Marina Bay Sands is kicking off 2026 with something refreshingly different, a full-scale Chinese language comedy festival. Running from 31 January to 5 February, the inaugural Sands Comedy Season 金沙喜剧季, co-organised with Clover Films, brings together some of the biggest names in Chinese comedy, alongside a homegrown favourite, all under one roof at Sands Theatre.
Timed neatly ahead of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse, this new festival adds a lighter, laugh-first option to Marina Bay Sands’ already packed entertainment calendar. Expect large-scale stage productions, sharp stand-up sets, and even a film world premiere, all designed for audiences who enjoy their humour fast, clever, and culturally fluent.
What to expect at Sands Comedy Season
Big Chinese comedy brands, first time in Singapore
Two of China’s most influential comedy powerhouses are making their Singapore debut.
- Mahua Fun Age (开心麻花) brings its blockbuster stage hit The Count of Wulong Mountain, a farce packed with mistaken identities, rapid-fire dialogue and absurd twists. With over 4,000 performances across China, this is polished, high-energy theatre comedy.
- Xiaoguo Comedy (笑果文化) follows with Stand-Up Comedy and Friends Season 2 World Tour, featuring a rotating line-up of popular Chinese stand-up comedians known for observational humour and crowd-friendly punchlines.
Mark Lee’s first full-length Mandarin stand-up
Singapore’s King of Comedy, Mark Lee (李国煌), takes centre stage with his first full-length Mandarin stand-up show, Old Horses Still Have Spring. The set draws from his own life, touching on work, ageing, money, marriage, and the pressure to keep going. Expect familiar stories, self-deprecating humour, and a special guest appearance by Marcus Chin for fans who love their classic banter.
A comedy film world premiere
Rounding off the season is the world premiere of 3 Good Guys (《老婆，我爱你！》), a Singapore-Thailand co-production that blends fantasy, romance and comedy. Featuring local influencers alongside Thai talent, the film explores friendship, relationships, and mid-life chaos, with plenty of laughs along the way.
Show highlights at a glance
| Date | What’s On | Why It’s Worth Watching | Ticket Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan – 1 Feb | The Count of Wulong Mountain 乌龙山伯爵” — 开心麻花 by Mahua Fun Age | China’s most successful stage comedy, finally in Singapore | VIP: S$158 A Reserve: S$138 B Reserve: S$118 C Reserve: S$98 D Reserve: S$78 A Reserve Box (4 Seats): S$552 B Reserve Dress Circle: S$118 C Reserve Grand Circle: S$98 D Reserve Grand Circle: S$78 Grand Circle Box (4 Seats): S$472 Restricted View: S$108 |
| 3 Feb | Old Horses Still Have Spring 老马也有春天 by Mark Lee | Mark Lee’s first full Mandarin stand-up, ahead of Lunar New Year | Tickets are now on sale. VIP: S$128 A Reserve: S$118 B Reserve: S$88 C Reserve: S$68 D Reserve: S$48 A Reserve Box (4 Seats): S$472 B Reserve Dress Circle: S$88 C Reserve Grand Circle: S$68 D Reserve Grand Circle: S$48 Grand Circle Box (4 Seats): S$352 Restricted View: S$88 |
| 4 Feb | Stand-Up Comedy and Friends Season 2 脱口秀和Ta的朋友们 2海外巡演 — 笑果文化) | Popular Chinese stand-up comedians in one night | Tickets are now on sale. VIP: S$158 A Reserve: S$138 B Reserve: S$118 C Reserve: S$98 D Reserve: S$78 A Reserve Box (4 Seats): S$552 B Reserve Dress Circle: S$118 C Reserve Grand Circle: S$98 D Reserve Grand Circle: S$78 Grand Circle Box (4 Seats): S$472 Restricted View: S$108 |
| 5 Feb | 3 Good Guys 老婆，我爱你！ world premiere | Singapore-Thailand comedy film debut. |
All performances take place at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, with tickets already on sale.
Sands Comedy Season signals a shift in how large-scale entertainment is being programmed in Singapore. Instead of one-off shows, this is a curated festival built around a shared language and humour style, giving fans of Chinese comedy a proper reason to mark their calendars. It also makes for an easy, mood-lifting option if you want something lighter than concerts and musicals during the festive period.
If your Lunar New Year plans could use more laughter and fewer awkward silences, this one’s worth a look.