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Singapore River Festival 2026: Free Light Trails, Live Performances & A Riverside Cinema Night

Image credit: Singapore River One

TLDR; Singapore River Festival returns for its 10th edition from 11 to 20 September 2026, with this year’s theme, The Quay Collective. The free festival takes over Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, with light installations, live performances, a matcha market and an outdoor movie screening. Most activities are free to attend, with only Whispers of the Twin Quays, MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore and Acai Social requiring tickets.

Singapore River Festival 2026 is back for its 10th edition, bringing ten days of light installations, performances and pop-up experiences across three of Singapore’s best-known quays.

This year’s theme, The Quay Collective, gives Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay distinct identities, so you can pick your favourite stretch or experience the festival as a whole with your loved ones!

What Is The Singapore River Festival 2026?

Singapore River Festival 2026 is a free festival happening across Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay from 11 to 20 September 2026.

Organised by Singapore River One, the festival celebrates its 10th edition with three themed zones:

There’s also a sustainability element this year, with selected installations running on clean-energy battery power. Several experiences use the Cinewav app for audio instead of traditional speakers, so remember to bring your earphones if you’re planning to catch those.

Singapore River Festival 2026: Full Programme At A Glance

ProgrammeZoneDate(s)Time
The River Echo Chambers

Boat Quay
11-13 Sep7.30-10.30pm
The River Song Parade11-12 Sep8-8.30pm (boat), 9-9.30pm (land)
The River Emergence11-12 Sep8.30-10.30pm
The River Rhapsody




Clarke Quay
11-20 Sep7.30-10.30pm
The River Rhythm11 & 12 Sep8-10pm (11th), 7.30-10pm (12th)
Acai Social 12 Sep3-6pm
Matcha Central18-20 Sep11am-9pm
Whispers of the Twin Quays Clarke-Robertson Quay12 Sep only4-5.30pm
The River Illuminates



Robertson Quay
11-20 Sep7.30-10.30pm
The Flow of Serenity19-20 Sep8-10.30pm
Riverside Cinema19 Sep7.30-9.30pm
Riverview Social Market19 & 20 Sep4-9pm / 2-7pm
MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore Boat & Clarke Quay1-30 SepSelf-guided

What To Expect At Boat Quay, Clarke Quay & Robertson Quay

Each quay has a slightly different vibe, so you can choose your stop based on what you’re in the mood for.

Boat Quay: Entertainment Zone

Boat Quay has the most performances, with projection art, live music and a roving parade.

Image credit: Singapore River One

The River Echo Chambers is an eight-minute projection show onto the heritage shophouses along Kinrara Lane, tracing the Singapore River’s past, present and imagined future. The soundtrack is streamed through the Cinewav web app, so do bring your earphones if you want to get the full audio experience.

Image credit: Singapore River One

For something more lively, The River Song Parade brings SMU’s Samba Masala onto the river, with the group performing a High-octane rhythmic performance from a boat before continuing on foot once they dock.

Meanwhile, The River Emergence turns the UOB Plaza Atrium into a live music stage, featuring Ann Siang Sounds, Leandra Lane and Omar Kenobi alongside community sing-alongs.

Clarke Quay: Expression Zone

Clarke Quay presents an interactive mix of light installations, performances and social events.

The River Rhapsody at Read Bridge is a motion-responsive light and sound installation that reacts to crowd movements, with a virtual DJ projected onto the surrounding trees.

Image credit: Singapore River One

Over at Fountain Square, The River Rhythm brings two nights of circus, street and comedy performances, including juggling, unicycling and diabolo. Refer to the official website for the specific timings of each act.  

Image credit: Singapore River One

If you’re into matcha, Matcha Central takes over Clarke Quay Central with a lifestyle market too, with live DJ sets and a hands-on matcha appreciation masterclass where you can try whisking your own cup.

Lastly, if you are looking to socialize and meet new people, Acai Social is a sober daytime party at The Riverhouse featuring Top 20 hits, açaí bowls, and soft drinks.  It will be an 18+ event and costs $28 per person, excluding the Eventbrite booking fee.

Robertson Quay: Lifestyle & Wellness Zone

Things slow down a little at Robertson Quay, where the programme leans more towards lights, relaxation and a movie night by the river.

Image credit: Singapore River One

The River Illuminates lights up Robertson Bridge with slow-moving colours throughout the festival, while The Flow of Serenity offers a calm experience with gentle lighting through the trees and an optional guided meditation via Cinewav too.

Image credit: Singapore River One

For movie lovers, Riverside Cinema screens the 2025 live-action How To Train Your Dragon outdoors at STPI. It’s free and family-friendly, so bring a picnic mat or use the provided seating. Audio is also streamed through Cinewav and headphones can be borrowed on-site.

Rounding off the weekend is the Riverview Social Market at Four Points by Sheraton’s Alfresco Deck, with local makers and handcrafted goods.

Ticketed Experiences

Most of the festival is free, but three experiences need a ticket.

EventWhat is itTicket Price Where To Get It
Acai SocialA ticketed acai-themed experience. $28 per person Eventbrite 
Whispers of the Twin Quays12 September, 4–5.30pm. 
90-minute boat ride and guided walk through Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay
led by heritage educator Yong from The Urbanist Singapore. 

Visit the conserved Jiak Kim Street warehouses, Zouk’s former home, and learn about Pulau Saigon, the island that once sat in the river. 
$50 per person + $4 SISTIC fee
*SG Culture Pass eligible 
SISTIC 
MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore1-30 September, 10.30am–10.30pm (last start: 8.30pm).

A 1.5–2-hour self-guided city game via WhatsApp around Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. 
Start at Killiney Kopitiam, follow clues and complete challenges at around 15 partner stops using the included MONOPOLY Money.

Not wheelchair-accessible; expect uneven terrain and stairs. 
$61 when booked 1–30 September
Get 10% off with code: MIDDLECLASSSG10 
Fever

How To Get To The Singapore River Festival

The three festival zones are all within walking distance of an MRT station.

If you’re planning to see all three zones in one evening, we recommend starting at one end of the river and walking towards the other for a more scenic experience.

Singapore River Festival 2026: Quick Facts

DetailInformation
Dates11–20 September 2026
HoursVaries by programme
LocationBoat Quay, Clarke Quay & Robertson Quay, Singapore River 
AdmissionFree entry to festival zones; select experiences ticketed separately
For More Informationwww.srf.sg

Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore River Festival 2026

When is Singapore River Festival 2026?

It runs from 11 to 20 September 2026, marking its 10th edition under the theme The Quay Collective.

Is the Singapore River Festival free?

Yes, entry to Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay is free. Only three events require tickets: Whispers of the Twin Quays, MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore and Acai Social.

Do I need to book anything in advance?

Only for the three ticketed experiences: Whispers of the Twin Quays (SISTIC, $50), MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore (Fever, from $61) and Acai Social (Eventbrite, $28). Everything else is free and walk-in.

Can I use my SG Culture Pass?

Yes, Whispers of the Twin Quays is eligible for the SG Culture Pass.

How do I get to the festival by MRT?

Boat Quay is closest to Raffles Place MRT, Clarke Quay has its own MRT station (or Fort Canning), and Robertson Quay is reachable from Havelock, Great World, or Fort Canning MRT.

What’s on this weekend?

The first weekend (11-13 Sept) has the heaviest programming: The River Song Parade, The River Emergence and The River Rhythm. The second (18-20 Sept) is more focused on Matcha Central, Riverside Cinema and the Riverview Social Market. The River Rhapsody and The River Illuminates run throughout, so you’ll catch those on either weekend.

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