Labubu Craze 101: What They Are and Our Must-Have Picks!

Singapore's hottest music and arts festival, Sunda Festival, is back from Apr. 17-19, 2025! This electrifying festival is bringing two days of non-stop music, stunning visuals, and pure festival energy with a lineup of regional and international DJs, including Mogwaa, Danilo Plessow, Chucheewa, and La Mamie's. 

The 2025 Edition of Sunda Festival is bigger than ever! Beyond the music, expect an exciting program of wellness, creative, and family-friendly activities, including cold immersion therapy, qi gong, body rhythm workshops, and neon chess. Plenty of local and international food vendors will offer small bites as well such as hotdogs and plant-based treats by Oatly. 

And here's the best part— YOU have a chance to be a part of this amazing energy for free! This year, we are partnered with Sunda Festival to give away a pair of Two-Day Festival Passses (two tickets), valued at SG$320. 

Here's How to Enter our Sunda Festival Giveaway:

1. Subscribe to our Singapore newsletters and look out for our emails from Monday, March 24 to Monday, April 7, 2025 (Tip: We will be sending out 3 emails). Sign up to our mailing list here.

2. To submit your entry, fill out a quick form by clicking the special link in any of the newsletters sent to you during the giveaway period (Monday, March 24 to Monday, April 7, 2025). Make sure you use an eligible email!

3. The giveaway will end on Monday, April 7 and one winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 8 so be sure to subscribe & fill out the form to enter! Check your email for updates and don't forget your spam/junk folder! 

BONUS: Follow The Beat Singapore and Sunda Festival's Instagram and give our giveaway post a like for an extra entry.

We're thrilled and excited to see one of Singapore's biggest festivals come to life! 

Dreamed up in 2019 and launched in 2023, Sunda Festival is the brainchild of Singapore's Ice Cream Sundays and Hong Kong's FuFu Creative, the organizers behind Shi Fu Miz, created to unite the region's best artists and talents in a nature-immersed setting. 

The name "Sunda" comes from the Sunda Plate, which is a tectonic plate that connects Southeast Asia and parts of Asia, embodying the connection between people, music, and nature. 

With Sunda 2025 falling on a public holiday weekend, expect fresh experiences and non-stop good vibes! 

Good luck to all participants, and we can't wait to reveal the winners via email! T&Cs apply. 

Terms & Conditions: 

• Giveaway period: Monday, Mar. 24 to Apr. 7, 2025.
• No purchases necessary to enter or win.
• Only open to Singaporean residents and participants must be at least 18 years or older.
• Participants must be subscribed to The Beat Asia’s newsletters and filled out the special form to be eligible to win.
• In case of any disputes, The Beat Asia reserves the right of final decision. 

Calling all culture enthusiasts! Singapore’s premier performing arts festival is returning bigger and bolder than ever for its 48th edition. 

The annual Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) will be returning from May 16 to June 1, 2025, with the theme More Than Ever. This year marks the 48th edition of the popular performing arts festival in Singapore and is set to present a dynamic line-up highlighting Singapore’s cultural vitality and boldness in defining its present and vision for the future. 

The 2025 edition will also feature its largest showcase of homegrown talent with 15 commissioned local works, the festival’s highest number in history, and will establish Singapore as a prominent city for the arts.

Festival director Natalie Hennedige reflected on the theme “More Than Ever” and said, “In a world afflicted with the rhetoric of divide, More Than Ever, we need to resist limiting binaries and relate to each other in nuance.”

The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2025

From May 16 to June 1, 2025, the festival will feature the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square, which was created to foster collaboration, shared creation, and gathering through the conduit of arts performance. 

Some of the works to be featured include the SIFA’s opening performance of “The Sea and the Neighbourhood” featuring visual artist Wang Ruobin, composer Philip Tan, choreographer Christina Chan with the Singapore Ballet, and video artist Brian Gothong Tan. This artwork is curated by SIFA and is described as “capturing the ebb and flow of Singapore’s collective past, present, and future.” 

Another to be featured at the SIFA Pavilion is “hello, is this working?” by the Singapore theatre company Drama Box. Building from their work-in-progress show from last year’s SIFA, this interactive work invites audiences to reflect on the future of work and challenge societal narratives about labor. 

Visitors and enthusiasts can look forward to local adaptations of international classics, such as The Finger Player’s adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” a contemporary reimagining of the Shakespearean classic “King Lear” by Ramesh Meyyappan, and more. 

Visitors can also relive the history of Singapore, with the 60th birthday of the Lion City coming closer, through a multi-sensorial performance titled “Umbilical”, by artists Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod, and thesupersystem, which tells the stories of people who lived through the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965. 

