Best Things To Do In Singapore In January 2023 — Concerts, Musicals & Festivities That Continue Into The New Year

There’s much to cheer about for the new year, with a plethora of exciting events taking place in Singapore. Whether you’re a fan of theatre, local music or just exploring new things to do in Singapore, we’ve got you covered.

What’s on in Singapore in January 2023:

Photo: Lilac Saints

Lilac Saints & Friends – 30th Anniversary

When: Jan 6, 8pm
Where: Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
To celebrate their 30th anniversary, homegrown indie pop stalwarts Lilac Saints will take to the stage at the Esplanade with the likes of Joanna Dong and Dru Chen. It’ll be a nostalgic trip down memory lane as the band belts out radio hits such as the wistful ‘Wasting Time’ (also featured on Eric Khoo’s 12 Storeys soundtrack), pop ballad ‘Gina’ and indie pop track ‘Jamaica’, among other tunes from their three albums, including their 1995 eponymous album. The concert also marks the release of Halo Again: The Best of Lilac Saints, a compilation of the quintet’s local chart hits and their favourite tracks, on Spotify and Apple Music.
Tickets priced at $38. More info

Photo: GMG Productions

We Will Rock You

When: Jan 5 to 22
Where: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
Whether you’re a fan of theatre or music royalty Queen, this is one production you shouldn’t miss. Rock out to Queen’s most iconic hits such as ‘We are the Champions’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Will Rock You’ at the hit musical. Expect brand-new sets and costume designs in the hit musical that’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where music is forbidden, and rock music is virtually unknown.
Tickets are $88 to $188. More info

Photo: Aliwal Arts Centre

Aliwal Urban Arts Festival 2023

When: Jan 14, 12pm till late
Where: Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal St, Singapore 199918
The spotlight’s on Singapore’s urban and visual arts scene at this festival, which is into its seventh edition this year. Enjoy a spot of retail therapy as you browse the unique knick knacks at the artists’ pop-up market. The AAC’s façade gets a facelift with graffiti artists giving the building’s side alley wall a refresh at live graffiti painting session. What’s a festival without song and dance? Math rock band, woes, and R&B band Astronauts are among the artists that will take the stage at the block party, where the festival culminates with dance performances, exhibition battles and a night of song, dance and revelry.
Free admission. More info

Photo: ART SG

ART SG

When: Jan 12-15
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Ave, S018956
This is an art collector and enthusiast’s dream come true. Touted as the biggest art fair launch in Asia Pacific in 10 years, ART SG will see over 150 international galleries presenting a line-up of impressive art installations, experimental film and pancel discussions taking place over two storeys at MBS. Besides main galleries of the event, there will also be segments focusing on young galleries that are less than six years old, digital art and solo and duo artist programmes.
Tickets from $25. More info

The Line

When: Until Apr 20, 2023
Where: Artscience Museum, VR Gallery, Level 4, 6 Bayfront Ave, S018974
This virtual reality experience has been hailed the Best VR Experience at Venice Film Festival, and snagged the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Programming. And now, you can embark on this VR experience set in 1940s Sao Paolo, and immerse yourself in the experience as a child who unlocks an enchanted world. The experience is about 15 to 20 minutes.
Tickets are $16 each. More info

Photo: Museum of Ice Cream Singapore

Pinkmas at Museum of Ice Cream

When: Till Jan 8, 2023. Open Wed to Mon, 10am-10pm
Where: Museum of Ice Cream, 100 Loewen Road, Dempsey, Singapore 248837

How do you make the most wonderful time of the year even sweeter? With ice cream, of course. The pink-tastic Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) is celebrating PinkMas this year with a special treats for visitors during this festive season. Pinkmas sundaes, gingerbread milkshakes and even festive eggnogs will have your tastebuds tingling with excitement. Parents can even get the little munchkins to pick up a new skill by enrolling them in Sundae School, an hour-long ice cream making class, to earn them certified Scoop Master status. Yup, no harm in starting ’em young.
Tickets from $36, available here.

