Singapore plans for Nov 2: clay, queer club sounds, art and more

A weekly guide to what’s on in Singapore, from a regional experimental music night to markets, exhibitions and ways to find your next creative community.

By Carlos Keng, 2 Nov 2026

Week of Nov 2

Hear Southeast Asia’s experimental sounds with Bussy Temple and Strange Weather

This is more than a club night with an eclectic playlist: queer rave collective Bussy Temple and experimental music platform Strange Weather are starting KINNARI, a collaborative series that puts regional and diaspora artists on the same bill. Live music, spoken word and DJ sets will bring traditional instruments into conversation with electronic sounds.

Harp and tabla duo howrøng open the night, followed by spoken word from zeha and Charmicide. Rose and Zach then join Eric Lee for a gamelan and electronics set. DJs Aalely, Nydthakid, Animistic Beliefs and howrøng take over afterwards. If you’re curious about sounds that don’t sit neatly in one genre, this looks like a good reason to stay out late.

Tickets are here.

Nov 7, 9pm–4am, at MDLR, 62 Cecil Street, #02-00 TPI Building

Shop Singapore’s ceramics scene at the Clay Festival

The Singapore Clay Festival is back for its sixth edition, bringing more than 240 ceramic makers from Singapore and the region to the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. There’ll be useful everyday pieces alongside one-off ceramics that could change how you think about your shelves and tables.

Once you’ve browsed the stalls, look out for exhibitions by veteran ceramicist Peter Low and contemporary makers Hiroko Mita, Nelson Lim and Ong Kok Peng. Studio GDMC workshops start at $98, and a collectors’ talk on Nov 6 may be useful if you’re building a ceramics collection. The range is the point here: you can come to shop, learn, or simply see what makers are doing with clay.

Tickets are here.

Nov 6–7, 11am–9pm; Nov 8, 11am–6pm, at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall, Level 7, 1 Straits Boulevard

Stay with the difficult questions in Jewell Dalina’s solo show

Looking at another person can make us uncomfortable. Jewell Dalina’s exhibition Before We Look Away asks what that discomfort reveals about our capacity for vulnerability, suffering and empathy. The emerging artist uses paintings of the human figure to examine how memory, belief and assumption shape what we see—and whether we can stay present with feelings we’d rather sidestep.

Dalina doesn’t reach for easy reassurance. She also considers how hope might persist when the world feels bleak, and what it costs to remain open to other people. Being moved by what we encounter can change us; the show asks whether we’re willing to let that happen.

Nov 6–21, 12.30pm–7pm, closed Mondays, at Mr Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures, 8 Haji Lane, #02-01

Find a ceramic keepsake at Aa Furniture’s Bonfire Market

Holiday shopping can start early when the objects are good. Aa Furniture’s annual Bonfire Market puts ceramics at the centre this year, commissioning four makers—Anna Du Toit, Field Pottery (pictured), N.O.M. Pottery and TARN—to create limited-edition incense holders. The brief leaves room for each maker to interpret the everyday ritual in clay, and there’ll be more work from each studio to browse and buy.

Dry Spell Garden will bring xeric plants, Chu and Co will have bakes, and Flip Coffee Roasters will handle the caffeine. A useful stop if you’re hunting for gifts, or just want an excuse to take home something for yourself.

Nov 7–8, 12pm–8pm, at Aa Furniture, 10C Jalan Ampas, #07-01 Ho Seng Lee Flatted warehouse

Put these independent fashion labels on your radar

New World Order returns for its second edition with 16 independent labels from Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. Organised by 808ctrw with Raghouse, Toko Noma and Loncho Factory, the four-day pop-up gives shoppers a look at designers working beyond the mainstream circuit. Expect clothes and accessories, with Villain, Veindals, Alcyus and Phonchay among the labels taking part.

Nov 6–9, 12pm–7pm, at RAGHOUSE, 80 Playfair Road, Block A, #04-03 Kapo Factory Building

Find a new community at Playces’ Adult CCA Fair

School CCA fairs made trying something new feel easy: wander around, ask questions, sign up, maybe meet a friend. Events organiser Playces is bringing that spirit to adults with a fair where independent communities can introduce themselves in person. Browse the booths, meet the people behind groups you may have seen online, and look for a hobby or simply a few like-minded faces.

Come curious; bring a chair if you want to linger. This one is less about shopping than finding somewhere you might belong.

RSVP here.

