get creative with a fun mural activity!
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm (approx. 180mins)
Venue: Serambi (45 Sultan Gate)
Admission: Free
Experience a three-hour community activation featuring memory-mapping, registration of historical memorabilia, and personal stories of Javanese heritage in Kampong Gelam.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm (approx. 90mins)
Venue: Serambi (45 Sultan Gate)
Admission: Free (Registration needed)
Discover the rich artistry and traditions of Batak Ulos in the heart of Kampong Gelam. Presented in Singapore for the first time, this intimate experience invites visitors into a historic shophouse to uncover the sacred meanings, intricate motifs and cultural significance woven into these revered textiles.
Guided Tours & Trails
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 2:45pm & 6:00pm – 6:45pm (approx. 45mins)
Venue: Asian Operatic Museum (12A Pahang Street)
Price: $15 per adult and $10 per child (Capacity limited to 20 pax per tour)
Embark on a 45-minute journey into the world's first Asian operatic museum. Meet Singapura's five medieval kings, experience VR palace tours, examine Chinese operatic arts via Mulan, and try on authentic Bangsawan costumes.
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm & 3:00pm – 4:30pm (approx. 90mins)
Venue: Kampong Gelam Precinct
Admission: Free (Registration needed)
Registration link here
A guided walking tour tracing the district's transformation across eras, sharing forgotten tales of royal residents, trade pioneers, and historic landmarks.
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm (approx. 120mins)
Venue: Haji Yusoff Memorial Museum
Admission: Free (Registration needed, capacity limited to 15 pax per tour)
Registration link here
A short talk and curated tour on Kampong Gelam's legacy as a regional publishing powerhouse, pilgrim hub, and merchant post through the life of pioneer merchant Haji Yusoff.
Date: 12 & 13 Sep, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 3:00pm – 3:30pm (12 Sep), 11:00am – 11:30am & 3:00pm – 3:30pm (13 Sep) (approx. 30mins)
Venue: ArCH Square
Admission: Free (Registration needed)
Registration link here
ArCH Square invites visitors to introductory tour sessions of Shipped! Memories from the Sea. Through fascinating underwater archaeological discoveries from Singapore waters, visitors can uncover the maritime networks and cultural exchanges that shaped Singapore and the wider region, stories that resonate with Kampong Gelam's history as a historic trading port.
Talks & Panel Discussions
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm (approx. 120mins)
Venue: MHC Auditorium
Admission: Free (Registration required)
Registration link here
Against the culturally rich backdrop of Kampong Gelam, Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) graduates Al-Matin Yatim, Tysha Khan, Yazid Jalil and Wan Ahmad join third-generation Kampong Gelam resident and Alunan Kampung Gelam founder Faizah Jamal to explore how encounters across cultures and artistic traditions can shape new perspectives on identity, history and creativity. Drawing on traditional art forms from Noh and Beijing Opera to Kutiyattam and Wayang Wong, the conversation reflects on Kampong Gelam's longstanding spirit of cultural exchange and how it can continue to thrive today, accompanied by stories and music from Alunan Kampung Gelam.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm (approx. 120mins)
Venue: MHC Auditorium
Admission: Free (Registration required)
Registration link here
Discover the story of Singapore's Arab community, whose presence on the island dates back to the early nineteenth century. This session explores how Arab families and traders, many of whom were rooted in Kampong Gelam, shaped the precinct's commercial, social and intellectual life while contributing to Singapore's growth as a thriving port and multicultural society. It also reflects on the community's enduring heritage and its place in Singapore today.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm (approx. 120mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Uncover the stories of Kampong Gelam's Banjar community as this talk explores their historical presence in the precinct and celebrates their enduring contributions to Singapore's economy, society and cultural heritage.
Date: 13 Sep, Sunday
Time: 5:00pm – 5:45pm (approx. 45mins)
Venue: Sultan Gate Park
Admission: Free
Researcher Aisha Omar and Nassir Ismail (former Kampong Kuchai stilt-village resident) share rare oral accounts of the Orang Kallang and Orang Laut descendants.