Things to do in Singapore this week: 31 August to 6 September 

September is here, and with it comes that lovely in-between energy: the tail end of summer excitement winding down, while the year-end festivities are still just far enough away to feel like a fresh start. Whether you’re looking to fill your weekends with something new or just want an excuse to get out of the house after work, there’s plenty happening across the island to keep you entertained.

From food and coffee festivals to wellness pop-ups and art exhibitions, here’s our roundup of what’s happening in Singapore this September.

Another Coffee Festival (3 to 6 September) 

Calling all coffee lovers, this one’s for you. Another Coffee Festival is happening from 3 to 6 September, and it’s shaping up to be the city’s biggest speciality coffee gathering yet. Over the next four days, the festival will bring together over 34 acclaimed roasters from nine countries across Asia and Europe, including 19 local favourites like PPP Coffee, Morning Coffee, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee and Homeground Coffee Roasters, alongside international names such as Fuglen (Norway), Center Coffee (South Korea) and Yardstick Coffee (Philippines), several of which are making their Singapore debut.

Beyond the brews, guests can also expect a full sensory experience. That includes curated tastings, conversations with founders and roasters, live art installations, exclusive festival merch and limited-edition roasts. To make things easy (and fun), visitors can grab a reusable festival cup and tasting tokens to exchange for coffee as they breeze through the lineup.

Another Coffee Festival is located at Guoco Tower Urban Park

Pool Party Panic at Adventure Cove Waterpark (1 September to 1 November) 

Fancy a pool party with a twist? Adventure Cove Waterpark is turning things up this September with Pool Party Panic, which blends a high-energy pool party with interactive escape game-style gameplay. Think glowing neon vibes, live DJ beats, and food and drinks, all set against the backdrop of the park after hours.

The real hook, though, is the mystery itself. As you soak up the party atmosphere, you’ll also be hunting for clues scattered around the waterpark to crack the case and unmask the “killer” among the crowd.

Pool Party Panic is located at Adventure Cove Waterpark, 8 Sentosa Gateway

Hood Loops Festival (5 to 6 September) 

With the BYD Singapore International Marathon presented by adidas (SGIM) just 13 weeks away, Clarke Quay will be hosting the Hood Loops Festival – a free, open-to-all community event kicking off the countdown to race weekend. As part of the programme, you can expect to find a packed programme over the weekend, including community runs led by personalities including Benjamin Kheng and Joakim Gomez, plus inclusive runs with visually impaired and PWD athletes.

Of course, it isn’t just about the running. Here, you’ll get to experience other activities including art jamming and HIIT and yoga sessions to talks on inclusivity and distance running, along with live entertainment and festival activities to keep the whole family entertained.

Hood Loops Festival is located at Clarke Quay

Penumbra: A solo exhibition by Kelly Jin Mei (28 August to 6 September)

If you’re after something more contemplative this week, head down to Gillman Barracks for Penumbra, Singaporean artist Kelly Jin Mei’s second solo exhibition in Singapore. Named after the Latin term for “almost shadow,” the exhibition sits in that grey area between total eclipse and full light, exploring how truth itself is really just a perception in constant flux.

On show is a triptych of works, Anekanta (2024), Vedurnan (2025), and the brand-new Qiwulun (2026), marking the first time all three pieces are exhibited together. Drawing on the format of Wayang Kulit and the history of rice, sago and cassava as Indonesian food staples, Jin Mei weaves together mythology, colonial history and material culture through textiles, movement, sound, smell and even taste.

If you’re keen to go deeper, don’t miss Waroeng Ndeso on 5 September, a one-day food collaboration with Gravy Baby exploring the politics of rice, sago and cassava through taste, served up in a casual “waroeng” (small eatery) setting with bite-sized appetisers and ethnic tea from Yogyakarta.

Penumbra is located at Art Outreach, 5 Lock Road, #01-06 Gillman Barracks

New Balance Shoe Trial 

Ever felt the itch to go for a run around Marina Bay after work but didn’t bring your shoes? Or maybe you’ve been eyeing New Balance’s running lineup and just haven’t taken the plunge. Either way, New Balance has you covered with complimentary shoe trials at its Suntec City store. Here, the brand is letting runners take a pair out for a spin around the area to test how it really fits, feels and performs.

Open to runners of all levels, trial options range from everyday trainers like the Ellipse and 1080v15 to performance models such as the new SuperComp Rebel and SuperComp Elite v6, depending on your running goals and preferences (subject to availability). And the best part? It’s completely free.

New Balance Shoe Trial is located at Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd, #01 - 325/326, Singapore 038983

Kirin Ichiban First Press Studio (27 August to 6 September)

Need an excuse to grab a cold one after work? Kirin Ichiban is hosting a pop-up at Swee Lee, Clarke Quay, running from today till 6 September. At the First Press Studio, you’ll get to explore three distinctive artworks by local artists like Charmaine Chen of Old World Charm, Matthias Yong of Baremetal, and Gong Hua of Who Eats Art, each inspired by Kirin Ichiban’s signature First Press Method.