Nov 7, 1pm–6pm, at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, 30A Yishun Central 1

Talk photobooks at SIPF’s first public book club

For anyone who likes talking about how photographs work on the page, the Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) is hosting its first public book club with Boon Lay Photo Club. Bring a photobook you love for show-and-tell, trade recommendations and see what other readers have been collecting.

The event includes a tour of SIPF’s Singapore Photobook Section with curator Marvin Tang, followed by a discussion moderated by Boon Lay Photo Club. You don’t need an established collection; just bring one book you’re keen to share.

Tickets are here.

Nov 7, 2pm–4pm, at Shop–House by DECK, 4 Lorong 24 Geyang

Shop pre-loved fashion for a cancer charity at Cloop

A wardrobe clear-out can do some good here. Circular fashion social enterprise Cloop and Fashion for Cancer (FFC) are holding a three-day fundraiser at New Bahru, with pre-loved clothing for women, men and children, plus bags, shoes, accessories and plushies.

All proceeds from the dedicated FFC section will support the National Cancer Centre Singapore Cancer Fund, which funds cancer research and patient care. Cloop will also contribute a portion of its own proceeds to FFC. That gives the rummage a clear purpose beyond finding a bargain.

Nov 7, 1pm–7pm; Nov 8–9, 11am–7pm, at Alma House, New Bahru, 46 Kim Yam Road, #03-03

Catch Redux Market’s last edition of the year

Redux Market’s final edition of 2026 brings together independent labels, makers and a curated mix of fashion, art and lifestyle goods. If you’ve been meaning to meet the people behind smaller creative businesses or discover new names, this is the last chance to do it at the market this year.

Nov 7–8, 10am–6pm, at Objects.re, 51 Tannery Lane, #08-01

Week of Oct 26

Get witchy at Casual Poet Library’s Midnight Library

Casual Poet Library’s Halloween edition of Midnight Library is called Spells & Stories, and it sounds designed for people who’d rather play along than just turn up in costume. Dress as a creature of the night, try a small quest, swap a trinket, or bring snacks and settle in. Expect treats and witchy diversions in the independent library’s cosy setting.

Oct 31, 9pm till late, at Casual Poet Library, 123 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-110

Trade your ex’s leftovers at a Halloween swap

A forgotten hoodie or keychain can make a wardrobe feel like an archive of a relationship you’d rather leave behind. Heartbreak Exchange turns those items into swap material at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace. Bring unwanted ex-related belongings and trade them for something else. Entry is free, and you don’t need to sign up if you’re only dropping by to swap a few things.

There’ll also be DJs, tarot readings, crystals, coffee and matcha, plus an oracle message station. If your item comes with a story, you can sign up to present it at a show-and-tell auction; the audience gets the backstory and can bid on the former flame’s cast-offs.

Oct 31, 12pm–6pm, at 195 Pearls Hill Terrace

Make something at Objectifs’ Halloween Saturdate

Photography and film centre Objectifs is closing its inaugural Short Film Festival with a Halloween edition of its monthly Saturdate, spotlighting creative work behind the screen. Dress as a favourite film character, browse the Slow Goods Market for handmade goods and projects by film professionals, or pick up coffee at Singaporean writer-director Seth Cheong’s Maxi Coffee Bar.

The hands-on option is a Riso Flipbook Workshop by Bedroom Press: learn about risograph printing, then turn a 10-second video into a printed flipbook. There’ll also be an informal open studio with the three Women in Film & Photography artists-in-residence, and a free Film Library Station screening award-winning shorts from Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Register for the workshop here.

Oct 31, 2pm–4pm for the workshop; market and other activities run 1pm–6pm, at Objectifs, 155 Middle Road

Spend time with 50 unique prints by Kiat

At Gillman Barracks, Singaporean artist Kiat’s solo show see how asks visitors to look closely at 50 one-of-a-kind monoprints. Each untitled work comes from processes involving ink, pressure, chance and interference. They’re presented almost like specimens, leaving room for viewers to decide what they’re seeing. Some sit along a long, winding table, so you can inspect them at close range instead of viewing them from across a gallery.

The exhibition brings together physicist Dr Angelina Frank, who draws links between the prints and quantum physics; artist Cherry Chan, who made a soundscape; and curator Deborah Lim, who shaped the selection and text. You don’t need to arrive with a fixed interpretation. Give the works time and see what holds your attention.

