The Singapore Writers Festival returns from 13 to 22 November 2026 under the theme "Hidden in Plain Sight", and early bird passes are on sale only until 18 October.

TL;DR

  • The festival runs 13 to 22 November 2026, with main venues at Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, The Arts House and National Gallery Singapore.
  • Early bird prices are $24 for a Festival Pass (usually $30) and $12 for a Youth Pass (usually $15) until 18 October.
  • Keynote speakers include Stephen Witt, Amitav Ghosh and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and some programmes are free.

What is the Singapore Writers Festival 2026?

The Singapore Writers Festival is Singapore's annual literary festival. Alvinology and Little Big Red Dot report that it is organised by Arts House Group and commissioned by the National Arts Council, the government arts agency, and that this is the 29th edition. The official festival page does not state an edition number. Festival Director Yong Shu Hoong is leading his final festival, according to both outlets.

The 2026 theme, "Hidden in Plain Sight", looks at how truth and stories can be shaped, reinterpreted or concealed, per the official page. Alvinology reports more than 300 writers, speakers and moderators across over 200 programmes.

When and where is the festival, and how much do passes cost?

The festival runs 13 to 22 November 2026. The official page lists Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, The Arts House at the Old Parliament, and National Gallery Singapore as venues. Early bird prices are $24 for a Festival Pass (usually $30) and $12 for a Youth Pass (usually $15), ending 18 October. Alvinology describes the early bird offer as 20 per cent off from 29 September.

Both ticketed and free programmes are offered, and SG Culture Pass credits can be used for selected programmes, including the dikir performance Firasat on 20 November. Not confirmed in the sources reviewed: individual session ticket prices, full session timings and the complete list of free programmes. Check the official festival site before booking.

Who is speaking, and what is new this year?

The official page lists keynote talks by Stephen Witt on 13 November, Amitav Ghosh on 14 November and Silvia Moreno-Garcia on 21 November. Other listed sessions include "The Making of a Serial Killer" and "Resisting the Exotic: Writing About Asia for the World", both on 14 November. Little Big Red Dot names further headline authors including Tan Twan Eng, Ruha Benjamin, Rachel Smythe and Robin Stevens.

New this year, according to Little Big Red Dot and Alvinology, is a Crime and Mystery Spotlight strand, expanded Chinese, Malay and Tamil programming with live interpretation and digital translations, SWF Homage on literary translation, SWF Playground for younger readers and a Youth Fringe for ages 13 to 25.

How does it fit into a November in Singapore?

With early bird pricing ending in two days, anyone planning to go should decide soon. The writers festival sits between other November dates we have covered: the Singapore Clay Festival on 6 to 8 November (https://www.hotinsg.com/singapore-clay-festival-2026-6-to-8-november-at-the-chinese-cultural-centre-with-over-200-makers/ ), and Christmas Together at Marina Bay Sands (https://www.hotinsg.com/christmas-together-2026-at-marina-bay-sands-free-entry-christmas-village-runs-27-to-29-november/ ) and Anime Festival Asia (https://www.hotinsg.com/anime-festival-asia-singapore-2026-27-to-29-november-at-suntec-with-yuki-kajiura-kyary-pamyu-pamyu-and-mayn/ ), both from 27 to 29 November.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Singapore Writers Festival 2026?

The festival runs from 13 to 22 November 2026, according to the official festival page.

How much are early bird tickets for the Singapore Writers Festival 2026?

Early bird prices are $24 for a Festival Pass (usually $30) and $12 for a Youth Pass (usually $15), available until 18 October 2026.

Where is the Singapore Writers Festival held?

The official page lists Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, The Arts House at the Old Parliament, and National Gallery Singapore. Some programmes also take place in libraries and community spaces, per Little Big Red Dot.

Sources and Method

This is an original summary based on the official Singapore Writers Festival page (singaporewritersfestival.com, reviewed 16 October 2026), Alvinology (Irone Kim, 3 October 2026) and Little Big Red Dot (Priya Raman, 30 September 2026). Dates, prices, venues and keynote dates come from the official page; edition number, organiser details, programme scale and new strands are attributed to the two media reports. Not confirmed: individual session prices, full timetable and the complete list of free programmes. Prices are as listed on the official page.