AGP Executive Report

Puppetry: Singapore’s No Strings Attached International Puppetry Festival returns to The Artground from Nov 13 to 15, with shows from across Asia and beyond, plus the festival’s first shadow-puppetry slam. Arts leadership: Two senior executives are leaving the National Gallery Singapore amid a staff shake-up, putting leadership changes at the major arts institution in focus. Music and community: ChildAid 2026 is moving outdoors, with a free music and arts festival at UOB Plaza. Screen and stage: Singapore-born chef Sashi Cheliah has joined the judging panel of Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, eight years after winning MasterChef Australia. Food and entertainment: Competitive eater Zermatt Neo opens his first restaurant, Over, on Tras Street on Oct 28, serving local comfort food in three portion sizes, including a challenge-sized option.

Museum Watch: National Gallery Singapore faces another leadership shake-up, with chief curator Patrick Flores and assistant chief executive Chris Lee set to leave in December. Live Music: My Chemical Romance has announced two Singapore shows on Nov 10 and 11 as part of its Southeast Asia tour. Arts for All: ChildAid 2026 is taking its free music and arts festival outdoors at UOB Plaza. Books and Heritage: Singapore Book Street will showcase more than 1,200 SingLit titles from Nov 2 to 8, while the Malay Heritage Centre’s first Teroka Nusantara Festival will spotlight Malay traditions, from zapin to traditional houses.

Concerts: Jay Chou’s Singapore shows at the National Stadium on Jan 8–10 will feature 30m-tall robots, fire and water effects, according to the concert director. A new Queen Street livehouse has also opened, with performances and dining. Books: Singapore Book Street runs Nov 2–8, showcasing more than 1,200 Sing Lit titles. Film: The Singapore International Film Festival will open with Assassins, which drew attention at Toronto. Heritage: The Malay Heritage Centre’s first Teroka Nusantara Festival will bring zapin dance and traditional houses into focus.

Music: A new guide matches 10 JJ Lin songs to life’s overly cinematic moments, celebrating the Singaporean singer-songwriter’s two-decade career. Film: DC horror film Clayface opened at No. 1 globally with US$43 million, while Laika’s painstaking stop-motion feature Wildwood arrives after 16 years in production. Singapore Arts: NUS’s new YST Cube offers a space for fresh approaches to music education and performance, and a local duo has taken ownership of a long-running gallery. Festivals & Fandom: Singapore International Film Festival filmmakers defended artistic freedom as The Assassin(s) opened, while Singapore is set to host Southeast Asia’s only BTS THE CITY ARIRANG experience.

Pop Culture: Singapore Customs’ chief has gone viral with a cinematic entrance set to “Hukum Reloaded” from Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 — the reel ends with a reminder that “the entrance is reel, customs work is real.” Live Spectacle: Japan’s Dino-A-Live makes its overseas debut at Resorts World Convention Centre from Dec 3 to 6, bringing 15 life-size robotic dinosaurs to a 70-minute show. Film: The Singapore International Film Festival will open with Hur Jin-ho’s The Assassin(s) despite calls to drop the controversial film; chair Boo Junfeng says the festival refuses to show anything that has been censored. Coming Up: Suntec City’s AFA Singapore 2026 is set to feature Yuki Kajiura, May’n and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, while Singapore will host Southeast Asia’s only BTS THE CITY ARIRANG experience this year.

Singapore International Film Festival: Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu received the festival’s Cinema Honorary Award and shared why he never films children crying. Aamir Khan, honoured with the Screen Icon Award, reflected tearfully on time lost with family; the festival will screen Lagaan for its 25th anniversary. Local Makers: Artist Felicia Yong is helping spark a stained-glass revival in Singapore, alongside a new generation of makers. Books & Heritage: Singapore Book Street runs Nov 2–8, showcasing more than 1,200 Sing Lit titles. At the Malay Heritage Centre’s first Teroka Nusantara Festival, visitors can explore zapin and traditional houses. On Stage: Anime music composer Yuki Kajiura, singer May’n and pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu are among the acts announced for AFA Singapore 2026.

Books: Singapore Book Street will bring more than 1,200 Singapore literature titles to readers from Nov 2 to 8. Film: Aamir Khan became emotional while accepting an award at the Singapore International Film Festival, reflecting on time lost with his family and sharing an update on a possible 3 Idiots sequel; Assassins is the festival’s opening film. Visual Arts: Singapore artist Felicia Yong is among the makers helping revive stained glass, while a new exhibition at London’s Tate Modern shines a light on Singapore photography. Music: Violinist Chloe Chua, who turns 20 this year, is ready to move beyond her “childish self”; Singapore Symphony Orchestra maestro Hannu Lintu is also asked whether he can help forge a distinctively Singaporean sound. Anime: Anime Festival Asia Singapore returns with performances by Yuki Kajiura, May’n and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

Singapore Film: Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda says the manga Look Back helped renew his drive to make films during the pandemic, as he spoke in Singapore about adapting it for the screen. At the Singapore International Film Festival, Aamir Khan received the Screen Icon Award and reflected on time he regrets losing with his family to work; Assassins is set to open the festival. Local Arts: Singapore artist Felicia Yong is helping revive stained-glass making with a new generation of makers. The inaugural Singapore Book Street will showcase more than 1,200 SingLit titles from Nov 2 to 8, while the Malay Heritage Centre’s first Teroka Nusantara Festival will spotlight regional traditions, including zapin dance and traditional houses. Music & Culture: BTS will bring its month-long THE CITY ARIRANG experience to Singapore from Dec 1, the project’s first and only Southeast Asian stop this year. NUS’s new YST Cube also opens as a space for fresh approaches to music education and performance.

