National Arts Council Singapore

[ ] What happens when your writing meets an established global network?

A partnership with the National Arts Council, the International Writing Program (IWP) Fall Residency 2026 introduces up to two Singaporean writers to an international community of peers, mentors and ideas at the University of Iowa and the UNESCO City of Literature.

Over 11 weeks, writers will be given the opportunity, space and exposure to deepen their practice and exchange with international counterparts.

Fully paid for, and now open to all writers who write in any one of Singapore’s official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Applications close 15 June. Apply at: https://go.gov.sg/nac-iwp

It’s a wrap after four days of inspiration and exchange at the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress!

Thank you to everyone who joined us this week, be it as a delegate, speaker, or performer – your stories and ideas attest to the true spirit and diversity of our performing arts ecosystem.

And while might have come to a close, we remain excited for journeys to come!

The ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is finally here, making its return to Southeast Asia for the first time in over 20 years.

Today marks the start of the convention of performing arts leaders, practitioners, and enthusiasts from all over the world.

Over the next few days, delegates will have the chance to build connections, engage in dialogue, and hear from key opinion leaders as we come together to celebrate the arts across cultures and generations at .

Happening from now till 22 May, the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is hosted by the National Arts Council. For more info, visit https://www.ispa.org/page/congress_sg26.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr J.M. Sali (Jamaluddin Muhammad Sali), one of Singapore's most celebrated Tamil writers, whose unwavering commitment to the Tamil language has shaped Singapore's literary and cultural heritage today.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Mr Sali produced a prolific and wide-ranging body of work including novels, short stories, plays, and articles translated into English, Hindi, Urdu, and Sinhalese. His deep contributions to Tamil literature brought him numerous honours, including the Book Award from the National Book Development Council of Singapore, prizes from the Tamil Nadu Government, and the Tamizhavel Literary Award from the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers in 2001, culminating in the Cultural Medallion in 2012 and the Southeast Asian Writers Award in 2015.

Beyond his writing, Mr Sali had a distinguished career as a veteran journalist and broadcaster, and remained a dedicated mentor to the next generation of Tamil writers throughout his life.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr J.M. Sali's family and loved ones. The stories he crafted stand as a lasting testament to his life's work.

Singapore has a story to tell — and Open City at the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is your invitation to hear it.

Three curated routes and an afternoon for exploring scene from the inside out.

Visit our local performing arts precincts – Goodman Arts Centre, Stamford Arts Centre & Waterloo Arts Belt, and Aliwal Arts Centre & Kampong Gelam and meet the custodians of our dynamic arts scene, right in the spaces where they create.

Every route kicks off with a curated shared meal by local culinary figures — because in Singapore, the food is always part of the story.

Happening as part of , the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is hosted by the National Arts Council. For more info on Open City, visit https://go.gov.sg/ispaopencity

Day 4 wraps up four days of dialogue, connections and exchange at the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress.

☕ Pull up a chair at Kopi Klatch — swapping stories, sharing perspectives, and discovering the rich tapestry of Southeast Asia's performing arts ecosystems over a warm cup of kopi.

🎤 Hear from moderator Kok Heng Leun and speakers María Claudia Parias Durán (Colombia), Phloeun Prim (Cambodia) and Yvonne Tham (Singapore) as they share how diverse experiences and evolving values in leadership keep the arts alive, relevant and future ready.

🎶Witness the beautiful testament to 60 years of friendship between Singapore and Malaysia, told through dance, music, and shared culture with ‘Bridges in Motion’, and peer into the window of the evolving future of the arts with the evocative piece ‘The Long Now’ by Litmus Jazz Ensemble and Gin Lam.

Happening from 19 to 22 May, the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is hosted by the National Arts Council. For more info, visit https://go.gov.sg/ispa26sgcongress.

Day 3 at the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress — and the conversation deepens.

🎤 Pitch New Works returns with ten exciting new projects spanning across genres from creators around the world to be presented at .

🤝 Connect directly with artists at ProEx where collaboration across borders and disciplines begins.

🏥 Hear real-world examples from speakers Edwin Wee (Singapore), A/Prof Gan Wee Hoe (Singapore) and Harry Yeff aka Reeps100 (United Kingdom) on how the arts are reshaping healthcare, artificial intelligence, and human-centred design, moderated by Pooja Nansi.

🥁 Experience the rich multiculturalism of through ‘Galloping Rhythms – Lion City In Motion 2026’ by Drum Feng, Nadi Singapura and Singapore Dhol Squad, presented by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and ‘Convergence: Nanyin X Asli’ by Siong Leng. Also, delegates would get to catch world-class shows at the Singapore International Festival of Arts as part of ISPA Out on the Town.

Happening from 19 to 22 May, the ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress is hosted by the National Arts Council. For more info, visit https://go.gov.sg/ispa26sgcongress.

The Singapore International Festival of Arts is on!

Happening from now till 30 May, SIFA 2026 welcomes audiences to explore, experiment and engage with and sites of play. Experience the zest of our performing arts landscape with community performances, aerial shows and immersive installations.

From the return of the Festival Village to programmes in the heartlands at Punggol Digital District, rediscover the joy and significance of the arts this May.

The Singapore International Festival of Arts is organised by Arts House Group and commissioned by the National Arts Council. Find out more at https://sifa.sg/.

Image credits: Arts House Group

Ready for a change of scenery? 🎨 Skip the usual spots and dive into the living canvas of Katong-Joo Chiat!

From massive shophouse murals to intricate art tucked away in hidden alleyways, the Katong-Joo Chiat Public Art Trail is a tribute to the community’s roots – proving that life is better with the arts when our history is painted right onto our streets.

📍Start your journey at go.gov.sg/publicarttrails