Gardens by the Bay will soon house a first-of-its-kind immersive entertainment venue with the launch of IMBA Theatre in December 2025. The new attraction aims to revolutionise how audiences engage with art and culture through multi-sensory experiences.
An Immersive Art and Cultural Destination
IMBA, which stands for ‘Immersive Media Based Arts’, is being developed by homegrown edutainment group H&B. The space will include:
The Black Box: More than 20,000 square-foot theatre with a towering 12.5-metre projection wall—among Southeast Asia’s tallest—designed for immersive exhibitions and forward-thinking arts, culture, and lifestyle events.
Gallery Space: A 12,500 square-foot area with 6.5-meter ceilings, the space is designed for traditional and mixed media showcases.
The theatre will serve as a platform for year-round arts and culture events, merging technology, creativity and storytelling to showcase both local and global talent.
Visitors can also look forward to retail and dining options curated to complement the immersive venue.
MBA has partnered with London-based Lightroom, a leading name in immersive storytelling, as one of its key collaborators for content development. As part of a broader network of partnerships, Lightroom will play a pivotal role in delivering a line-up of world-class experiences at the Theatre.
Opening with The Botero Show
IMBA Theatre will launch in December with The Botero Show, featuring works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose larger-than-life sculptures are already familiar fixtures throughout Singapore. The exhibition will display Botero’s monumental sculptures across both indoor and outdoor spaces.
“IMBA Theatre is more than just a venue; it is a space designed for scale and adaptability to inspire wonder and allow audiences to foster deeper connections with the arts and the world around us,” said Michael Lee, CEO of H&B.
Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay, shared that IMBA Theatre will “reach out to both regular and new audiences by offering innovative immersive experiences amidst the iconic setting of the Gardens.”
Image courtesy of IMBA.
Alongside global exhibitions, IMBA Theatre will shine a spotlight on Singapore’s cultural heritage, showcasing the Nanyang style, an art movement pioneered by Singapore artists that blended Chinese and Western art techniques to depict Southeast Asian themes. Visitors can also look forward to works by beloved local muralist Yip Yew Chong. His nostalgic street art has captured the essence of Singapore’s past, from Kampong scenes to traditional trades.
