Singapore Writers Festival 2026: Dates, Festival Pass Price and the Talks to Book
15 October 2026 · By the Eventful team
The Singapore Writers Festival 2026 runs 13 to 22 November in the Civic District, and the Festival Pass is $24 at early-bird price until 18 October, then $30. The Youth Pass for students is $12, then $15. One pass gets you into more than 100 talks, panels and readings at Victoria Theatre, The Arts House and National Gallery Singapore.
Top photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The Arts House at the Old Parliament.
SWF 2026 runs Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November under the theme "Hidden in Plain Sight", about how truth gets built, reworked or hidden in writing. It is organised by the Arts House Group.
Programmes this year are at Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, The Arts House at the Old Parliament and National Gallery Singapore. All three are near City Hall MRT, and all are indoors, which helps if the haze sticks around. Our November things-to-do guide has the rest of the month.
Pass prices and the 18 October deadline
The festival site says, word for word: "Early Bird is ending on 18 October!" Its FAQ says the early-bird phase runs 29 September to 18 October and regular pricing applies from 19 October.
Festival Pass: $24 early bird, $30 usual Youth Pass: $12 early bird, $15 usual, valid student card needed at entry
Prices exclude the BookMyShow booking fee. A pass covers 100+ programmes on a first-come, first-served basis. Some events are ticketed separately, and pass holders get 15% off selected programmes from 19 October. Students, NSFs and seniors 55 and above get 20% off passes and tickets from 19 October too, so if you qualify, the maths after the deadline is close.
Talks worth booking
From the festival's featured list:
13 Nov, 7.30pm: Festival keynote, Stephen Witt, "The Thinking Machine", Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall 14 Nov, 1.30pm: Festival keynote, Amitav Ghosh, on our planetary future, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall 14 Nov, 3.30pm: "The Making of a Serial Killer", crime panel 14 Nov, 8pm: "Spirits, Serpents and Sacred Fears", folklore in fiction, The Arts House 21 Nov, 1.30pm: Festival keynote, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, "Writing Between the Real and Unreal" 22 Nov, 4pm: Shuang Xuetao in conversation with Jeremy Tiang, National Gallery Singapore
One featured event, Singapore Shenanigans on 13 November, was already marked sold out when we checked.
SWF also has free programmes. Some need you to register first, so check each listing. Between talks, Raffles City is a short walk away by City Hall MRT. See our Raffles City food guide for quick meals, or Funan if you are coming from the National Gallery side.
Good to know
· The early-bird pass is $24 ($12 concession) until 18 October 2026, so buy before then.
· Pass entry is first come, first served. Turn up 15 minutes early for keynotes.
· Bring your student card if you buy the Youth Pass. It is checked at every door.
FAQs
When is the Singapore Writers Festival 2026?
From Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November 2026, at venues in the Civic District including Victoria Theatre, The Arts House and National Gallery Singapore.
How much is the SWF 2026 Festival Pass?
The Festival Pass is $24 at early-bird price and $30 after. The Youth Pass is $12 early bird and $15 after. Both exclude booking fees.
When does SWF early bird end?
The festival site says early bird ends on 18 October 2026. Regular pricing applies from 19 October.
Who can buy the SWF Youth Pass?
Anyone with a valid student pass. You must show your student card at entry, and programmes with age advisories still apply.
Are there free events at the Singapore Writers Festival?
Yes. SWF lists free programmes, including family-friendly ones. Some need pre-registration, so check each listing.
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