Huayi 2026 at Esplanade: Full Line-Up of Theatre, Music and Dance Shows Announced
27 February, 2026 – 8 March, 2026
Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts returns to Esplanade from 27 February to 8 March 2026, bringing together Chinese stories, pop culture and legendary talent from Singapore, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Expect moving theatre productions that span imperial palace intrigue to post-apocalyptic futures, soaring concerts from chart-loved musicians and creative family shows that reimagine timeless folktales. The 24th edition promises a festive showcase that reminds us why arts remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations in Singapore.
Headline Ticketed Performances
| Show | Genre | Country | Dates | Venue | Language | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deling and Cixi | Theatre | China | 27 Feb-1 Mar | Esplanade Theatre | Mandarin, Eng surtitles | Palace drama on Empress Dowager Cixi and Princess Deling |
| Le Père (The Father) | Theatre | China | 6-8 Mar | Esplanade Theatre | Mandarin, Eng surtitles | Stars King Shih-chieh, acclaimed dementia themed play |
| “BEING” The Freshman Concert 2026 | Music | Singapore | 27 Feb | Esplanade Concert Hall | Mandarin | 15th anniversary performance |
| Wukong’s 72 Transformations | Music theatre | Singapore | 7 Mar | Esplanade Concert Hall | Mandarin, Eng surtitles | Chinese orchestra meets puppetry and multimedia |
| Tall Tales: Bananas & Ang Ku Kuehs | Theatre | SG x Taiwan | 6-8 Mar | Theatre Studio | Mandarin and Minnan, Eng surtitles | Cross-cultural folk myth reinterpretation |
| A Little Goes a Long Way | Family theatre | Taiwan | 6-8 Mar | Recital Studio | Mandarin | Puppetry, physical storytelling for families |
| LauZone | Cabaret | Hong Kong | 27-28 Feb | Recital Studio | Cantonese, English, Mandarin, dialects | Musical love letter to HK’s multilingual roots |
| Diary VII: The Story Of… | Dance | Hong Kong | 27-28 Feb | Theatre Studio | Mandarin | Award-winning autobiographical solo dance |
| The Sun | Theatre | Taiwan | 28 Feb-1 Mar | Singtel Waterfront Theatre | Mandarin, Eng surtitles | Sci-fi thriller about divided humanity |
| YELLOW | Music | Taiwan | 6 Mar | Annexe Studio | Mandarin | Award-winning cyberfunk artist |
| Crispy “I Love You × 100” Live in Singapore | Music | Taiwan | 7 Mar | Annexe Studio | Mandarin | Indie folk-pop duo celebrating 15 years |
| WANGWEN | Music | China | 8 Mar | Annexe Studio | Instrumental | Leading Chinese post-rock band |
Quick Guide: Who Should Attend What
| Audience | Best Picks |
|---|---|
| Drama lovers | Deling and Cixi, Le Père, The Sun |
| Mandopop fans | The Freshman, YELLOW, Crispy |
| Post-rock audience | WANGWEN |
| Families | A Little Goes A Long Way |
| Culture buffs | Wukong’s 72 Transformations, Tall Tales |
| Dance enthusiasts | Diary VII: The Story Of… |
| Dialect defenders | LauZone |
Ticket Sales Notes
Tickets go on sale from 3 December 2025 at 10am with early-bird Esplanade&Me specials of up to 20% off tickets from 3 to 21 December 2025.