We headed down to check it out before the festivities officially kick off, so you know what to look out for. What is Singapore HeritageFest 2026? Organised for the 1st time by HeritageSG (HSG) under the National Heritage Board (NHB), SHF is an annual celebration of our tiny island’s rich history.

From 1st to 24th May 2026, visitors will get to travel back in time to learn more about the stories, trades, and communities from our maritime past. More than 100 programmes held across the island, in collaboration with over 100 community partners and heritage practitioners, will be rolled out. You can expect double the fun this year too.

The 23rd edition of SHF will be held alongside the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s 30th anniversary celebration, with a special line-up of tours, vessel visits, and walking trails to look forward to. What to expect at Singapore HeritageFest 2026? With roving performances and heritage trails spread across various locations, this year’s SHF features experiences carefully curated in line with 4 key themes from our island’s maritime past – migration, trade, beliefs and practices, and naval history.

Exhibitions, performances & hands-on workshops at HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green As the main campsite for SHF, HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green is the 1st spot on the list to hit if you’re looking for an all-in-one weekend adventure. There’ll be musical performances, hands-on workshops, and a marketplace featuring food booths and retail shops every Friday and Saturday, from 6pm to 10pm. HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green also offers new experiences each weekend, so it might be a good idea to follow SHF’s Instagram or Facebook to get the scoop on upcoming programmes.

Theatrical bumboat experience If you missed your chance to book a room on the Disney Adventure Cruise, you can still beat the FOMO and catch live performances on an old-school bumboat with HeritageFest’s 1st theatrical bumboat experience, A Bump Through Time. We can’t lie, stepping onto the bumboat felt a little scary as first-timers, but the ride was relatively slow and smooth-sailing. For those prone to sea-sickness, you might want to bring some medicine just to be safe, but you probably won’t need it.

The performance mostly takes place inside the sheltered section of the bumboat, so you won’t have to worry about squinting under the sun. While you’ll be treated to stunning views of Clarke Quay and Marina Bay, this isn’t anything like your typical tourist ride. Throughout the 1-hour journey along the Singapore River, you’ll be introduced to fictional characters inspired by people who once worked along the river, from a cargo hand to a customs inspection officer.

Staged by local theatre companies Sight Lines Productions and Strawberries Inc, these actors regale passengers with stories of the river’s past and its iconic landmarks that still stand today. Fun fact: The Fullerton Building, now The Fullerton Hotel, was once home to a lighthouse that brought ships into our port for 20 years until it was decommissioned in 1979. It’s not just show and tell either – you’ll get to play games and solve riddles along the way as the performance unfolds.

One of the interactive segments lets you take on the role of a merchant in a live trading auction as you bid for rare objects from foreign lands. The value of these objects is only revealed after the final bid is made, and the player with the most earnings from their bids wins. Interestingly, instead of cash, we were handed cards representing goods once traded along the Singapore River – like copra and nutmeg – to use as currency.

It made the game feel more immersive, giving us a feel for how traders of the past hustled and bartered for a living. Another fun riddle involves decoding encrypted messages using clues and a little geography to help a customs officer uncover the identity of a suspicious vessel. If you’re game for front-row seats to a show like no other or just want extra aesthetic pics of the skyline for your Insta story, this might be worth the $75, but if you’re on a budget, you can pay with your SG Culture Pass credits instead.

The ride will run on 9th, 16th, and 23rd May 2026 at 3.30pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 8.30pm. Tickets are available via the HeritageFest website. Live performances Collyer Quay and Clifford Pier in the 1960s. Image credit: Chiang Ker Chiu Collection via National Archives of Singapore For those who prefer to keep their shoes dry, there are more