Other homegrown talent commissions include “Waiting For Audience” by Nine Years Theatre, which was also presented as a work-in-progress in SIFA 2024, and presents the enduring vitality of theatre as an ancient art form; “COLONY – A True Colors Project,” a dance production directed by Remesh Panicker featuring 13 dancers from Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan. The production explores diversity and “celebrates the individual within an interconnected, inclusive 'colony' of souls.” 

“PRISM 48,” a conversation series curated by writer, editor, and producer Hong Xinyi, is also featured by the festival. It explores and reflects on the multifaceted perspectives that shape Singapore’s evolving cultural identity that is anchored on shared arts and culture. This series will also include a range of thinkers and cultural advocates that will touch on topics like “What Difference Can Singapore Storytelling Make?”

The Singapore International Festival of Arts 2025 will also feature international works, such as “HOME” by Geoff Sobelle, “Told By Mother” by Ali Chahrour, and “Vampyr” by Manuela Infante. 

Little SIFA also makes a return for the 2025 edition, offering a curated series of family-friendly programmes by homegrown talents for two weekends and featuring diverse art forms. These include “The House Between the Winds” by Singaporean artist Yang Jie and a 30-minute performance of The Finger Player’s “Animal Farm” adaptation. 

Much like its first iteration, Little SIFA aims to expose children to these artworks and to engage them with Singapore’s vibrant art landscapes at a young age through a range of activities and performances. 

Early bird tickets for SIFA 2025 are now available from Mar. 11 to April 14, 2025, giving a 20% discount for SIFA-goers. You can buy the tickets on the SIFA 2025 website, Phone Booking, and BookMyShow. 

For more updates, visit the Singapore International Festival of Arts website, Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram pages. 

Happy 70th birthday to Nijntje, the little bunny we all love!

In celebration of her 70th birthday, Miffy has been holding different celebrations all around the globe – Singapore included! Miffy will be visiting the Lion City from Mar. 14 to May 12, 2025, for a delightful adventure and fun-filled experience for everyone.

But first, who is Miffy?

Miffy is a mouth-less, little white rabbit created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna, and was “born” in 1955. She was originally drawn like a fluffy toy with floppy ears, but from 1963 onwards, she became the Miffy that now know today – with her ears and little black eyes drawn with minimalistic black graphic lines. 

In Dutch, she is known as Nijntje, from the Dutch word konijntje meaning “little bunny.” 

Miffy’s Garden at Changi Airport

Landing in a giant hot air balloon, join Miffy on an adventure in a charming spring garden! Take unforgettable photos, bring home Miffy merchandise, and get premium Changi-Miffy premiums from Mar. 14 to May 12, 2025! 

Miffy’s Playground

Children can bounce, slide, and have a fun time with Miffy and Friends at Miffy’s Playground! It’s a giant inflatable ball pit with a two-meter slide that’s sure to give the young ones a fun-filled time!

To get a pass, every S$50 (S$80 at Supermarket) spent at participating outlets in Changi Airport’s public areas (T1-T4, excluding Jewel Changi Airport) will allow you to redeem one discounted Activity Pass to Miffy’s Playground at just S$5!

Direct passes are also available at S$15 per Activity Pass. Accompany Adult passes are also available for S$10 per Activity Pass. 

Redeem a Miffy’s Playground Pass here.

Location: T3 Public, Level 2, Departure Hall, opposite Check-in Row 11

Operating Hours: 5 PM to 10 PM (Fridays), 12 PM to 10 PM (Weekends, School Holidays, Public Holidays)

Duration: 30 minutes (including briefing)

Miffy Photo Spots

Dive into the storybook world of Miffy and Friends and capture the childlike joy and wonder in pictures! Photo spots include Miffy’s Garden (T3 Departures), Miffy’s Hangout (T3 Basement 2), Miffy at ST3PS, and Miffy’s Home (T2 Departures).

Don’t miss out on the chance to score exclusive Miffy merch at the Miffy pop-up stores located in several locations around Changi Airport.

Celebrate Miffy’s 70th birthday and join in the fun with Miffy and Friends!

For more information and updates, follow Changi Airport on their Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram pages!

Locations: Terminal 3: Level 2 Departure Hall, Basement 2 (Opposite Kopitiam), Basement 2 (Beside Swensen’s), Terminal 2: Level 2 (Beside Kenangan Coffee), Terminal 4: Level 2 (Beside Starbuck’s)

Opening Hours: 10 AM to 10 PM daily

Southeast Asian K-Pop fans now have the chance to undergo K-Pop idol training from one of the biggest Korean entertainment agencies. 

