Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis comes alive with immersive installations inspired by Singapore’s myths and legends

If you grew up in Singapore, chances are you’ve heard stories of Sang Nila Utama spotting a lion, the swordfish attack at Redhill or even the old belief that planting chillies and onions could keep the rain away.

This August, those stories step out into the streets as Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis (LTB) 2026 comes alive from Aug 1 to Sept 5 in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival.

Organised by HeritageSG, the night-time experience transforms the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct into a trail of projection mapping, immersive digital experiences and interactive light installations that celebrate Singapore’s heritage through a contemporary lens.

Additionally, the National Museum of Singapore is marking National Day with its own programme, Myths, Legends & the Stories That Made Us as well.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said: “This National Day, we celebrate the beloved stories in our collective memory, and pay tribute to how Singapore has been built by many communities, each contributing to this place we call home.

Singapore’s myths come to life after dark

One of the festival’s biggest highlights is Voyage of Icons by local artist Howie Kim, an animated projection mapping artwork that will illuminate the National Museum’s facade at the front lawn from Aug 1 to 12.

Rather than retelling one legend, it reimagines Singapore’s folklore as an ever evolving tapestry, weaving together familiar cultural icons and shared memories.

Nearby, A Walk Through Mythical Singapore transforms Stamford Walkway into an immersive journey across three realms: Sea, Land and Sky, where visitors encounter the swordfishes of Redhill, Kusu Island’s tortoise, Sang Nila Utama’s lion, dragons and Garudas. Together, the installations celebrate the way folklore continues to connect generations.

Familiar superstitions get a modern twist

Situated at the reflection pool near Bras Basah MRT Station, Plant chilli then no rain! turns the familiar rain stopping ritual into glowing oversized chillies and onions. While Touch wood! located at Waterloo Centre, transforms the everyday act of knocking on wood for bad luck, into an interactive sculpture that responds with gentle pulses of light.

Roger Ng Wei Lun’s Wandering Spirits Unbound imagines mythical creatures quietly roaming modern Singapore, encouraging visitors to rediscover the legends and superstitions many grew up hearing from parents and grandparents.

More to explore at the National Museum

Beyond the outdoor installations, visitors can also enjoy National Day programmes including Once Upon a Tide, an immersive storytelling experience for children, Scents of History, inspired by spices and plants that travelled through Singapore’s past, and Picnic at the Museum to watch the National Day Parade.

The Migrant Photography Festival also returns with Our Favourite Haunts*, exploring memory and belonging through the eyes of migrant photographers, while the Thank You Corner invites visitors to leave messages of appreciation for migrant workers.

Whether you’re visiting for the projection mapping, the interactive installations or the museum’s exhibitions, Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis 2026 offers a fresh way to rediscover Singapore’s stories.

By reimagining myths, legends and everyday beliefs through art and technology, the festival reminds us that these tales continue to shape Singapore’s identity today.

*This exhibition features images that some visitors might find unsettling. Visitor discretion is advised.