Venue guide
Esplanade events: what is on at Theatres on the Bay
Esplanade events run all year, from ticketed concerts in the Concert Hall to free performances in the open air. This guide covers what is confirmed from October to December 2026, the spaces, and how to plan a visit.
About the venue
A performing arts centre with a free side
Esplanade events cover music, dance, theatre, family programmes and festivals, and a large share of them cost nothing. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is Singapore’s national performing arts centre, and its programme is split into two kinds. Ticketed shows run in the indoor halls and theatres. Free programmes run in public spaces such as the Concourse and the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre, and in some cases inside the halls themselves.
Most of the programme is presented by Esplanade itself under named festivals and series. Others are hirer events, where an outside promoter rents the venue. The two can look alike in a listing, but concessions and booking rules differ, so check the event page before you buy.
Esplanade Singapore events are listed on esplanade.com under What’s On. This page pulls out the confirmed festivals and headline shows from October 2026 to December 2026, with a link to the source for each. Dates and line-ups change, so treat the official page as final.
What's on
Esplanade events from October to December 2026
These are the festivals and headline shows we could confirm on esplanade.com. Esplanade had not published dates for January to March 2027 when we checked, so those months are left out for now. The da:ns focus dance series runs to 31 March 2027, and the Footwork beginner dance workshops are due in February and March 2027, but the listings carry no dates yet.
Popaholic 2026
For friends & groups · Free
A month of free pop performances, from chart-toppers to comeback songs. The first dates include acoustic sets, a cappella harmonies and covers by local artists. More at Esplanade
Source and image: Esplanade
Octoburst! 2026
For families · Free
A one-day festival for Children's Day with play, crafts, music and storytelling. The programmes on the listing are free. More at Esplanade
Source and image: EsplanadeBeautiful Sunday: Homegrown and Well-known
For friends & groups · Free
SWS Youth wind band plays in the Concert Hall. Beautiful Sunday is a free monthly series for homegrown orchestras, wind bands and ensembles. More at Esplanade
Source: Esplanade
da:ns focus: Connect Asia Now
For couples & date night, friends & groups · Ticketed
A weekend of contemporary dance from Asian artists. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan performs Sounding Light on 16 and 17 Oct, alongside talks, workshops and free sessions. More at Esplanade
Source and image: EsplanadeSilica Gel Asia Tour
For friends & groups · Ticketed
The South Korean indie rock band returns to Singapore, as part of the Mosaic Music Series. More at Esplanade
Source: EsplanadeDee Dee Bridgewater Duo with Helen Sung
For couples & date night, friends & groups · Ticketed
The GRAMMY and Tony award-winning vocalist returns to Singapore, as part of the Mosaic Music Series. More at Esplanade
Source: Esplanade
Kalaa Utsavam: Indian Festival of Arts 2026
For families, friends & groups · Ticketed
The 25th edition of the annual festival, with theatre, dance, music and comedy. Shows listed include Biswa Kalyan Rath's stand-up on 20 Nov and Job Kurian on 27 Nov. Some productions start from 18 Nov. More at Esplanade
Source and image: EsplanadeDiana Krall
For couples & date night · Ticketed
The jazz vocalist and pianist returns for two nights after her 2024 show, as part of the Mosaic Music Series. More at Esplanade
Source: EsplanadePatrick Watson: Uh Oh Tour
For couples & date night, friends & groups · Ticketed
The chamber-pop musician plays as part of the Mosaic Music Series. More at Esplanade
Source: EsplanadeDOMi and JD BECK: WHO ASKED? Tour
For friends & groups · Ticketed
The jazz duo brings its improvisation-heavy live show to Singapore, as part of the Mosaic Music Series. More at Esplanade
Source: Esplanade
Voices: A Festival of Song 2026
For friends & groups · Ticketed
Choral, pop, a cappella, musical theatre and opera, with free singalongs and workshops. A new Voices Lounge opens at the Annexe Studio. More at Esplanade
Source and image: EsplanadeNo events match these filters. Try another combination.