Until Nov 1, 12pm–6pm, at Art Outreach, 5 Lock Road, #01-06, Gillman Barracks

See film culture get strange at FFIGS

FFIGS calls itself Singapore’s most unserious film festival, and its second edition takes that premise beyond conventional screenings. The programme includes an underwater wine-and-cheese picnic, an open critique for unfinished films, and a deep dive into TWICE and Thai GL music videos. The appeal is the mix: cinema can be a finished work, but it can also be a niche obsession or an idea still taking shape.

More details are here.

On now until Nov 1, various times; RSVP for the address

Dress to distress at Baby Boy’s Halloween rave

Queer party series Baby Boy returns for its 59th edition with a Halloween theme that pushes classic monsters into a sleazy 90s club-kid fantasy. Expect drag and DJs, fake blood and deliberately bad taste, with Izzy Ershii, Jojo Sam Clair, Kak Nina Boo and others appearing; Phlegm hosts.

Upstairs, Nail Clipper Club takes over the B-Side room for sapphic mischief, queer DJs and “cursed little bangers.” Creature features, a scream queen contest with shots to be won and a best-dressed competition round out the night. Tickets are here.

Oct 31, 10pm till late, at Hard Rock Cafe, 50 Cuscaden Road, #02-01 Hpl House

Question how you see things with Yoo Hyun Mi at STPI

South Korean artist Yoo Hyun Mi has spent nearly 30 years examining the distance between seeing something and understanding it. Her new STPI exhibition plays with that gap, mixing painting, sculpture and photography until familiar ways of looking start to feel unreliable.

The idea began with a jigsaw puzzle Yoo was assembling with her son. The image printed on a piece suggests what’s visible; its blank back points to what remains hidden. Yoo carries that thought into works that make flat images seem three-dimensional, as well as a constructed room inside a room that unsettles our sense of space.

Oct 31–Dec 12, 10am–7pm, closed Mondays, at STPI, 41 Robertson Quay

Explore a Halloween art takeover on Ann Siang Hill

Artists Wolfsloth, Cosmic Chai and Song are taking over ARKIVE and The Coup for a Halloween exhibition. Their distinct styles and surreal visions share space in a show that plays with the boundary between the familiar and the strange. Opening night runs Oct 31, 5pm–11pm; the exhibition continues through Nov 7, and all works are for sale.

Oct 31–Nov 7, at ARKIVE and The Coup, 7 Ann Siang Hill

WEEK OF OCT 19:

MEET THE BIG NAMES AND NEW VOICES AT SGIFF

The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is back for its 37th edition, and its programme makes a case for looking beyond the usual cinema releases. The opening film is South Korean thriller The Assassin(s), with director Hur Jin-ho and cast members due to attend. Aamir Khan will receive the Screen Icon Award, followed by a special screening of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India for its 25th anniversary. Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda is also being honoured with the Cinema Honorary Award.

There’s a strong local thread, too: more than 25 Singapore productions and co-productions that have appeared at international festivals will screen here. Nelson Yeo’s The House on the Moon, billed as Singapore’s first wuxia (martial arts) film, is one to watch. The programme also includes live work that mixes cinema with other art forms and sensory-friendly screenings for younger audiences. That range matters: you can come for the major names or find something well outside the multiplex routine.

Our SGIFF viewing picks are here.

Oct 21–Nov 1, various times and locations

OBJECTIFS PUTS SHORT FILMS CENTRE STAGE

Short films rarely get this much room to breathe. Objectifs, the photography-focused arts centre, is launching its first Short Film Festival under the theme Normal Is An Illusion. Across two weekends, the programme pairs seldom-seen early work by Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda—who’ll attend a post-screening conversation—with Singapore premieres of boundary-pushing shorts by French duo Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel. There’s also emerging Japanese animation and a selection from Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the world’s largest short film festival.

For a different perspective, a retrospective of Malaysian-American artist Azian Nurudin’s films follows the queer communities and culture of San Francisco from 1986 to 2001. Away from the screen, expect a student showcase, an incubator for emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers and a film-themed flea market to close the festival. It’s a good excuse to try a format that doesn’t always make it onto the big screen.

Tickets are here.

Oct 22–31, various times, at Objectifs, 155 Middle Road

SEE WHAT TEA CAN DO TO CLOTH

At Inner Teahouse, tea moves from cup to textile. Local artist Crystal Lee of Project Coal presents imprint, an exhibition of naturally dyed fabrics that includes a new series coloured with teas from the teahouse. The results depend on plants, time and an unpredictable dyeing process, so expect nuanced colour, varied texture and pieces that don’t come out exactly alike.

