In commemoration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is proud to present its largest National Day celebrations to date. From 18 July to 9 August, visitors can immerse themselves in a series of interactive experiences that reflect on our past, celebrate the present and imagine the future, including a full day of vibrant programmes held across four floors of the museum on National Day. Inspired by the lyrics of the beloved 1987 National Day theme song, “We Are Singapore”, this year’s programmes are thematically curated to honour the people, values and stories that have shaped our nation over the years. 

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum has long been a space where Singapore’s history and identity are explored, celebrated and reimagined. This SG60, it is especially meaningful for us to welcome visitors to join us in reliving the stories and values that form our identity as Singaporeans. Inspired by the song “We Are Singapore”, which speaks to our spirit of determination and immense pride in the country we’ve built together, our largest National Day celebrations aim to honour our shared past and invite the community to participate in shaping the stories we continue to tell.” 

To get visitors into the spirit of National Day, the celebrations start in July with two eye-catching activities. Following a gap year due to restoration works, the crowd-favourite National Day Light-Up will make its return on the museum’s facade from 18 July to 9 August with Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey. This year’s iconic projection offers a refreshed visual experience with stunning light art, and in a tribute to our nation’s resilience and unity, visitors can watch Singapore’s story unfold across the National Museum’s historic building facade through a captivating dance of light and colour. 

Visitors can also look forward to the Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase at the Stamford Gallery, celebrating Singapore’s community creativity and national heritage through play. Inspired by the Flows of People section in the National Museum’s commemorative SG60 exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, the showcase brings Singapore’s stories to life through a mix of building bricks and innovative digital installations and experiences. 

Presented in collaboration with The LEGO Group, this colourful brick-filled showcase features a large-scale diorama of iconic Singaporean elements, intricate LEGO builds of Singaporean’s favourite local food, and LEGO artworks by students of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) that depict historical and modern scenes inspired by our iconic Singapore River. To complete the experience, visitors can participate in a LEGO Make & Take activity at selected timeslots to build their very own Mini LEGO Orchid as a special SG60 memento of their visit to the National Museum. 

Visitors can also contribute to a one-of-a-kind LEGO mural that aims to set a new Singapore Book of Records title for the largest LEGO mural ever created in the country. Visitors are invited to be a part of this record-breaking moment by completing the final section of the mural, with each added brick being a tribute to Singapore’s enduring community spirit, creativity and national pride. 

Inspired by the creations in the Stories of Singapore showcase, visitors are invited to actively participate in Digital River Stories, an engaging digital experience designed in partnership with MJD Pro Group to foster creativity. Using their personal mobile devices, visitors can unleash their artistic talents through a digital colouring activity and share their hopes and desires for the future of Singapore. Once completed, these artworks can be seamlessly submitted to a dynamic digital wall, where they will come to life and join a vibrant and ever-evolving interactive background.

8 The festivities will culminate on 9 August in a full day of celebrations as the National Museum rolls out its largest programme line-up specially curated around the theme of “We Are Singapore”. Visitors can look forward to activities on every level of the museum, each highlighting aspects of our multi-faceted Singaporean identity and heritage.

Basement Level – There was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it…

Visitors can participate in hands-on experiences that pay homage to our maritime past, centred around Singapore’s early history as the capital of the Straits Settlements.

Level One – This is my country, this is my flag…

Guests are invited to celebrate elements that make us uniquely Singaporean, with activities that spotlight cultural keystones such as our beloved Singlish vernacular and the kopi and kaya toast breakfast ritual.

Levels Two and Three – We Are Singapore, Singaporeans

Designed to highlight pivotal moments in Singapore’s path to independence, visitors can look forward to a heritage hunt showcasing the museum’s artefacts, batik activities featuring beloved icons, and more.

To wrap up the festivities, families are invited to gather on the National Museum’s Front Lawn for a relaxing picnic under the stars and a live screening of the National Day Parade 2025 from 5.30pm onwards.

Admission to the Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase is free of charge, and all visitors can enjoy free admission to the National Museum on 9 August 2025.

Admission will include entry to the National Museum’s latest installation, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, housed in the iconic Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda — the first of the National Museum’s permanent galleries that will reopen on 8 August 2025. Guests can also visit the Singapore History Gallery before its closure on 17 November 2025, with its last day open to public on 16 November. For more information, visit the National Museum’s Facebook and Instagram pages.