Dates change. Confirm with the organiser before you go. Last checked 1 October 2026.
Free programmes
Free events at Esplanade
Free events at Esplanade sit across three formats.
Free festival programmes. Popaholic in October, Octoburst! on 2 October and the free singalongs and showcases at Voices in December are all marked free on the listings. Kalaa Utsavam also lists free items alongside its ticketed shows.
Beautiful Sunday. Esplanade describes this as a free monthly concert series in the Concert Hall, featuring homegrown orchestras, wind bands and ensembles. The only date we could confirm for the period is 4 October. Check the series page for later months.
Public-space performances. Esplanade’s FAQ refers to performances at the Concourse and the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre, and says photography and casual video for personal use are generally allowed there. Indoor shows generally do not allow it.
A free event has no ticket, so there is no refund if it is cancelled or postponed. Esplanade posts changes on the event page and its official channels. It also warns that haze can cancel some outdoor performances.
The spaces
Concert Hall, theatres and studios
Esplanade events use several distinct spaces. These are the ones named on esplanade.com.
Concert Hall. Esplanade calls it one of the world’s most beautiful concert halls and highlights its acoustics. It hosts the free Beautiful Sunday concerts.
Theatre. The largest indoor performance venue at Esplanade, modelled on the traditional horseshoe-shaped arena.
Singtel Waterfront Theatre. A mid-sized, multi-format venue.
Annexe Studio. A multi-disciplinary venue for experimental and interactive showcases. It hosts the Voices Lounge during the December festival.
Recital Studio and Theatre Studio. The Recital Studio is intimate and suited to chamber music and acoustic sets. The Theatre Studio is a versatile room for experimental theatre and dance.
Outdoor and public spaces. The DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre, the Concourse and the Forecourt Garden are the open or public spaces listed in Esplanade’s wayfinding guides. PIP’s PLAYbox is the family space. We did not find seat counts on official pages, so none are quoted here.
Getting there
How to get to Esplanade
Take the MRT to Esplanade (Circle line) or City Hall (North-South and East-West lines). Esplanade lists both as routes in, and the CityLink tunnel from CityLink Mall is open from 6 am to 10 pm daily. The centre is open 8 am to 11:30 pm daily, or 30 minutes after the last performance ends, whichever is later.
1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 Open in Google Maps →
MRT
- Esplanade station, Circle line (yellow).
- City Hall station, North-South line (red) and East-West line (green).
Bus
- Stop 02061 (The Esplanade), outside the Esplanade Mall entrance along Raffles Avenue: services 36, 56, 70M, 75, 77, 97, 97e, 106, 111, 133, 162M, 171, 195, 531, 700A, 857, 960, 961, plus night services 1N to 6N and NR1, NR2, NR5, NR6, NR8.
- Stop 02111 (Esplanade Bridge), along Esplanade Drive: services 10, 57, 70, 128, 162, 196, 531, 652, 656, 660, 700, 850E, 868, 951E, 971E.
- Stop 02029 (Aft Esplanade Stn Exit D), along Esplanade Drive: services 100, 107, 130, 131, 131A, 167.
Taxi and ride-hailing
- Taxi stand C24 at Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039802.
Parking
- Esplanade basement carpark (808 lots, open 24 hours daily)$2.30 per hour or part thereof, daily rates inclusive of public holidaysCharges are deducted from the cashcard in your IU on exit. No grace period. Motorcycles park free, subject to availability. Five EV charging lots (Nos. 208 to 212) on B1.
Rates last checked 1 October 2026 on esplanade.com. Check before you drive; event-day rates can differ. The carpark is closed 7 to 13 October 2026 for the Formula 1 weekend.
Plan around this
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix closures, 7 to 13 October 2026
Esplanade sits inside the Formula 1 circuit park. Esplanade has posted that pedestrian and carpark access will be limited from 7 to 13 October 2026. The basement carpark is closed to all motorists from 12 am on 7 October to 5.30 am on 13 October. From 9 to 11 October the centre is closed to the public except Formula 1 ticket holders.
