Marina Bay Sands: Inside the World of Art and Entertainment at Singapore’s Skyline Icon

PUBLISHED October 15th, 2025 03:04 pm | UPDATED December 4th, 2025 07:48 am

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) looms over the bay like something out of science fiction, three towers holding up what looks like a ship in the sky. Inside, it’s not just a hotel or a mall. It’s a stage where theatre, art, family diversions, and the Singapore skyline all jostle for attention. Most locals don’t drop by every week, but when an exhibition opens at ArtScience Museum, or when overseas friends ask to see the view, this is where you end up. And spending a day here feels less like checking boxes and more like watching the city perform one act after another.

For the Skyline View

High above the bustle, the SkyPark Observation Deck sets the tone. Perched 56 storeys above the city, the deck offers an expansive view stretching from Marina Bay to the distant hills of Malaysia on a clear day. But beyond the selfie-worthy angles and sweeping vistas, there’s also a chance to dip into the story of this iconic precinct through the Skyline Singapore: Stories from Above showcase.

The showcase brings context to the view. Unfolding along the path to the SkyPark Observation Deck, it chronicles Marina Bay’s transformation from reclaimed land to a glittering urban icon. Through archival footage, multimedia installations, and curated narratives, guests gain insight into how urban visionaries, architects, and community leaders shaped the district. It adds depth to the view, not just a pretty cityscape, but an understanding of how far this city has come.

For the Art Lovers: ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience Museum is where imagination takes over. A cultural cornerstone where creativity and technology are at the forefront of its programming. At teamLab Future World. This permanent exhibition is divided into two immersive realms: City in Nature and Exploring New Frontiers, each offering responsive environments that change with every step, gesture, and presence.

In City in Nature, works like Continuous Life and Death respond to how you move through the space. Stand still and flowers begin to bloom. Reach out and petals drift away. At the interactive slide, Sliding through the Fruit Field, kids (and adults) slide down a digital hill, triggering fruit to ripen or scatter. It’s playful, yes, but layered with ideas about how we affect the world around us, and leaves us with a tactile memory.

Entering Exploring New Frontiers, the installation Crystal Universe feels like stepping into the cosmos. Thousands of LED lights mimic a galaxy in motion, and with a simple tap on your phone, you can introduce a new celestial element into the scene. It’s immersive, atmospheric, and strangely meditative. Nothing here is static. It shifts, adapts, and reacts to each person in the room.

What makes Future World so captivating is how it dissolves the boundary between art and audience. It invites you to touch, move, even play, reminding us that creativity and connection go hand-in-hand.

Over at SingaPop!, a colourful celebration of 60 years of Singapore’s pop culture, we walk through Singapore’s coming-of-age story, from its early music and TV shows to fashion, slang, and food. Curated by cultural icon Dick Lee, it will amuse you with hawker centre nostalgia, Singlish soundbites, and retro festival wear. You can belt out a karaoke tune, try on old-school outfits, or simply take a moment to think about how Singapore’s culture, past and future, keeps reinventing itself. Like good rojak, it only gets richer the more it mixes.

Nearby, Another World is Possible turns the lens forward. This new exhibition looks at how artists and designers imagine the future through cinema, architecture, design, and speculative fiction. It’s a reminder that the ArtScience Museum is a space for imagining what could come next.

For the Families with Young Explorers

Looking for a shift from spectacle to smaller quieter encounters? Head down to the Sampan Rides at The Shoppes. These short boat journeys along the indoor canal are a quiet nod to Singapore’s trading past. Beneath the Rain Oculus, a giant skylight that pours water in dramatic fashion, you get a surprising moment of calm amid the buzz.

Just steps away lies another teamLab permanent installation. With Digital Light Canvas, the creative magic continues. Here, the floor beneath your feet becomes a responsive surface, lighting up with blooming flowers or darting schools of koi. It’s a simple joy, watching your steps leave a trail of colour and motion.

Beyond the play of light, Digital Light Canvas offers a thoughtful way to take a piece of the experience home. Through Sketch Factory and Papercraft, you can customise your own keepsake, turning a drawing or digital design into a one-of-a-kind souvenir. A quiet, creative alternative to the usual retail therapy.

Evening Highlights

As golden hour melts into evening, Marina Bay Sands takes on a different rhythm. For those craving culture, the Sands Theatre is a reliable ticket to something world-class. The space plays host to Broadway blockbusters and more. A revolving lineup that matches the scale of its surroundings.

But if theatre isn’t your thing, swing back up to the SkyPark for Silent Disco in the Sky. Held monthly, this rooftop party trades speakers for wireless headphones. You choose the DJ, the vibe, the tempo, all while dancing under the stars with the city laid out below you. There’s something quietly euphoric about it. No noise complaints. Just bodies in motion, a whole lot of singing only they can hear, set against one of the world’s most photogenic backdrops.

A Month of Family Fun, Art, and Skyline Magic

As the city lights up for Deepavali long weekend, there’s no better time to explore the fun-filled experiences at Marina Bay Sands. Between exhibitions, skyline views, and family moments, it becomes a space where art and play share the same stage. This October, families have an extra reason to visitThis October, families have an extra reason to visit.. In celebration of Children’s Day, from 3 to 31 October 2025, every adult ticket purchased to SingaPop! 60 Years of Singapore Pop Culture, Another World Is Possible, Sampan Rides, or Digital Light Canvas by teamLab comes with two complimentary tickets for children aged 2 to 12. A chance for families to explore together and see the city through fresh eyes.

Beyond the panoramic skyline views and luxurious stays, Marina Bay Sands transforms into a cultural hub during the festive season, from art exhibitions at the ArtScience Museum and indulgent dining at celebrity chef restaurants, to dazzling light shows and retail therapy at The Shoppes. Whether you’re catching a live performance, unwinding at the SkyPark or simply soaking in the festive glow, MBS offers something for every moodWhether you’re catching a live performance, unwinding at the SkyPark or simply soaking in the festive glow, MBS offers something for every mood.
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Featured photo: Courtesy of Marina Bay Sands