The Singapore Botanic Gardens celebrates 10 years of UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription, 150 years of Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture, and 30 years of National Orchid Garden with year-long celebration

18 July 2025, Singapore – The Singapore Botanic Gardens (the Gardens) kicks off a year-long celebration for several milestones with its first-ever light show and a variety of family-friendly activities at the Gardens. This year, the Gardens marks the 10th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and the Singapore Botanic Gardens Library of Botany and Horticulture, as well as the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden. These milestones coincide with Singapore's 60th year of independence and are part of the Celebrations in our Parks and Gardens organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) in support of SG60. In commemoration of its rich legacy, the Gardens will hold the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival and Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) Orchid Show from 19 to 27 July 2025. The Guest-of-Honour, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat presented the top awards for the SGF Orchid Show at the launch event of the Gardens’ celebration on 18 July 2025. 

Inscribed on 4 July 2015 as Singapore’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Gardens remains the only tropical botanical garden among three on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In celebration of the Gardens’ rich legacy, the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival was introduced in 2016. This annual event presents a series of performances and activities for the public to enjoy and deepen their appreciation of the Gardens’ history and cultural heritage.

Held from 19 to 27 July, the 10th edition of the Heritage Festival features over 40 free activities for visitors of all ages. Among the highlights are the Gardens’ first-ever light shows at Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate, happening daily between 7.30pm to 10pm, from 19 July to 10 August. 

These light shows will be set to orchestral pieces by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) – ‘Dengan Semangat Yang Baru’ (‘In a New Spirit’) composed by Syafiqah ‘Adha Sallehin, and ‘Where That River Always Flows’ composed by Chua Jon Lin – both of which premiered at the SSO National Day Concerts in 2021 and 2023 respectively. The shows will be complemented by light installations at the Bandstand, Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza, and Palm Court near Nassim Visitor Services Centre.

The Festival line-up also includes musical performances, outdoor movie screenings, guided tours and hands-on workshops. For the first time, a specially curated workshop will offer visitors an opportunity to conduct practical laboratory tasks – such as DNA extraction using bananas and cell staining with onion roots – providing a glimpse into the plant conservation work that takes place behind the scenes in the Gardens. 

Beyond the Festival, visitors can enjoy a range of activities in the Gardens across the year. Ongoing exhibitions include ‘Planting Memories – Singapore Botanic Gardens Through the Eyes of the Community’ at the CDL Green Gallery, People’s Gallery, Nassim Visitor Services Centre and Green Pavilion, which features personal memories shared by past and present Gardens’ staff as well as members of the public. Over 250 people contributed memories in the form of stories, photos, and audio or video clips. Other exhibitions are the ‘Roots of Knowledge: 150 Years of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Library of Botany and Horticulture’ and ‘Botanical Art Worldwide 2025 Singapore’ at the Botanical Art Gallery. For a special keepsake, visitors can pick up a Discovery Passport, created in partnership with students from LASALLE College of the Arts, and collect commemorative embossed stamps featuring iconic landmarks such as the Bandstand, Learning Forest, and Swan Lake at 10 stations throughout the Gardens. The Discovery Passport is available for free at five Visitor Services Counters in the Gardens . 

The Heritage Festival is partly supported by sponsors like City Developments Limited, Equinix Singapore Pte Ltd, and Ou Tsung Ming & Ou Chen Li-Chin through the Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and Institution of a Public Character (IPC). Members of the public can visit https://go.gov.sg/sbg-heritagefestival for more information on the Heritage Festival. 

Over the past century, the Gardens has played a key role in the world of orchids. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, which will host the SGF Orchid Show from 19 to 27 July. The show is co-organised by NParks and the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA). The main highlight is an orchid competition with 75 categories, ranging from Asian vandaceous species that are known for their vibrant colours to South American Phragmipedium hybrids which are unique for their pouch-like lip petals. Six top awards were handed out at the prize presentation ceremony today:

• The President’s Challenge Cup for the Grand Champion – Singapore Botanic Gardens

• Penang Gardening Society Challenge Cup for the Best Species – Gardens by the Bay

• John Laycock Challenge Cup for the Best Hybrid – Singapore Botanic Gardens

• Yuen-Peng McNeice Challenge Cup for the Best Specimen Plant – Gardens by the Bay

• The Orchid Society of South East Asia Championship Cup for the Best Professional Exhibitor – Singapore Botanic Gardens

• H.H. The Sultan of Johor’s Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Best Amateur Exhibitor – Mr Daniel Loo

Members of the public can view all competition entries, including the winning orchids across all categories, at Burkill Hall and Tropical Montane Orchidetum at the National Orchid Garden. Non-competitive orchid displays by NParks, OSSEA, and the Singapore Gardening Society will also be showcased at the Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza. Local residents can enjoy free entry to the Garden during the Orchid Show from 19 to 27 July, with free guided tours available daily.

The SGF Orchid Show will feature two exclusive weekend activities on 19-20 July and 26-27 July. Families can join in ‘The Extra-Orchidnary Hunt’ for a chance to win limited-edition prizes, while plant enthusiasts can also explore the MarketPlace along Maranta Avenue (near the National Orchid Garden entrance), where 15 specialty vendors will offer orchids, plants and lifestyle products. Members of the public can visit https://sgf.nparks.gov.sg/ for more information on the SGF Orchid Show. 

The Gardens has released the second edition of ‘Gardens of Perpetual Summer’, a publication that traces its history and legacy since it was established in 1859. First published in 2009 to commemorate the Gardens’ 150th anniversary, the new edition traces the 166-year legacy of the Gardens since its inception in 1859, shares about the Gardens’ new features and displays since 2009 , and sheds more light on its botanical collections, as well as the research and educational outreach that keeps the Gardens on the global map as one of the leading scientific institutions in the tropics. It will be available for purchase at the Gardens Shop at various locations around Singapore Botanic Gardens or online at https://botanicgardensshop.sg/ from 19 July 2025.

In collaboration with the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Singapore Mint launched a special set of medallions featuring three iconic landmarks – the Bandstand, the Singapore Herbarium, and Burkill Hall at the National Orchid Garden – each commemorating one of the Gardens’ key milestones this year. The commemorative medallions will be available for purchase at all Singapore Mint retail shops and online at www.singaporemint.com from 19 July 2025. 

The Singapore Botanic Gardens' continued success and growth is made possible by the support of its diverse community of partners. Over the years, whether through generous donations, the sharing of expertise, or the gift of time, these partners have been instrumental in advancing the Gardens' work in conservation, research and education. 

 

Looking ahead, the Gardens seeks to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones to further its mission of connecting plants and people. Members of the public can donate to the Gardens on-site at the donation kiosks located at Nassim, Tanglin, Tyersall, and Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden entrances as well as online via www.go.gov.sg/gttg, while organisations interested in corporate partnerships can contact the Garden City Fund at garden_city_fund@nparks.gov.sg.

The public is invited to participate in upcoming activities and rediscover the Gardens' rich botanical and cultural heritage, which plays a key role in Singapore's vision as a City in Nature.