CITRUS fest 2026: Kacang Puteh, Care-Oke? Brings Arts and Wellbeing Conversations to Singapore

Conversations about burnout, wellbeing and sustainable creative work will take centre stage at CITRUS fest 2026: Kacang Puteh, Care-Oke?, a 10-day multidisciplinary festival taking place from 21 to 30 August 2026 in Singapore.

Held in conjunction with Singapore Night Festival, the festival is organised by ground-up collective CITRUS practices and commissioned by the National Arts Council’s Arts Resource Hub. This year’s edition brings together more than 50 arts workers across 20 programmes that explore how care can become an everyday part of creative practice rather than an afterthought.

Visitors can look forward to a mix of workshops, conversations, participatory installations, screenings and communal gatherings designed to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of working in Singapore’s arts scene. Rather than focusing solely on finished performances, the programmes highlight the relationships, collaboration and support systems that make artistic work possible.

Among the featured programmes is Tonight, we are a village, a participatory installation by The Artists Village that recreates the former S-11 coffee shop outside the Old National Library, once a familiar meeting place for artists. The installation invites visitors to reflect on how shared spaces help foster creativity and community.

Other highlights include No Compromises Needed: Crafting Work with Care, which examines how theatre practitioners can navigate creative disagreements and workplace dynamics, and Turning the ‘P-Age’: Dreams on Accessibility, a work-in-progress puppet theatre presentation exploring accessibility for audiences of different generations.

Film enthusiasts can also attend How to Smell Spirits?, where filmmakers Daniel Hui and Nishok discuss caring for themselves and their teams while working on emotionally demanding productions.

Food and community also play an important role throughout the festival. The opening gathering, PONDOK: i want water, but the jar can’t hold, combines regional-inspired dishes with stories collected from arts workers about comfort, survival and care. The festival concludes with Stone Soup Party, where rescued ingredients are transformed into a communal meal followed by karaoke, celebrating collective care through shared experiences.

Admission to CITRUS fest 2026 is free, although selected programmes require advance registration. Full programme details and registration information are available on the festival’s official website.

Venue Details

Event: CITRUS fest 2026: Kacang Puteh, Care-Oke?
Dates: 21–30 August 2026 (selected online pre-festival sessions begin on 12 August 2026)
Time: Various timings depending on programme
Venue: 42 Waterloo Street, Bras Basah.Bugis Arts and Heritage Precinct, Singapore
Admission: Free (selected programmes require advance registration)
Website: https://citruspractices.sg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrus.practices

Images: CITRUS practices