Dates: 13–15 Nov 2026 · Fri 6.30pm to 10.30pm · Sat 11am to 10.30pm · Sun 2.30pm to 10.30pm
Muara Festival is Esplanade’s free celebration of Malay dance, presented with Era Dance Theatre as part of its Pentas series. The 2026 edition, called Denyutan Sepunya (The Shared Pulse), runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November. Expect nightly outdoor showcases, a youth zapin contest and free workshops.
At a glance
Neighbourhood
Marina Bay (Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay)
Best for
Families, dance fans, anyone curious about Malay and Nusantara performing arts
Budget
Free; the two workshops are free but need registration
Time to allow
1 hour 15 minutes for a main showcase; a whole evening if you add the Concourse sets
Nearest MRT
Esplanade (CC3) or City Hall (EW13/NS25)
Good to know
Main Showcase Fri to Sun at 7.30pm and 9.15pm at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre
Why go?
It’s free and outdoors by the bay, so you can drop in after work on Friday or bring the kids at the weekend.
You see dance groups from three countries side by side, which shows how zapin and other Malay dance forms differ across the region.
It isn’t only watching: the Concourse sets end in Joget Lambak, a social dance the audience can join, and Sunday has a community dance session.
What to do
01 · The Main Showcase
The headline programme is at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7.30pm and 9.15pm. Each run lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes and features dance groups from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Our tip: the 9.15pm show is usually the cooler one, and you can eat at Makansutra Gluttons Bay or the Esplanade food outlets between showcases.
02 · Pesona Seni Karimun and Joget Lambak
On the Esplanade Concourse, PLS Pelangi Budaya Studio from Karimun in Indonesia’s Riau Islands performs 30-minute sets at 6.30pm and 8pm, Friday to Sunday. Each set ends with Joget Lambak, an easy social dance that the audience is invited to join. It’s indoors, so it’s a good fallback if it rains.
03 · Zapin contest, Mari Menari and workshops
On Saturday 14 November at 3pm, the Outdoor Theatre hosts Sayembara Tari, a two-hour youth zapin competition that Esplanade links to the effort to get zapin listed with UNESCO. On Sunday 15 November from 2.30pm, Mari Menari is a three-hour session at the Outdoor Theatre built around dancing together. Two free workshops need registration: Zapin Acah, led by Destar Limar UPSI from Malaysia, is on Saturday 14 November at 11am in the Annexe Studio and lasts two hours. Tari Nawung Sekar, led by Ritinari Karya Indonesia, is on Sunday 15 November; check the page for its time and spaces.
Plan your visit
Address
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 (DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre, Concourse and Annexe Studio)
Opening hours
Fri 13 Nov 2026, 6.30pm to 10.30pm; Sat 14 Nov, from 11am (workshop) to 10.30pm; Sun 15 Nov, from 2.30pm to 10.30pm
Getting there
Esplanade MRT (CC3), Exit D, then follow the underground link; or City Hall MRT (EW13/NS25) through CityLink Mall, about 10 minutes. Esplanade has paid basement parking
Tickets or booking
Free admission to all performances. The two workshops are free by registration on Esplanade’s page
Accessibility
The Outdoor Theatre and Concourse are step-free from the Esplanade Mall level. Ask Esplanade about wheelchair spaces for busy shows
Before you go
- Outdoor Theatre seating is open and first come, first served, so arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for a good spot.
- Outdoor shows can be affected by rain; Esplanade posts updates on its website and social pages.
- For more Malay culture this month, see our Teroka Nusantara Festival guide and the Malay Heritage Centre. More free shows: Esplanade’s free gigs.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
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Sources and disclosure
Information checked: 4 November 2026 · Muara Festival 2026 (Esplanade official page) · Muara Festival 2026 programme (Esplanade official page)
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under the licences shown in each caption (images resized): Basile Morin (CC BY-SA 4.0); Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Disclosure: Not a firsthand visit. Dates, times, venues, groups and workshop details come from Esplanade’s official festival page and its event pages, checked on 4 November 2026. Photos are older, freely licensed views of the Esplanade building, not of the festival. We weren’t paid or hosted, and there are no affiliate links.