Singapore Film: Aamir Khan became tearful at the Singapore International Film Festival, reflecting on how decades of work cost him time with family; he also discussed possible sequels to 3 Idiots and Andaz Apna Apna. The festival opened with The Assassin(s), whose director praised SGIFF for defending freedom of expression. Sing Lit: Singapore Book Street runs Nov 2–8 at VivoCity, bringing together more than 40 local publishers and 1,200 titles in four official languages. Malay Heritage: The first Teroka Nusantara Festival takes over Kampong Gelam Nov 6–8 with regional music, dance, workshops and a bazaar. K-pop: Singapore’s December BTS THE CITY ARIRANG experience will feature a light and music show, art trail and fireworks—the project’s only Southeast Asian stop. Live Music: Singapore Expo is pitching its new event spaces and fan activities as part of a fuller concert experience, with Le Sserafim set to perform on Nov 28.

Regional Creative Links: Malaysia is pursuing film, animation, music and concert-industry partnerships with Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia, with proposed MoUs aimed at opening markets and supporting joint productions. Singapore Screen: Aamir Khan received the Singapore International Film Festival’s Screen Icon Award and grew emotional as he reflected on work taking time from his family; he also discussed possible sequels to 3 Idiots and Andaz Apna Apna. Coming to Singapore: BTS will bring its THE CITY ARIRANG fan experience to Singapore in December, with music and light shows, an art trail and fireworks. Queens of the Stone Age are also set to play the Star Theatre on Dec 2. Onboard Entertainment: Singapore Airlines plans a KrisWorld overhaul from 2027, including 4K screens, Bluetooth audio and Starlink connectivity.

Creative Industries: Malaysia is seeking agreements with Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia to boost cooperation in film, animation, music and concerts, following talks with Singapore’s Baey Yam Keng. BTS in Singapore: The city will host the group’s only Southeast Asian BTS THE CITY ARIRANG experience this year, with art trails, light shows and other events from Dec 1 to 31, alongside four sold-out National Stadium concerts. Singapore Film Festival: Hur Jin-ho’s The Assassin(s) opens SGIFF amid calls to drop the controversial film; the director thanked the festival for defending freedom of expression, while chair Boo Junfeng said it would not show censored work. Deepavali Open House: The Indian Heritage Centre is offering free weekend admission through Nov 8, with family sarees, archival photographs and a recreated festive bazaar among the displays.

Pop & Fandom: BTS has selected Singapore for a citywide project, while Anime Festival Asia Singapore returns to Suntec with Yuki Kajiura, May’n and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Screen & Creators: The Singapore Media Festival’s 13th edition will introduce an Asia Creator Summit, adding a new industry focus. Local Film: Yeo Yann Yann has earned a Golden Horse Best Leading Actress nomination for We Are All Strangers. Visual Arts: Singapore’s role in the birth of art photography is in the spotlight at a new Tate Modern exhibition. Classical Music: Violinist Chloe Chua, turning 20, is looking to move beyond her “childish self” as she enters a new chapter.

Classical Music: Violinist Chloe Chua, nearing 20, reflects on growing up in the spotlight as she tours China with the SSO. New music director Hannu Lintu says he wants to shape a distinctive Singaporean orchestral sound. What’s On: The Singapore arts guide for Oct 21–Nov 1 pairs a Picasso exhibition with songs chosen by The Strokes’ frontman. AFA Singapore returns Nov 27–29 with Yuki Kajiura, May’n and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Creative Industry: Singapore Media Festival returns Dec 1–5 with its first Asia Creator Summit, focused on building creator businesses and intellectual property. Visual Arts: A Tate Modern exhibition spotlights Singapore’s pioneering 1950s photographers and their darkroom craft. Locally, “No Straight Lines,” featuring 13 gay artists, is showing in an Orchard home through Nov 1. Graphic Novels: Singapore-based creators are tackling taboo topics including body image and menopause.

Live Entertainment: BTS will bring its month-long “THE CITY ARIRANG” experience to Singapore in December, with islandwide events including light shows and fireworks. JJ Lin, Tia Ray and Lil Ghost are also set to perform at the Singapore Grand Prix. Arts & Culture: ArtScience Museum’s Into the Ocean invites visitors on an underwater journey across six zones. The Singapore Media Festival returns for its 13th edition with a new Creator Summit. On Screen: Mediacorp has launched Love Angels, a shoppertainment microdrama. Disney+ will begin streaming selected live NBA games in Singapore from Oct 22, including regular-season and playoff matchups.

Screen Partnerships: A US$22 million film and TV co-production slate linking Singapore with Malaysia, Australia and South Korea was unveiled at KL20@Johor, with projects planned over the next two years. Singapore Media Festival: The festival returns Dec 1–5 with a new Asia Creator Summit focused on building creator businesses and developing intellectual property, alongside the Asia TV Forum & Market. K-pop in the City: BTS will bring its month-long THE CITY ARIRANG experience to Singapore in December, with themed events including light shows, music and an art trail. Gaming and Cosplay: Game On, Dreamers takes over Marina Bay Sands for three days, featuring esports tournaments, cosplay contests and a marketplace for independent creators. Singapore on Screen: Singaporean Ally Noor Alimna discusses online criticism as she appears on the latest season of US reality series 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way.

BTS Takes Over Singapore: The group’s month-long “THE CITY ARIRANG” experience runs from Dec 1, with light shows, fireworks, installations and an art trail at National Gallery Singapore ahead of four sold-out concerts. Local Screen Stories: Mediacorp has launched Love Angels, a new shoppertainment microdrama. Singapore-based Films Positive co-produced Peluru Senja: The Ghost and the Gun, a period drama opening in Indonesian cinemas on Oct 23. BigBang Live: The K-pop group brought hits and humour to the National Stadium, as fans braved the haze for the concert.