The National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is pulling out all the stops for its largest National Day celebrations to date.
From 18 July to 9 August, the historic institution is throwing open its doors, lighting up its iconic façade, and inviting the nation to relive, reimagine, and rejoice in what it means to be Singaporean.
A Song to Build a Nation On
The celebrations are thematically inspired by the lyrics of the 1987 National Day classic “We Are Singapore”. This year’s line-up is less about grandstanding and more about grounding, recognising the everyday people, values, and stories that have built the country from the ground up.
“The National Museum has long been a space where Singapore’s history and identity are explored, celebrated and reimagined,” said Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore. “This SG60, it is especially meaningful for us to welcome visitors to join us in reliving the stories and values that form our identity as Singaporeans. Inspired by the song ‘We Are Singapore’, which speaks to our spirit of determination and immense pride in the country we’ve built together, our largest National Day celebrations aim to honour our shared past and invite the community to participate in shaping the stories we continue to tell.”
A Nation in Lights
After a brief hiatus for restoration, the projection mapping spectacle returns with Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey, transforming the museum’s colonial façade into a glowing, pulsing storybook of Singapore’s journey.
From 18 July, as twilight drapes over Stamford Road, the building comes alive.
LEGO, Kopi, and a Record to Break
Inside, things get more hands-on.
The Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase invites visitors to rediscover national heritage through the universal language of play. In partnership with The LEGO Group, the Stamford Gallery turns into a bustling creative space, filled with miniature hawker delights, intricate dioramas of iconic landmarks, and a showcase of works by CDAC students portraying life along the Singapore River, past and present.
Feeling crafty? You can build your very own Mini LEGO Orchid or help contribute to what could be Singapore’s largest LEGO mural ever, one brick at a time.
And if that’s not enough to unleash your inner child, there’s Digital River Stories, a creative partnership with MJD Pro Group that lets you digitally colour and animate your own visions for Singapore’s future.
One Museum, Four Floors, and a Whole Lot of Heart
Then comes the main event – 9 August.
This year, NMS will host a full-day celebration across all four levels of the museum, each space anchored to a lyric from We Are Singapore, weaving past, present, and future into one cohesive journey.
- Basement – “There was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it…”
Here, you’ll find hands-on experiences inspired by Singapore’s maritime roots, a nod to our humble beginnings as a bustling port in the Straits Settlements. - Level 1 – “This is my country, this is my flag…”
It’s where identity lives – Singlish, kopi, kaya toast, and the quirks that make us us. Expect cultural tributes that’ll make you smile and maybe tear up, too. - Levels 2 & 3 – “We Are Singapore, Singaporeans”
This is where history takes centre stage. From heritage hunts among the artefacts to batik activities featuring Singaporean icons, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, and who helped us get here.
When the sun dips below the skyline, the action spills onto the museum’s Front Lawn. Families and friends are invited to lay out their picnic mats under the stars for a live screening of the National Day Parade.
Free for All
Admission to the Stories of Singapore LEGO showcase? Free. Entry to the museum on 9 August? Also free. That includes access to the new Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time installation at the Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda and a last chance to visit the Singapore History Gallery before it closes on 17 November.
Find out more at facebook.com/National.Museum.of.Singapore or @natmuseum_sg.
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