In celebration of both SG60 and Singapore Management University’s (SMU) 25th anniversary, SMU Arts Fest returns this August and September under the theme of 2560. Presenting five programmes over six weeks, get ready for a festival that’s full of celebration, creativity and collaboration from SMU students and partners.

Running throughout the duration of the festival, 25 x 25 is an art exhibition that spotlights a new wave of student creativity, featuring visual, literary, and performance-based responses to 25 works from the SMU Art Collection. Curated in collaboration with SMU Libraries, it invites cross-medium dialogue and fresh interpretations of the themes explored in the original artworks.

Over at the Campus Green, Live, Laugh, Lor is a vibrant 4-day music and dance showcase, presented in collaboration with the Singapore Night Festival, and for the first time ever, unites all eight Singapore universities on one stage. Audiences can look forward to a dynamic line-up of collaborative performances, including a five-university dance ensemble and a three-institution acapella act, celebrating the diverse and evolving expressions of contemporary Singaporean identity.

COMMISSIONS pays tribute to how SMU has consistently supported local talent by commissioning new orchestral compositions. To celebrate SMU25 and SG60, the SMU Chinese Orchestra will present a special concert featuring commissioned works from past years alongside multicultural pieces celebrating Singapore’s rich diversity. The programme includes three world premieres of original commissions and guest players, underscoring SMU’s commitment to inclusion.

return of RE:TURN is a high energy dance production that explores the disappearing grammar of traditional Malay, Indian and Chinese dance finding its way to influence, evolve and turn dance genres like hip-hop into fresh and exciting possibilities. Featuring the largest dance club, this production celebrates SMU Eurhythmix marking its 25th anniversary alongside SMU25 and SG60.

Finally, MAD The Musical follows the journey of a present-day SMU undergraduate whose world collides with the fascinating, storied past of the site where our campus now stands. Expect a playful and heartfelt blend of past and present, brought to life through the reimagining of pop hits by the likes of Taylor Swift, Green Day, and many others. A rare collaboration between SMU and top industry professionals – including original script concept by Jo Tan, director George Chan, and choreographer Andy Cai – MAD is an original musical created to celebrate SMU25..

SMU Arts Fest 2025: 2560 runs from 22nd August to 6th September 2025. More information available here