Esplanade advises visitors to use public transport, as there will be extensive road closures nearby. Check the general advisory and singaporegp.sg before travelling.
Tickets
How to buy tickets for Esplanade events
Esplanade says its ticketing system is supported by SISTIC, and SISTIC booking fees apply. According to the FAQ, the fee runs from $1 per ticket for tickets under $20 to $6 per ticket for tickets above $70. The Esplanade Box Office and Visitor Centre is on the Mezzanine Level and opens from 12 pm to 8 pm daily. For group bookings and enquiries call 6828 8389 or email boxoffice@esplanade.com.
Esplanade&Me members get ticket specials and package offers that vary by tier. Concession tickets may be checked at the door, and you will need to pay the difference if you cannot show proof. Persons with disabilities concessions apply to Esplanade Presents programmes unless stated, but not to hirer events.
Every person needs a ticket for a ticketed show, including infants and children, unless the event says otherwise. Tickets are non-refundable except where a performance is cancelled, and resale is not allowed.
Eating
Dining at Esplanade
Esplanade Mall sits under the twin domes. Its directory on esplanade.com lists, among others, Foreword Coffee, Harry’s, Red House Seafood, BayBay, Aniplus Cafe, Subway and 7-Eleven. Opening hours vary by outlet, so check the directory before you plan a pre-show meal.
Food and drink are not allowed inside the venues unless the promoter says otherwise. Finish eating before you go in. Spending $30 at Esplanade Mall earns free parking from 12 pm to 3 pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
Before you go
Dress and arrival tips
Esplanade does not publish a dress code in the pages we checked, so there is none to quote. Wear comfortable shoes, as the walk from the MRT can be long, and check the weather if your event is outdoors.
Arrive early. Latecomers are not admitted until a suitable break in the performance, if there is one. Photography and recording are generally not allowed during indoor shows. Children below 6 are not admitted unless the promoter allows it.
The premises, including Esplanade Mall outlets, are wheelchair-friendly and guide and assistance dog friendly. Full details are on the Esplanade accessibility page.
Frequently asked questions
What events are on at Esplanade in October 2026?
Popaholic runs from 1 to 30 October with free performances. Octoburst! is on 2 October, a Beautiful Sunday concert is on 4 October, da:ns focus Connect Asia Now runs 15 to 18 October, and Mosaic Music Series shows include Silica Gel on 19 October and Dee Dee Bridgewater on 29 October. Access is restricted from 7 to 13 October for the Formula 1 weekend.
Are there free events at Esplanade?
Yes. Popaholic, parts of Octoburst! and Voices, and the monthly Beautiful Sunday concerts are free. Esplanade also stages performances in public spaces such as the Concourse and the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Check each event page for the date and venue.
What is on at the Esplanade Concert Hall?
The Concert Hall hosts the free Beautiful Sunday series. The one date we confirmed from October is 4 October. Venue details for each ticketed show are on its event page.
How do I get to Esplanade by MRT?
Take the Circle line to Esplanade station, or the North-South or East-West line to City Hall station. Esplanade lists both as routes. The CityLink tunnel from CityLink Mall is open from 6 am to 10 pm.
Where do I buy Esplanade tickets?
Esplanade’s ticketing is supported by SISTIC. You can also buy at the Esplanade Box Office on the Mezzanine Level, open 12 pm to 8 pm daily. SISTIC booking fees apply.
Are there Esplanade events in January to March 2027?
The da:ns focus series runs to 31 March 2027, and Footwork dance workshops are planned for February and March 2027. We could not confirm dates when we checked on 1 October 2026, so look at esplanade.com/whats-on for updates.
Can I bring food and drink into the halls?
No, not unless the promoter states otherwise. Esplanade Mall has cafés and restaurants outside the venues.
Other venues
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What is on at the National Stadium and Singapore Sports Hub.
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