The revamped Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) will reopen to the public on 25 April 2026, featuring refreshed galleries, commissioned artworks and a nine-day. Reopening Festival anchored on a new narrative, Dari Rantau Ke Rumah (From the Region to Home). The narrative explores the evolution of Malay identities in Singapore, and how the Singaporean Malay community’s links to both a multicultural society and the broader Malay world have shaped its identity.

The reopening marks a significant milestone in MHC’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the richness and diversity of the Malay world. It invites visitors from all walks of life to step into the revamped Centre to reflect on the cultural inheritance of the Malay community here, and the future of the Malay identity in Singapore. MHC’s relaunch follows recent announcements on the expansion of MHC’s role and capabilities, to strengthen its role as a cultural anchor within Kampong Gelam and enhance its position as a centre for Malay heritage in Singapore. These include enhancing placemaking efforts in the precinct, of which the Reopening Festival is the first step towards doing so.

Dr Norshahril Saat, Chairman of the Malay Heritage Foundation, said, “MHC has continually strived to present Malay heritage in ways that feel relevant and resonant to contemporary audiences. This revamp is the culmination of years of hard work, enriched by invaluable community input and contributions, to ensure that the stories told honour the depth, diversity and dynamic nature of Malay cultural heritage. With MHC’s expanded role and mandate, the Centre is well-placed to serve as a nexus for the Malay community in Singapore, and a cultural anchor for the Kampong Gelam precinct. As we embark on this new chapter, we look forward to welcoming one and all to visit, partner and collaborate with us.”

An immersive journey through six thematic spaces

Visitors can explore the evolution of Malay communities through MHC’s six permanent galleries. It will feature 279 artefacts, with a quarter loaned by the community. Through a journey across time from 19th-century Singapore to imagining the possibilities of the future, visitors are encouraged to contemplate on what it means to be Malay in Singapore and how this identity continues to evolve with time. The six gallery themes are:

● Gallery 1: “We are Playing Relatives!” explores the theme of kinship formation in Singapore and Riau-Lingga;
● Gallery 2: An Era of Changing Kings examines the complex face of the Malay peninsula and Singapore in the early 20th century;
● Gallery 3: Journeying to Settling explores the cultural rite of passage of migration;
● Gallery 4: City of Dreams: Making A Mark explores the changing visibility and roles of Malay women in the 1950s and 1960s;
● Gallery 5: Our Living Heritage explores how Malay traditions, memories, and values are passed down, adapted, and sustained within families and in everyday life; and
● Gallery 6: We+ Heritage encourages visitors to consider the future of the Malay identity in Singapore.

The refreshed galleries highlight the rich tapestry of Malay heritage with broadened representation across Malay sub-ethnic groups through material culture, language and writing systems. Visitors can encounter the diversity of Malay heritage, including the Javanese, Baweanese, Bugis, Banjar, Minangkabau, and Orang Pulau communities.

The refreshed experience also introduces a wider cast of Perintis (pioneers), both familiar and newly featured. Their contributions and legacies are showcased with new perspectives, shedding light on lesser-known facets of their lives. Zubir Said’s mentorship of younger musicians after composing Majulah Singapura, and Yusof Ishak’s role as co-founder of Utusan Melayu in 1939 — a key platform for socio-political discourse that trained figures like journalists and editors before his presidency — these stories offer a more nuanced look and understanding of how individuals have shaped the community and nation.

The refreshed content also places a stronger spotlight on Malay women, recognising their contributions to education, literature, and the arts, as well as the challenges they faced in forging their own paths. Visitors can learn more about figures such as the first known woman pilgrim broker Hajah Maimunah, the first Malay woman radio announcer Zahrah Za’ba, and cultural innovators like Nona Asiah and Siti Radhiah, whose stories offer inspiring insights into resilience, creativity, and leadership.

Threading through the galleries are the Corridors of Cultural Memories, which offer intimate glimpses into the Malay community’s living heritage: everyday life, traditions, and shared histories. For the first time, newly commissioned works by local Malay artists are woven
into the spaces, adding contemporary interpretations that extend the narrative, and present heritage through a fresh lens. More information on the artworks can be found here.