The exhibition opens on October 23, when visitors can drop in. On October 24, Lee will lead three artist talk and tea-dye workshop sessions. You’ll learn the dyeing process and make a cotton tote to take home; hot-brewed tea is part of the session, too.

Workshop registration is here.

Oct 23, 12pm–6.30pm, and Oct 24, 11am–12.30pm, 2pm–3.30pm and 4.30pm–6pm, at Inner Teahouse, 87B Keong Saik Road, third floor

SALT SALON MAKES ITS FIRST TABLEWARE PIECE

Salt Salon, the creative food studio known for objects that can feel almost too lovely to use, has made its first piece of tableware. The Saria placemat combines Korean hemp and ramie. It could sit on a dresser or beneath a favourite vase as easily as it could set off a table. The thinking is practical: this is meant to stay out after dinner, not be stored away until the next meal.

The placemat will be on view at Salt Salon’s community event at The Editor’s Market, alongside curios from around the world selected by Asian Palette Singapore.

Oct 24, 12pm–6pm, at The Editors’ Market at Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road, #B1-47/48/49

TASTE THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS AT TERUMBU

What might people have eaten on Pulau Semakau? Orang Laut SG, a non-profit organisation, is drawing on family recipes from former island residents for Terumbu, its first café-style pop-up. It runs at Chef X, Far East Organization’s initiative for home-based cooks, from October 23 to December 22.

The Pulau Bowl (S$15.90) brings reef fish cooked in spicy, tangy asam pedas together with squid simmered in its own ink and sambal prawns, served with rice and vegetables. Bubur Lambuk Tenggiri (from S$11.90) is a fragrant mackerel porridge made with coconut milk, lemongrass and spices; choose prawns, squid or both. A community gallery adds context on the Indigenous coastal heritage connected to the food.

Oct 23–Dec 26, 11am–9pm daily (closed on Mondays and Sundays), at Chef X, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #03-103/104

SPEND THE DAY AT GOODMAN ARTS CENTRE

Goodman Arts Centre is opening its studios to visitors for HOME | GROUND, a one-day festival of performances, installations, workshops and local food. More than 20 arts tenants will welcome people from 10am, offering a chance to see where they work and meet the makers behind the projects.

There’s live music from NADA, Kiat and Cherry Chan, site-specific art and workshops ranging from the art of ironing a shirt to teaching dads to plait their children’s hair. Food trucks and local makers round out the day. The programme also nods to Mountbatten’s history with the launch of HAN@Mountbatten, a heritage initiative that includes a new mural at Mountbatten Community Club.

More details are here.

Oct 24, 4pm–10pm, at Goodman Arts Centre, 90 Goodman Road

MAKE A NIGHT OF YOUR HEARTBREAK

If an ex is still occupying too much space in your head, Poster Room Collective has a party for that. The mysterious arts group is taking over Filmhouse’s Blue Room for an evening that makes room for grief, forgiveness and a little pettiness. Local and regional short films share the bill with performances by internet personalities Shazza and Eujune, plus merchandise, installations and activities.

The pitch is catharsis with company. Entry is pay-as-you-wish, with a recommended minimum donation of $10.

Reserve a spot here.

Oct 24, 7.30pm onwards, at Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower

MAKE YOUR OWN LONGCHAMP BAG AT THE POP-UP

Longchamp’s MyPliage pop-up is coming to Singapore as part of a six-city international run, with custom bags on offer in time for the festive season. Pick from seven styles, then choose colours, patterns such as leopard print, leather trims and metal finishes. Initials can be embossed on the flap, and there’s space inside for a personal message.

Interactive kiosks let you preview the design in 3D before ordering. The six-week wait is the practical catch if you’re buying a gift. One material detail: the collection uses 100 per cent recycled polyester made from repurposed plastic bottles.

Oct 21–Nov 18, 10am–10pm, at Raffles City Shopping Centre atrium, 252 North Bridge Road

HUNT FOR RECORDS AT SIDE A

Side A’s third music fair brings 37 vendors from Singapore and the region together for a day of analogue finds: rare and second-hand vinyl, CDs, cassettes, posters and memorabilia. Indonesian sellers SRM/Heyfolks and Lamunai Records will be there, as will first-time participant Universal Music Singapore. BigO co-founder Philip Cheah is putting rare records from his own collection up for sale for the first time.