At the event, wander through different stations to learn more about what inspired each artwork, plus what goes into the perfect pour. After that, swing by the bar and try your hand at The Ichiban Pour, a guided experience where you pour your own pint.

The pop-up also features paid workshops over the weekend, like a Kumiko Coaster Making Workshop and a Shibori Bandana Experience, where you can make your own keepsake to bring home.

Kirin Ichiban First Press Studio is located at Swee Lee Clarke Quay, #01-06, Blk 3B River Valley Road

Elsewhere at Armenian Street (21 August to 5 September)

While you’re exploring the Singapore Night Festival this weekend, swing by Armenian Street and the Peranakan Museum to explore immersive art installations, live performances, creative workshops, markets and community-led programmes. Inspired by Southeast Asian folklore, Peranakan worlds and fictional realms, the event brings new experiences like The Other Night — a “marketplace” of sorts where you’ll meet fortune tellers, makers and wandering storytellers, and browse a curious selection of wares from local vendors across four evenings — and The Somewhere Else Stage, where you’ll witness a slew of live performances spanning Dikir Barat, live improvisation, dream-pop Arabic music, Chinese opera, noise rock, bellydance and puppetry, by artists including Kelana Purba, Shye, The Samrah Club, Tok Tok Chiang, Krunkle, NADA, and Papermoon Puppet Theatre from Yogyakarta.

Elsewhere at Armenian Street is located at Peranakan Museum and Armenian Street.

Singapore Night Festival (21 August to 5 September)

Back for its 17th edition, Singapore Night Festival returns to take over the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct with an extensive lineup of artworks, performances and experiences for all to immerse themselves in. Themed Myths and Legends, this year’s festival celebrates the rich heritage and storytelling of Singapore and the region, inviting you to explore hidden stories and old myths reimagined in exciting new forms. 

Highlights include Tales of Earth and Sea, a striking façade projection at the National Museum of Singapore by Indonesian collective The Fox, The Folks, and the inaugural MALAM Projection Mapping Competition, which invites Southeast Asian artists, students and collectives to showcase their work. You’ll also get up close and personal with fantastical, pterodactyl-like creatures in Birdmen by Dutch group Close-Act Theatre, who will be making their Southeast Asian debut for the festival’s opening weekend.

Singapore Night Festival is located at the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct

Dream Academy’s Choo’s Masquerade Party (14 August to 4 October)

Craving something more immersive? Dream Academy’s brand-new Choo’s Masquerade Party delivers just that. The riotously funny comedy dinner theatre experience starring Sebastian Tan (”Broadway Beng®”) and Vernetta Lopez (”Under One Roof”), written and directed by Selena Tan of Dim Sum Dolly. Here, you can expect to be pulled straight into the drama, with wild family secrets, dramatic twists, and comedic chaos playing out all around your table. 

Choo’s Masquerade Party is located at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore — The Atelier

Formula 1 Exhibition (23 July to 18 October)

With the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix roaring into town from 9 to 11 October, fans can get their fix early at the F1 Exhibition. Spread across seven immersive rooms, the exhibition will take you through more than 75 years of innovation, drama, and unforgettable racing moments.

Here, get up close with iconic F1 cars, rare artefacts, over 25 race suits, more than 50 helmets, and 100+ exclusive interviews, then hop into a cutting-edge racing simulator and see what it feels like from behind the wheel. Interactive installations bring the sport’s technology and innovation to life, offering an insider’s view of what makes F1 tick.

From legendary champions to the sport’s most defining moments, this globally acclaimed exhibition puts you right at the heart of the action, including legendary cars like the 2011 Championship-winning Red Bull RB7 and the 2003 BAR Honda 005.

The F1 Exhibition is located at Gardens by the Bay MRT Plaza

Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis (LTB) 2026 (1 August to 5 September)

Held in conjunction with Singapore Night Festival, Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis (LTB) 2026 is a brand-new night-time experience celebrating all things local in the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) district. Organised by HeritageSG, the event follows SNF theme, Myths and Legends, of which they’ve reimagined local tales and traditions through captivating lights and digital experiences. This includes transforming historic buildings and hidden corners of BBB into glowing, immersive zones designed to spark imagination and bring the community together in celebration of the nation’s birthday.

This year’s theme brings local folklore to life across five BBB locations: Artsplace @ Waterloo Centre, Reflection Pool @ Bras Basah MRT Station, Stamford Place, Stamford Walkway, and the National Museum of Singapore (1 to 12 August), a great excuse to rediscover our local stories in a whole new light.

Light Together Bras Basah.Bugis (LTB) 2026 is located at various locations in Bras Basah.Bugis precinct