MHC Reopening Festival: Pesta Pecah Panggung — Transcending Boundaries

To commemorate this milestone, MHC will be presenting a Reopening Festival titled Pesta Pecah Panggung — Transcending Boundaries. From 25 April to 3 May 2026, the festival will bring to life the narratives of the galleries by highlighting the richness of Malay heritage in Singapore and its deep connections across the region.

The festival will be split into two thematic weekends that parallel MHC’s new narrative, From the Region to Home. The first, themed “Exploring the Malay World”, will showcase the diversity and shared heritage of the Malay world, while the second is themed “A Home for Our Community” and unpacks what it means to be Malay in Singapore. With over 50 programmes lined up by more than 60 partners, visitors can look forward to performances, installations, workshops, and community programmes running from day to night. More details on the programmes can be found here, and interested members of the public can register for programmes here. Highlights include:

● Pecah Panggung Parade that features over 300 community partners who will present themed pushcarts and cultural performances for all to get into the festive spirit;
● Kota Impian: Modern Women which spotlights Singapore’s pioneering Malay women in a musical-theatre production, produced and performed by an all-female ensemble;
● Wajah & Bayang: Nusantara Arts Showcase, a special showcase curated by the MHC team, will bring together a diverse mix of music genres and art forms across the region, featuring performers from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore; and
● Santai Sampai Pagi: A Night Out at MHC, the Centre’s first-ever overnight event reminiscent of a slumber party. Visitors can look forward to film screenings, dance workshops, karaoke, a pyjama contest, and more exciting activities.

Hafiz Shariff, General Manager, MHC, said, “We have thoughtfully curated our Reopening Festival programming to reflect the renewed narrative of our galleries, creating pathways for visitors to deepen their understanding of Singapore’s Malay heritage and its connections to the broader Malay world. As a cultural institution within the Kampong Gelam
precinct, MHC is committed to active placemaking – working in close partnership with community stakeholders to further enliven the precinct. The Reopening Festival represents the first major initiative in this vision, with programming that will transcend MHC’s walls and into the precinct: from a “big bang” parade with more than 300 participants at Bussorah Street, to community artworks and performances at Sultan Gate Park, thematic guided tours of the Kampong Gelam precinct, and more.”

Visiting the Malay Heritage Centre – Free Admission to Galleries

In conjunction with MHC’s reopening, all visitors (including tourists) can enjoy free admission to the galleries from 25 April to 28 June 20261. After this period, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can continue to enjoy free admission to MHC’s galleries year-round. Members of the public can find more information on MHC’s galleries and festival programming at www.malayheritage.gov.sg, and stay updated through MHC’s Facebook and Instagram (@malayheritage).

Images credit to Malay Heritage Centre

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重新改造的 Malay Heritage Centre 推出焕新展馆及开幕节庆活动

重新改造的 Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) 将于 2026 年 4 月 25 日重新向公众开放，届时将展出焕新的展馆、委托艺术作品，并举办为期九天的开幕节庆活动，主题围绕全新的叙事 “Dari Rantau Ke Rumah (From the Region to Home)”。该叙事探讨了新加坡马来族群身份的演变，以及新加坡马来社区如何通过与多元文化社会和更广泛的马来世界的联系形成其独特身份。

此次重新开放标志着 MHC 在庆祝马来世界丰富多样文化方面持续努力的重要里程碑。它邀请各界访客走进焕新的中心，反思马来社区在新加坡的文化传承，以及马来身份的未来发展。MHC 的重新开放紧随最近关于扩展其角色与能力的公告，以强化其在 Kampong Gelam 的文化支柱地位，并提升其作为新加坡马来文化中心的地位。其中包括提升街区营造工作，而开幕节庆活动正是迈向这一目标的第一步。