When you need a break from the crates, there’ll be vinyl DJ sets, live acoustic performances and listening sessions using turntables and speakers.

Oct 24, 11.30am–7.30pm, at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s Halls 324–326

WEEK OF OCT 12:

LOOK BACK AT 25 YEARS OF SINGAPORE PHOTOGRAPHY

The Singapore International Photography Festival returns with exhibitions that track the city and its people over time. One of the centrepieces is Singapore Index, an exhibition by filmmaker Tan Pin Pin featuring 2,800 photographs she took in 1991 and 1992. Weddings, funerals, school reunions and neighbourhood gatherings all appear in the archive.

Shifting Images: Photography from Singapore 2000–2025 brings together 48 artists to consider how we see ourselves, remember the past and interpret the world around us. Photobooks from around the world, artist talks and workshops extend the programme beyond the exhibitions.

The full line-up is here.

Oct 16–Jan 31, 2027, at various venues

SEE A QUEER ART SHOW IN AN ART COLLECTOR’S HOME

Identity rarely follows a straight path, and the second edition of collector Justin Low’s No Straight Lines takes that idea as its starting point. Thirteen contemporary artists from Singapore and elsewhere explore the complicated, changing work of figuring out who you are when life doesn’t go to plan.

The exhibition is held in Low’s home, giving the work a more personal setting. Returning artists appear alongside new voices, with an accompanying essay by award-winning Singaporean author Daryl Qilin Yam adding another perspective on identity, belonging and how we navigate change.

Register here.

Oct 17–Nov 1, 11am–6pm (Thursdays to Sundays); the location will be shared with registered visitors

SHOP ART AND DESIGN TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN AID

For its third edition, social art platform Letter to Birds is bringing together more than 50 artists and makers to sell prints, T-shirts, ceramics, zines and more. Proceeds support humanitarian aid in Palestine.

The day-long fundraiser continues into the evening with collaborative performances by Adi, Azrin Abdullah, Bani Haykal, Charlie Lim and Kin Leonn. All market and music proceeds go to The Sameer Project, LoveAidSG and Medical Aid for Palestinians. Filmhouse is also screening the documentary 5 Broken Cameras; ticket proceeds will support Singapore-based Mercy Relief.

Oct 18, 1pm–9.30pm, at Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower. Book tickets for 5 Broken Cameras here

FIND INDEPENDENT PHOTOBOOKS AND PRINTS

If you’d rather hold an image than scroll past it, the Singapore International Photography Festival’s Photo Market is back for its 10th edition. More than 30 independent publishers, collectives and artists from Singapore and overseas will bring photobooks, self-published zines and photographic works. Expect distinctive visual worlds and publications that may not turn up at a standard bookshop; you can browse, meet the people who made them and take something home.

Oct 17–18, 11am–7pm, at UAS @ Gallery 1, Level 1, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road

GET YOUR HALLOWEEN HORROR FIX AT FILMHOUSE

Filmhouse has five Halloween screenings lined up, from Ari Aster’s unsettling family horror Hereditary to the comic vampire flatmates of What We Do in the Shadows. The selection also includes Monster House, an animated horror-comedy about a neighbourhood home with a deadly appetite, and cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

That last screening gets a drag-hosted event with The Glory Hoes and a post-film party, so you can dress for the occasion. The programme runs from genuine psychological dread to full camp; choose your preferred kind of fright.

Tickets are here.

Oct 16–Nov 10, various times, at Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower

WHAT DO OUR BODIES AND CRUDE OIL HAVE IN COMMON?

Pregnancy and crude oil may seem far apart, but Singaporean artist Joanne Pang’s Body Barrel asks what changes when we treat both bodies and natural resources as things to be consumed. Drawing partly on her experience of motherhood, Pang considers bodily change, the resources needed for growth and survival, and the way our relationship with the natural world shapes how we live.

The exhibition includes paintings, prints and sculptures made with varied materials, including asphalt, which is derived from crude oil. It also marks the launch of BECOMING, an artist’s book documenting Pang’s pregnancy.

Until Oct 18, at Comma Space, 51 Jalan Pemimpin, #04-02. Open weekends, 1pm–6pm, and by appointment on weekdays. Artist talk and panel discussion on Oct 18 at 3pm.

PARTY TO BIGBANG AND SECOND-GEN K-POP

With BigBang due in Singapore this weekend, Idolique Replay is throwing a night for the group’s biggest hits and K-pop anthems from the genre’s second and third generations. DJs Chael and Wonni will be on the decks, and a Finish the Lyrics contest offers a cash prize. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to revisit your K-pop era on the dance floor, here it is.