SM Universe, a subsidiary label of SM Entertainment focusing on idol training, will be launching in Singapore in June 2025 at *SCAPE, becoming the first K-Pop training academy in Southeast Asia. 

With Southeast Asia serving as one of the largest markets for K-Pop, SM Universe (Singapore) ultimately aims to give high-quality K-Pop training to aspiring idols from the region closer to home, as well as opportunities for success in South Korea and on the global stage.

The 21-week intensive training program will focus on honing and developing students’ skills in “everything” — vocals, dance, music production, and stage presence — being taught by veterans from the K-Pop industry.

The climax of the program will see students going on a one-week training session at the SM Universe Seoul campus, with the top students moving forward with opportunities to audition with South Korean entertainment agencies. Short-term programs will also be available for those who want to improve their skills.  

The tuition for the program is reported to cost approximately S$13,500. 

SM Entertainment is home to some of the biggest names and groups in the K-Pop industry, such as BoA, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, EXO, SHINee, Red Velvet, NCT, aespa, and RIIZE. The company recently launched their newest girl group, Hearts2Hearts. 

The agency also manages idols from Southeast Asia, namely NCT/WayV’s Ten (Thailand), Lucas (Thai descent), and Hearts2Hearts’ Carmen (Indonesia). 

Interested in becoming a K-pop idol? Follow SM Universe (Singapore) on their Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages for more updates and information!

There will never be another star quite like Freddie Mercury, but his legacy shines on through the stellar international tribute show "Queen: It's a Kinda Magic."

Fans of the rock band will be able to experience the magic in the flesh, as the show is set to return to Singapore. This spectacular tribute show will take place at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, on Sep. 19 and 20, 2025, promising an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.

Following its sold-out run in 2022, Queen: It's a Kinda Magic is back with even more grandeur, promising more than just state-of-the-art sound and performances. A theatrical wonder, this show will feature stunning lighting effects, and vibrant costumes that promise to transport you straight into the heart of Queen’s iconic live performances. 

This concert is also a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of “Bohemian Rhapsody” — a groundbreaking masterpiece often hailed as one of the greatest songs ever written.

Audiences will have the chance to relive the magic of Queen’s greatest hits, including “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “Radio GaGa,” “I Want to Break Free,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody. 

Leading the show as Freddie is Warren Vernon-Discroll, singing in the original key and capturing the essence of the rock icon. Supported by a talented cast of international performers, this concert is guaranteed to rock you to your core.

Tickets range from S$68 up to S$632 and now available for purchase through Sistic, or Klook. 

Get ready to sing, dance, and relive the magic of Freddie Mercury and Queen! Find out more on their website, or on Instagram and Facebook.

Sneakerheads, ready your wallets ‘cos Sneaker Con is heading back to Singapore!

Sneaker Con, the world’s leading sneaker show, is once again setting up shop in Singapore from February 22-23, 2025, at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre (Halls E & F). It is the regional edition of the renowned Sneaker Con, first held in New York City in 2009. 

Already on its 3rd edition, Sneaker Con SEA has been a resounding success since its inaugural event in 2023, bringing sneakerheads and streetwear fans together to celebrate fashion, show off their heat and sneaks, and chase after coveted drops. 

This year’s Sneaker Con SEA is one to look out for—with the organizers boasting jaw-dropping sneaker collections, exclusive drops, live customization sessions, fit checks, and “a community that lives and breathes street culture,”— definitely making themselves the main street culture event in Southeast Asia. 

With over 200 vendors, visitors will be met with a selection of rare, limited-edition, and exclusive kicks, side-by-side with the latest streetwear drops, apparel, and accessories to round up the vibes.

Plus, attendees will even get the chance to flip, swap, or trade their sneaks with fellow sneakerheads and resellers, and even authenticate their sneakers with experts standing by.

There will also be some panel talks titled “Sneaker Conversations,” the “40 For 40” Game Show, some special guests (just take a peek at their IG), and a rundown skatepark right smack down at the hall!

What are you waiting for? Lock in your spot to get in the know of what’s hot at Sneaker Con SEA by heading to their website to secure your tickets. Tickets are priced at SGD$35 (One-Day General Admission), SGD$55 (One-Day Premium Admission with Early Entry + Limited Merch), SGD$60 (All-Day General Admission), and SGD$100 (All-Day Premium Admission with Early Entry + Limited Merch).

Follow Sneaker Con SEA's Instagram page for more information and updates!

Where: Halls E & F, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Avenue Singapore 018956