穿越六个主题空间的沉浸式旅程

访客可以通过 MHC 的六个常设展馆探索马来社区的演变。展馆将展出 279 件文物，其中四分之一来自社区借展。通过从 19 世纪的新加坡到对未来可能性的想象，访客将被鼓励思考在新加坡成为马来的意义，以及这一身份如何随着时间不断演变。六个展馆主题如下：

• Gallery 1: “We are Playing Relatives!” 探讨新加坡与 Riau-Lingga 的亲属关系形成主题；
• Gallery 2: An Era of Changing Kings 检视 20 世纪初马来半岛和新加坡的复杂面貌；
• Gallery 3: Journeying to Settling 探索迁徙的文化过渡仪式；
• Gallery 4: City of Dreams: Making A Mark 探讨 1950 至 1960 年代马来女性在社会中日益变化的可见性与角色；
• Gallery 5: Our Living Heritage 探索马来传统、记忆与价值观如何在家庭及日常生活中传承、适应和延续；
• Gallery 6: We+ Heritage 鼓励访客思考新加坡马来身份的未来发展。

焕新的展馆通过物质文化、语言与书写系统，展示马来文化的丰富多样性，拓展了对马来次族群的呈现。访客将领略包括爪哇族、Baweanese、Bugis、Banjar、Minangkabau 以及 Orang Pulau 社区在内的马来文化多样性。

焕新的内容还更加突出马来女性的贡献，认可她们在教育、文学和艺术领域的成就，以及她们在开辟个人道路中面临的挑战。访客可了解人物如首位已知女朝圣经纪 Hajah Maimunah、首位马来女广播员 Zahrah Za’ba，以及文化创新者 Nona Asiah 和 Siti Radhiah，她们的故事提供了关于韧性、创造力和领导力的启发。

贯穿展馆的是 Corridors of Cultural Memories (文化记忆走廊)，让访客深入了解马来社区的生活遗产：日常生活、传统和共享历史。首次，本地马来艺术家创作的委托作品被融入展馆，为叙事增添当代解读，以全新视角呈现文化遗产。更多关于艺术作品的信息可点击此处查询。

MHC 开幕节庆：Pesta Pecah Panggung — Transcending Boundaries

为纪念这一里程碑，MHC 将举办开幕节庆活动，主题为 Pesta Pecah Panggung — Transcending Boundaries。节庆将于 2026 年 4 月 25 日至 5 月 3 日举行，通过展示展馆叙事，呈现新加坡马来文化遗产的丰富性及其与区域的深厚联系。

节庆将分为两个主题周末，与 MHC 的新叙事 From the Region to Home 相呼应。第一周末主题为 “Exploring the Malay World”，展示马来世界的多样性与共享遗产；第二周末主题为 “A Home for Our Community”，探讨在新加坡成为马来的意义。超过 60 个合作伙伴将推出 50 多个项目，包括表演、装置、工作坊及社区活动，日夜轮番上演。更多节庆项目详情可点击此处查询，公众可点击此处报名参与。亮点包括：

• Pecah Panggung Parade：超过 300 个社区伙伴参与，展示主题推车和文化表演，带来节日气氛；
• Kota Impian: Modern Women：聚焦新加坡开拓性的马来女性，由全女性团队制作并表演的音乐剧；
• Wajah & Bayang: Nusantara Arts Showcase：MHC 团队策划的特别展演，汇集区域内多种音乐风格与艺术形式，表演者来自印度尼西亚、马来西亚和新加坡；
• Santai Sampai Pagi: A Night Out at MHC：中心首次过夜活动，类似睡衣派对。访客可体验电影放映、舞蹈工作坊、卡拉 OK、睡衣比赛等多项活动。

参观 Malay Heritage Centre — 展馆免费入场

配合 MHC 重新开放，所有访客（包括游客）可在 2026 年 4 月 25 日至 6 月 28 日期间免费参观展馆。此后，新加坡公民及永久居民可全年免费入场。公众可在 www.malayheritage.gov.sg 查询 MHC 展馆和节庆活动信息，并通过 MHC 的 Facebook 和 Instagram (@malayheritage) 获取最新动态。