Tickets are here.

Oct 16, 10.30pm–3am, at MDLR, 62 Cecil Street, #02-00 TPI Building

WEEK OF OCT 5:

MAKE TYPOGRAPHY A NIGHT OUT

Death of Typography’s latest Type & Tapas puts eight typefaces through a personality quiz, with each font designed around a different character type. Meet the designers, hear how they developed their ideas and get a friendly introduction to typography, even if Helvetica and Garamond aren’t already familiar names. Talks, a Q&A, small activities and giveaways are on the programme, with food and drinks from Mad Roaster Slow Bar.

Tickets are here.

Oct 10, 6.30pm–9.30pm, at Mad Roaster’s Slow Bar, 20 Lengkok Bahru, #01-20 Enabling Village Outpost

CHECK OUT 100 HANDMADE WOODEN SPOONS

Craft is the thread running through this week’s listings: objects made to be handled, music built for a room, and art that asks how we live with the things around us. Du Yu brings 100 hand-carved spoons to Late Morning, each shaped with traditional hand tools and finished with plant-based oil to bring out the timber’s grain. You can pick them up and compare their weight and contours; the small differences are the point, and one may come home with you.

Oct 9–18, 11am–7pm, at Late Morning gallery, 228A South Bridge Road

WELCOME EARWORM WITH A NIGHT OF GLOBAL GROOVES

The people behind local listening bar and restaurant Offtrack are opening Earworm, a new food and music concept in the CBD. Its launch night has a strong musical hand: Thai Molam pioneers Paradise Bangkok and Zudrangma Records founder Maft Sai lead a bill focused on rare global grooves, followed by late sets from DJ Dean Chew and Salon Kiku’s Pam Anantr. The RSVP window applies to entry between 9pm and 11pm.

RSVP here

Oct 9, 9pm–2am, at Earworm, 16 North Canal Road, #01-01

REVISIT MOONLIGHT IN 4K

Ten years after Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning Moonlight helped redefine modern queer cinema, this anniversary run brings the film back to Singapore in a 4K restoration. Chiron’s story moves from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, tracing his uneasy, tender path toward intimacy and self-understanding. There’s a post-screening discussion after each session, featuring Jenkins, composer Nicholas Britell and Oscar winner Mahershala Ali.

Tickets are here.

Oct 10, 7.30pm; Oct 11, 5.30pm; and Oct 14, 8pm, at Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower

GET AN EARLY LISTEN TO TROYE SIVAN

For Troye Sivan fans, HOST is holding a listening session on October 6 for the forthcoming She’s The Best. The event starts at 7pm; happy hour begins at 9pm and is open to twinks and anyone who identifies as one. Expect new music, drinks and, quite possibly, strong opinions about this next chapter in Sivan’s career.

Oct 6, from 7pm, at Host, 55A Neil Road, Level 2

SEE HOW ARTISTS MAKE SENSE OF TECH

We use AI and apps daily, but the mechanics behind them can still feel remote. ArtScience Museum’s free festival In the Ether makes those ideas tangible through exhibitions, talks and activities: meet a robot that responds to you, learn about the making of AI, and see an artist tow 99 phones through Berlin in a wagon. At the Open Chip Lab, visitors can also get an introduction to how the chips in phones and laptops are made.

On now through Dec 6, 10am–7pm, at ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue

MAKE A NIGHT OF THE F1 CONCERTS

The Singapore Grand Prix has more on its programme than the race. This year’s F1 weekend is the city’s first Sprint weekend, with a shorter race on Saturday before Sunday’s night race. More than 60 acts are scheduled across 10 stages: CORTIS and JJ Lin open Friday, Zara Larsson and The Killers play Saturday, and Lana Del Rey closes Sunday after the race. It’ll be her first concert in Singapore.

Tickets are here.

Oct 9, 10 and 11, various times, at Marina Bay Street Circuit

BACK A BILLING OF TRANS AND NON-BINARY ARTISTS

T4T4T4T is billed as Singapore’s first gig devoted to trans and non-binary artists, bringing together four acts from Singapore and Australia across indie-pop, rock and math-pop. Marian Carmel plays feel-good indie-pop; haldi honey blends jazzy, poppy and heavier sounds; and RENE moves between pop, indie and rock. Australian headliner FVNERAL is led by Tay Blunt, founder of Transgenre, Australia’s first festival with an all-trans lineup. Ten per cent of ticket sales will go to Transbefrienders, a Singapore charity offering health and social care to trans and gender-diverse people.

