New Attractions in Singapore 2026: What’s Opening, What’s Changed, and Why the World Is Watching

Singapore has always punched above its weight when it comes to tourism—but 2026 might just be its biggest year yet. Here’s your complete guide to every major new attraction in Singapore worth knowing about this year.

What’s New in Singapore 2026: At a Glance

Every major new attraction worth visiting this year

Why Singapore Is the Travel Destination of 2026

It’s not just hype. Travel + Leisure named Singapore one of the 50 best places to travel in 2026, singling it out for its wave of new openings. Tripadvisor went a step further, crowning the city the world’s top cultural destination for 2026—ahead of Paris, Rome, and Kyoto. Between blockbuster new attractions on Sentosa, a purpose-built arts venue at Gardens by the Bay, and a Disney-branded mega-ship sailing weekly from Marina Bay, there’s substance behind the accolades.

Whether you’re planning a first-time visit or you’re a local hunting for the best new things to do in Singapore, here’s what deserves your attention.

Singapore Oceanarium

 

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If you remember the S.E.A. Aquarium, forget everything you knew. The Singapore Oceanarium, which officially launched in July 2025 as part of Resorts World Sentosa’s S$6.8-billion expansion, is now three times larger than its predecessor and it shows.

Spread across 22 themed zones, the Oceanarium takes visitors on a narrative journey from Singapore’s own coastline through ancient prehistoric seas, deep-ocean trenches, and vibrant coral ecosystems. Highlights include the Ancient Waters zone, where life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and living fossils bring prehistory uncomfortably close, and Ocean Wonders, home to one of the world’s largest kreisel habitats housing thousands of moon jellies.

The showstopper remains the Open Ocean zone, anchored by a 36-metre-wide viewing panel that frames manta rays, zebra sharks, and schools of shimmering fish gliding through an 18-million-litre habitat. It’s the kind of view that makes you stand still for ten minutes without realising.For history buffs, the Spirit of Exploration zone houses the Jewel of Muscat — a full-scale reconstruction of a 9th-century Omani dhow that once sailed to Singapore. And yes, the viral albino axolotl from Minecraft fame is here too, holding court in the Conquering Land zone.

Singapore Oceanarium: Tickets, Prices and Opening Hours

• Tickets: From S$42 (Singapore residents, non-peak) / S$50 (international visitors, non-peak)
• Opening hours: 10am–7pm daily
• Location: Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island
• Tip: Download the Singapore Oceanarium app for an augmented reality experience on select exhibits. Book tickets online for faster entry — weekday mornings are quietest.

IMBA Theatre at Gardens by the Bay — Singapore’s New Arts Landmark

 

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Tucked into the west lawn of Gardens by the Bay, IMBA Theatre is the kind of cultural venue Singapore has been missing: a purpose-built, large-scale immersive space dedicated to multisensory exhibitions. It opened its doors in early 2026 and has already landed on Time Out’s global list of best exhibitions worth travelling for.

The current programming is a one-two punch of artistic heavyweight names. Botero: Heart of Volume is the world’s largest exhibition of Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s work, featuring over 100 original paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the family’s private collection, alongside A Life in Fullness, a 45-minute immersive audiovisual experience narrated by Botero’s eldest son. Outside, ten monumental bronze sculptures are scattered across Gardens by the Bay’s Silver Garden, turning the landscape into an open-air gallery.

Running alongside is David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), brought over from Lightroom UK. Six chapters of floor-to-ceiling projections, accompanied by an original score from composer Nico Muhly and Hockney’s own narration, walk you through six decades of the British artist’s experimentation, from his iconic LA swimming pools to his iPad-drawn Yorkshire landscapes. Each loop runs just under an hour, and visitors are free to stay and re-watch.

IMBA Theatre: Tickets, Exhibitions and Opening Hours

• Opening hours: 9am–9pm daily (last admission 8pm)
• Current exhibitions: Botero: Heart of Volume (until 18 May 2026) / David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (until 30 June 2026)
• Tickets from: From S$15 (adults)
• Location: West Lawn, beside Bayfront Plaza, Gardens by the Bay
• Getting there: 8-minute walk from Bayfront MRT (Circle/Downtown Line) or direct exit from Gardens by the Bay MRT (Thomson-East Coast Line)

Disney Adventure Cruise Singapore

 

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The single most talked-about arrival in Singapore’s tourism scene this year isn’t on land at all. The Disney Adventure—the largest ship in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet at over 208,000 gross tonnes—embarked on her maiden voyage from Marina Bay Cruise Centre on 10 March 2026, christened by Robert Downey Jr. himself.

This is the first Disney cruise ship ever homeported in Asia, and it’s designed squarely for families across Southeast Asia, India, and beyond. At 342 metres long with 19 decks and 2,110 staterooms, the ship accommodates up to 6,700 passengers and features seven themed zones inspired by Disney, Pixar, and Marvel.

