National Heritage Board

🎧 Pause for a moment and listen.
Some traditions are remembered through stories,and others are remembered through sound.

A gentle pluck. A lingering note. A melody carried across centuries.

This is Nanyin (南音), a musical tradition brought to Singapore in the 19th century and kept alive as part of our living heritage today

🔊 Turn on your sound and experience a piece of Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage.

At the World Cities Summit 2026, the National Heritage Board (NHB) brought together city leaders and technical experts from across the globe to explore a vital question: how can heritage shape better, more liveable cities?

SMS Low Yen Ling set the tone with a clear message — truly loveable cities go beyond good infrastructure. Culture, heritage, and a sense of belonging need to be at their core.

For Singapore, NHB is driving this vision on two fronts. First, in our historic districts — Chinatown, Kampong Gelam, and Little India — an inter-agency task force, a new Placemaking Project Office, and the SG Heritage Business Scheme are keeping these neighbourhoods vibrant and deeply rooted in heritage and culture.

Beyond these districts, Heritage Activation Nodes, over 20 Heritage Trails island-wide, and gamified walking trails developed with the CDCs are weaving heritage into the fabric of neighbourhoods and the community across Singapore.

1-5: NHB’s panel ‘Championing Heritage for Loveable Cities’, moderated by Prof Lily Kong and featuring SMS Low Yen Ling, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu (Ilo Ilo City), Vice-Mayor Miguel Antunes (Coimbra), Ms María Claudia López (Bogotá), and Mr Sunny Lo (Hong Kong), showed how very different cities share a common idea that heritage improves the quality of life in cities.

6-10: NHB's booth at the Singapore Pavilion showcased how living with heritage is an everyday experience in Singapore. This was explored through five pillars: Places, People, Public, Private, and Philanthropic. Also featured were objects and interactives by heritage businesses and partners, bringing to life the stories of the communities, trades, and spaces that make Singapore's lived heritage so distinctive.

Join our Community Takeover event this weekend for exciting programmes at One Punggol

♟️Discover our new exhibition highlighting the board games we play in Singapore.

🤝 Meet our local board games communities — Punggol Damai RN, Scrabble Association Singapore, Singapore Weiqi Association and learn how to play new board games or challenge them to a friendly game.

🤖 You can also try to beat the robot at a weiqi game!

🎨Design your own game board charm with Plook Plook Studio

🗓️ Date and Time: 20-21 June, 11am - 2pm

Free admission, no registration needed, see you there!

From toy farms and pocket games to swimming beavers and slot cars, Singapore-made toys have shaped childhood memories across generations.

Join us as we revisit some beloved local creations and celebrate the stories of play, creativity and innovation behind them.

Explore our National Collections at Roots.sg.

Calling out to those interested in starting a heritage project! Are you seeking up to 80% funding support and tips on how to execute your project? Join our upcoming Heritage Grants Clinic to learn more!

🔗 Register now at https://go.gov.sg/nhb-grants-clinic or link in bio! (Registration closes 3 July 2026).

An international audience got a taste of Singapore’s living heritage last month!

London's historic Battersea Power Station saw the debut of the Singapore Pavilion at London Craft Week 2026 with Future Craft, our largest-ever collective showcase of local living heritage practitioners at an overseas pavilion.

Featuring the works of 15 heritage craft and design practitioners – 11 of whom presented accompanying public programmes – the showcase highlighted craft forms as diverse as metalworking, lacquerworking, bird cage-making, rangoli, lion dance, beading, embroidery, ceramics and the kebaya.

Thank you to all our incredible practitioners, collaborators, and everyone who visited us at Battersea!

The June school holidays are here and Singapore's heritage spots have plenty in store for the whole family! 🎉

From hands-on workshops and interactive storytelling to festivals and treasure hunts, there's something for every curious explorer this season. Whether you're diving into Peranakan culture, uncovering the stories of Kampong Gelam, or celebrating Dragon Boat Festival with the kids — make this June one to remember!

Swipe to discover what's happening across our museums and heritage centres this June school holidays! 👉

Join us over both weekends to celebrate the launch of our new travelling exhibition!

Discover our new travelling exhibition showcasing the games many of us grew up with and embark on a stamp rally to create your own game board.

🎉 Exhibition launch! 🎉

🀄️ Gather your friends for board game sessions with Laiplayleow, meet local game designers, and try out games inspired by our local culture.

🎨 Get creative with PLAY at screen printing booths and make your own monopoly tokens with air-dry clay.

🗓️ Date and Time: 13 June, 11am – 5pm || 14 June, 11am – 4pm

🤩 Community Takeover! 🤩

🤝 Meet our local board games communities —Damai Board Games Community, Scrabble Association, and Singapore Weiqi Association, and learn how to play new board games or challenge them to a friendly game.

🤖 You can also try to beat the robot at a weiqi game!

🎨There will be more hands-on craft activities for all ages.

🗓️ Date and Time: 20-21 June, 11am - 2pm

Free admission for both weekends, no registration needed. Bring your friends, just come play! 🎲