Tickets are here.

Oct 6, from 7.15pm, at Room526

SHOP STUDIO TOMO’S FIRST PRE-LOVED MARKET

Studio TOMO is putting on its first secondhand market, with finds starting at $5. Browse vintage T-shirts, designer clothes, shoes, bags, beauty products, fragrance and homewares, alongside ceramic seconds.

Oct 10, 5.30–8pm; Oct 11, 11am–5pm, at Studio Tomo, 237 Alexandra Road, #07-11

WEEK OF SEPT 28:

MAKE TIME FOR THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL

Over 11 days, the Japanese Film Festival moves from animation and J-horror to restored classics. The programme includes Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence in 4K, cult favourite Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, the unsettling Never After Dark and Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, plus newer films and animation. This edition is part of SJ60, which marks 60 years of Singapore–Japan relations. Singaporean director Eric Khoo is the festival’s first Festival Ambassador.

Browse the full programme here.

Oct 1–11, various times, at Shaw Lido, 350 Orchard Road, Levels 5 and 6 of Shaw House; extended screenings at Filmhouse and the Asian Film Archive through Oct 18

FOLLOW THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOP DAY PASSPORT

For its first edition, Independent Bookshop Day brings 20 Singapore bookshops together for three days of events. Pick up an SGIBD Passport, collect a custom stamp at each stop and use the trail to explore areas including Chinatown, Bras Basah and Joo Chiat.

The programme ranges from a zine workshop at City Book Room and Singapore comics at Dakota Dreams to a book swap at Epigram Books, live portraits at Bommoi and Wormhole’s PowerPoint party. There are also storytelling sessions, sketching and author appearances. The appeal is the chance to see how varied the city’s independent bookshops are, one neighbourhood at a time.

More information is here.

Oct 2–4, at 20 participating bookshops across Singapore

DANCE THROUGH RAINBOW DISCO CLUB’S SINGAPORE DEBUT

Japan’s Rainbow Disco Club brings its deep house, techno and ambient programme to Singapore for a weekend of three sessions. The daytime event at Tanjong Pagar Distripark features Japanese electronic veteran Kuniyuki, Rush Hour founder Antal, Darker Than Wax’s Daryl Knows and Tokyo’s Muto. Food, games and activities for all ages take cues from the festival’s family-friendly Izu edition. Later, DJ Nobu and Hong Kong DJ and producer Xiaolin play at Cargo39; the weekend then ends at RASA with an ambient set from Kuniyuki, Xiaolin and Kin Leonn, performing together as a trio for the first time.

Tickets are here.

Oct 3, 1pm–3am, and Oct 4, 4–8pm, at Tanjong Pagar Distripark and Rasa Space, 9 Raffles Place #02-01, Tower, #1 Republic Plaza

ENTER ARDHIRA PUTRA’S RETRO-POP WORLD

Ardhira Putra’s Atomic Daydream draws on the Saturday cartoons and Japanese superhero shows that shaped many childhoods, then filters that nostalgia through an Asian retro-pop sensibility. Superheroes, kaiju and mecha fill the Indonesian artist’s colourful world.

The exhibition pairs new illustrations and limited-edition prints with five unique original works. It also introduces HeartwaveRobo, Putra’s first sofubi vinyl toy, made with Heartware, alongside superhero- and mecha-inspired collectibles. On opening day, he’ll speak about turning childhood obsessions into a creative practice while handling the pressures of adult life.

Oct 3–Nov 22, 12–7pm, at Heartware Store & Gallery, 350B Joo Chiat Road

SEE HOW JAPANESE WOODWORK AGES WITH USE

Un Studio’s third Where Things Live showcase asks what happens to an object after it leaves its maker. It centres on Japanese woodwork and lacquer artisan Tomii Takashi, whose everyday vessels and utensils combine wood with urushi lacquer. These are pieces meant to be held and used: grain, texture, scent and the marks of age all become part of their character. See his carved forms, tableware and lacquered vessels, and meet Tomii, who will be in Singapore throughout the show to discuss his work.