The headline attractions include IronCycle Test Run, the longest roller coaster at sea with an 820-foot track, and five original Broadway-calibre stage productions—the standout being Remember, a WALL-E–inspired musical that had entire theatres reaching for tissues during preview sailings. The ship also hosts the only fireworks-at-sea show on any cruise ship in the world: The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky.

Disney Adventure Singapore: Schedule and Prices

• Sailing schedule: Three-night cruises (Monday departures) and four-night cruises (Thursday departures)
• Route: Cruises to nowhere—the ship does not dock at any ports
• Prices from: Approximately US$958 for two guests (3-night voyage)
• Bookings: Open through to August 2027; peak-period sailings are filling fast
• Departure port: Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Singapore

Exploria at Mandai Wildlife Reserve

 

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Mandai’s wildlife precinct continues to expand, and its newest addition leans into immersive, tech-driven storytelling. Exploria is a multisensory attraction spanning 10,000 square metres—making it Southeast Asia’s largest nature-themed indoor experience—that invites visitors to experience Earth’s ecosystems from the perspective of the animals that inhabit them.

Five themed realms span prehistoric landscapes, deep-sea environments, monsoon storms, and subterranean cave systems. Rather than leading with facts and figures, Exploria prioritises atmosphere—projections, spatial sound, and environmental simulation create a visceral sense of what survival feels like in the harshest corners of the planet, before the educational content kicks in. It’s designed to resonate with teenagers and young adults, an audience segment that wildlife attractions have traditionally struggled to captivate.

Exploria Mandai: Tickets and Visitor Info

• Tickets from: S$34.20 (adults)
• Opening hours: 11am–8pm (weekdays) / 11am–9pm (weekends and public holidays)
• Location: Mandai Wildlife Reserve
• Getting there: Accessible via Mandai Wildlife East Bus Station

Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore

 

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Universal Studios Singapore’s newest themed zone opened in February 2025 and remains a major draw heading into 2026. Minion Land, a Southeast Asian exclusive, transforms the former Madagascar zone into three areas: Super Silly Fun Land, Gru’s Neighbourhood, and Minion Marketplace.

The highlights include the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem motion-simulator ride, the Buggie Boogie carousel, the Silly Swirly aerial ride, and the high-energy Minute of Minion Mayhem Show. For foodies, Pop-A-Nana serves Minion-themed popcorn and snacks, while Sweet Surrender’s giant jawbreaker-topped storefront is as Instagram-ready as it sounds.

And for those wondering: Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Singapore is confirmed but still under construction, with no official opening date announced yet. Current indications suggest a 2027 opening at the earliest.

Once Upon a Tide—700 Years of Singapore’s Maritime History

 

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Commemorating Singapore’s 60th year of independence, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City is a special exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore running until 15 October 2026. It traces 700 years of the island’s history through the lens of the sea—how waterways, trade routes, and maritime connections shaped Singapore from a modest port settlement into a global hub.

Visitor info: Free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. General admission from S$24. Located a three-minute walk from Bencoolen MRT.

What Else Is Coming to Singapore in 2026 and Beyond

Rainforest Wild Asia at the Mandai precinct continues to expand its immersive wildlife encounters. Singapore is also adding 360 kilometres of new nature trails, including a 25km coast-to-coast route and a 62km cross-island trail, for visitors who want to explore the island beyond its urban core.

A new Live Nation music venue at Orchard is also in the pipeline, adding to Singapore’s ambitions as a live entertainment hub for the region.

Gardens by the Bay, already one of Singapore’s most visited landmarks, is about to get significantly bigger. A major expansion called Wetlands by the Bay will add five hectares of new wetland gardens, mangrove habitats, waterfront dining, and a flagship teamLab museum—the Japanese art collective’s first permanent space in Southeast Asia. The museum will feature both indoor and outdoor galleries, including a world-first pedal kayaking experience where visitors glide through immersive digital artworks set among living mangroves. Construction begins in early 2027, with the precinct expected to open progressively from late 2028.

Transiting Through Singapore? Make Your Layover Count

You don’t need a full holiday to get a taste of what Singapore has to offer. If you’re transiting through Changi Airport with a few hours to spare, the Singapore Transit Tours let you step out of the airport and into the city for a guided half-day experience—covering highlights like a bumboat cruise along the Singapore River, a stroll through Chinatown, and stops at iconic landmarks including the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands. Tours run daily, with convenient departure and return times built around connecting flights. Book your slot online or visit the ChangiXperience counters located in the transit hall (Arrival) at Terminal 1 and 3. 

All prices and opening hours are accurate as of April 2026 and subject to change. Check individual venue websites for the latest information before visiting.