Photos: Trip.com

Trip.com’s Mega Carnival

When: Nov 19 to Feb 5, 2023
Where: Let’s Play @ D’Marquee Downtown East, Downtown East 1 Pasir Ris Close, Singapore 519599

With over 20 stations with games, rides and game booths sprawled over 50,000 sq ft at the funfair, this is perfect if you’re looking for a family fun day out in the east. Hang out with a giant animatronic dinosaur that’s a towering 4m tall, or deep dive into dino-themed rides, ball pits and even viking rides at the carnival. Virtual reality games will instantly transport you to outer space or even the ski slopes, while giant bouncy castles, inflatable ball challenges and arcade stations will entertain the young and young at heart, and a food truck dishing up delish bites will keep hunger pangs at bay. While pre-booking of slots is required when you buy a ticket (prices from $28), visitors get unlimited play within their timeslots (at least 210 minutes on weekdays and 150 minutes on weekends, school holidays, eve of public holidays and public holidays).
More info

Photo: National Gallery Singapore

Living Pictures: Photography in Southeast Asia

When: Dec 2, 2022 to Aug 20, 2023
Where: Level 3, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew's Rd, #01-01, Singapore 178957
In this age of ubiquitous selfies, it’s easy to forget the role that photography played throughout history. This exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore, which traces the history of photography in Southeast Asia, is a reminder of that. Split into five thematic zones, it features over 300 works from the mid-19th century until present day — start your journey delving into colonial and war archives, through to today’s digital age.
More info

Jumptopia: Festive Village

When: Nov 22 to Jan 3, 2023. Open Mon-Thur at 10am-8pm, Fri-Sun, PH eve and PH at 10am-10pm. Black-out date/time: Nov 27, 6pm-10pm.
Where: Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Hall C, Level 1, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956

Kids and kids at heart will be jumping for joy knowing that Kiztopia’s festive bouncy castle wonderland, Jumptopia: Festive Village, is back. Occupying a whopping 45,000 sq ft of space, the mega bouncy castle wonderland features 10 new giant Christmas-themed inflatables, some towering up to 9m-high. Visitors can expect to bounce their way through life-sized gingerbread man cookies and pretzels, challenge Santa’s reindeer to a race, and more. Each bouncy castle has a maximum capacity of 50 kids (aged two and above) at any one time. A tamer, but still as adorable, Toddlers Zone is open to children aged one to three.  

Need a break? There’s plenty happening on terra firma too. Soak in festival vibes and catch live dance, magic and juggling performances, take plenty snaps at the IG-worthy ‘snowing’ zone or with cute mascots, or refuel at a pizzeria café. Need to multi-task and finish up your Christmas shopping? The Christmas market in the festive village has you covered.
Tix from $36, promo bundles available. More info

Photo: Marina Bay Sands

Mental: Colours of Wellbeing

When: Until Feb 26, 2023
Where: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave
Guiding visitors to delve deeper into stereotypes around mental health is this exhibition features 24 interactive exhibits, large-scale installations and art projects, seven of which were created by homegrown artists. It’s as much as a personal, intimate journey as it is gaining perspectives of mental health and making connections in this day and age — be prepared not only to marvel at the installations, but also to reflect on this introspective journey.
Tickets from $18 (adults). More info

Photo: Mandai Wildlife Group

A Flight to Remember

When: Until Jan 3, 2023. Open Thur to Sun, eve of PH and PH until Nov 2, 2022. Open daily from Nov 3, 2022 to Jan 3, 2023.
Where: Jurong Bird Park, 2 Jurong Hill
Jurong Bird Park’s last day of operations will be on Jan 3, 2023, exactly 52 years since its opening. From Sep 3 to Jan 3, 2023, it’s holding a series of events to celebrate the park before it moves to its new nest at Bird Paradise in Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the second quarter of 2023.

Go on a self-guided trail of Jurong Bird Park and take time to explore with heritage displays along the way that illustrate the park’s milestones. Launching in November is a Nostalgic Signature Tour where seasoned guides guide visitors through the park’s history (tour bookings open Oct 19), as well as a nostalgic food festival with traditional pushcarts selling hawker fare and carnival activities.
Tix at $34.20 (adult) and $22.50 (child) for Singapore residents. More info