Oct 2–4, 10am–6pm, at Inner Teahouse, 87B Keong Saik Road, Level 3

VISIT A SHOW ABOUT LIFE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

In In my bedroom, artists demonicas and YOUQI use the bedroom as a way to think about the private self: the less polished, more vulnerable person who appears when there’s no one to impress. The two-person exhibition touches on loneliness, obsession and emotion, among other experiences usually kept out of sight. Its free opening reception includes DJs playing digicore, breakcore, hyperpop, baile funk, hard techno and industrial.

Oct 4–31; opening party Oct 4, 6–9.40pm, at The Fluxus House, 23 Teo Hong Road

HEAR LOCAL ACTS AT TRIFECTA

Trifecta’s sixth Backyard Sessions brings live music to The Bowl during Grand Prix Season Singapore. The Somerset Tracks takeover features local acts Mediocre Haircut Crew, iiARA, 730 Bedside and Hidemen. Naima Cat and Kris Kross Chains are also teaming up on custom keychains for the event.

Entry is free; RSVP here.

Oct 3, 5–9pm, at Trifecta, 10A Exeter Road, #01-01

READ SINGAPORE THROUGH TWO ARTISTS’ WORK

Playgrounds, demolished buildings and heavy humidity anchor Two of a Kind I, a double solo exhibition by Singaporean artists Shen Jiaqi and Israfil Ridhwan.

Shen uses reclaimed concrete from sites including the former Tanglin Shopping Centre, Peace Centre and Peace Mansion, pairing sculptures with hand-blown glass forms that recall bubble toys. In Still Air, Israfil considers the bodily and emotional experience of Singapore’s heat and humidity. His recurring windows suggest escape, longing or simply a place to rest the gaze.

On now through Nov 7, 12–7pm, closed Tuesdays, at Cuturi Gallery, 61 Aliwal Street

EXPERIENCE RYOJI IKEDA’S ULTRATRONICS LIVE

Japanese sound and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda brings ultratronics to Singapore Art Museum for one live performance. Expect sound, data and stark projections designed for a dark room. Jakarta sound artist Wahono and Singapore trio RAGAURA open with industrial electronics, gamelan-inspired sounds and body percussion. Your ticket also gives you a chance to see Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Form Is Emptiness exhibition free from 7–9pm.

Tickets are here.

Oct 2, 8–10.30pm, at #03-09, Singapore Art Museum at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road

WEEK OF SEPT 21:

TRY IKEBANA WITH AUTUMN MATERIALS

This workshop takes its cue from autumn’s less showy materials: fallen leaves, bare branches and the beauty of things fading. Ceramic artist Wu Jingwen’s sculptural vessels will guide arrangements led by Ikebana artist Zo Chen, who’ll help participants work with seasonal materials and make their own compositions. Tea and mooncakes are served, and you’ll take home both your arrangement and its vessel.

Book by DMing Inner Teahouse.

Sept 25–27, 11am–12.30pm, 2–3.30pm and 4.30–6pm, at Inner Teahouse, 87B Keong Saik Road, third floor

PAIR TATTOOS WITH WRESTLING

Super Tattoo Fun Times returns for a third edition at *SCAPE, bringing together 20 tattoo artists, six local bands and seven vendors. This time, Grapplemax Pro Wrestling is adding a full wrestling ring to the mix. If you came for the ink, there’ll be plenty else to keep you there.

Tickets are here.

Sept 26, 11am–11pm, at *Scape Ground Theatre, L2, 2 Orchard Link

KEEP THE PARTY GOING AT ROOM526

Hyperfocus takes over Room526 after Super Tattoo Fun Times, with Beans Club, Estr, GFBF and KB Killstar playing trance and faster club sounds. Entry is free for convention ticket holders; anyone else can buy a ticket at the door.

Sept 26, 11pm till late, at Room526

FIND A NEW FAVOURITE CERAMIC

The Potters’ Guilt brings local makers to New Bahru for a weekend of ceramics and handmade objects. Meet the artists, see their latest work and browse pieces made to leave with you.

Sept 25, 6–10pm; Sept 26, 10am–6pm; Sept 26, 10am–3pm, at New Bahru, #04-19, 46 Kim Yam Road

DISCUSS HEART LAMP WITH WORMHOLE BOOKSHOP

Wormhole Bookshop is opening its book club to the public for a discussion of Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq’s collection of 12 funny and moving stories about women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. The collection was the first short-story book to win the International Booker Prize. Haven’t finished it? The group will have time to read one or two stories together during the session.

Tickets are here.

Sept 25, 7.30pm, at Goodman Arts Centre, Block E, #03-32

SPEND YOUR SUNDAY AT KULTYARD