By The Eye desk · Last verified 12 October 2026
The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is Singapore’s museum of contemporary art, now based at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, #01-02, in a converted port warehouse it opened in January 2022. It is open daily, 10am to 7pm, including public holidays, with last entry at 6.30pm. As of October 2026, Singapore Citizens and PRs enter free, while tourists and foreign residents pay S$10 (S$5 for seniors aged 60 and above); children aged six and below enter free. The nearest station is Cantonment MRT (CC31), Exit 1. Long-running shows include SAMCollection: The Present is Unstable, until 18 July 2027.
SAM feels different from a grand civic museum: a former port warehouse with high ceilings that suit big, bold contemporary installations. It is a happy afternoon for curious adults and children alike.
Quick facts
- Address: 39 Keppel Road, #01-02 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065.
- Hours: 10am to 7pm daily; last entry 6.30pm.
- Tickets: free for Citizens and PRs; S$10 for foreign adults, S$5 for foreign seniors.
- Free for all: children six and below, local students and teachers, persons with disabilities plus one caregiver.
- Getting there: Cantonment MRT (Circle Line), Exit 1, a short walk.
- Free extras: 60-minute docent-led tours on selected days and a free guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.
What’s on at SAM
These are listed on SAM’s website as of 12 October 2026. Programmes change often, and some SAM projects take place off-site, so check the venue for each before you go.
| Exhibition or programme | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SAMCollection: The Present is Unstable | Until 18 July 2027 | Works from the national collection |
| Learning Gallery | Until 27 June 2027 | Good for families |
| Brandon Tay: Sangkalan | Until 25 October 2026 | Closing soon |
| Open Systems 3: Prototypes for Alternative Power | Until 25 October 2026 | Closing soon |
| Lost & Found: Sea Chanty Project | Until 31 December 2026 | — |
| Proposal for HOYA: 5 Lungs Temple | Opens 28 October 2026 | Upcoming |
| Lost & Found: How We Remember | Opens 27 November 2026 | Upcoming |
| Momentary Pulses: Art in the Central Business District | Until 31 December 2027 | Public art in the city, not at Distripark |
How much does a visit cost?
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen or PR, adult | Free (bring proof of identity) |
| Tourist or foreign resident, adult | S$10 |
| Tourist or foreign resident, senior (60+) | S$5 |
| Child aged six and below | Free |
| Local students and teachers | Free (with proof) |
| Person with disabilities, plus one caregiver | Free |
Worked example: two visiting adults with a five-year-old pay S$10 + S$10 + S$0 = S$20. Add a visiting grandparent aged 65 and the total is S$25. A family of Singapore Citizens pays nothing. Ticketing is at the counter; check the website for any special-exhibition charges.
How to get there and plan your visit
- By MRT: Circle Line to Cantonment (CC31), Exit 1. Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and HarbourFront (NE1) are longer walks.
- By bus: services 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 97e, 100, 131 and 145 stop at stop 14061 on Keppel Road, opposite Cantonment Station Exit 4, about 200m away.
- By car: paid parking at 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark; motorcycle parking at 37 is free.
- On arrival: lockers are near the entrance; the SIP at SAM café is open 10am to 6pm.
- Allow about one to two hours for the main galleries, more if you join a docent tour.
Access is thoughtful: all galleries are wheelchair accessible, manual wheelchairs can be borrowed free, and Level 1 has an accessible toilet with a changing table, a nursing pod and a Calm Space for sensory breaks. Service dogs are welcome.
What happened to the old SAM on Bras Basah Road?
SAM opened in 1996 in the former St Joseph’s Institution on Bras Basah Road, with a second wing, SAM at 8Q, on Queen Street from 2008. Both heritage buildings closed for redevelopment. In May 2024 the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth said SAM plans to remain at Tanjong Pagar Distripark in the near future, and that plans for the old St Joseph’s Institution building would be shared when ready.
The WahLiao Verdict
If you are a Singaporean or PR, go: it is free and full of surprises. Visitors get good value at S$10. Take the Circle Line to Cantonment, join a free docent tour if the timing works, and catch the two shows closing on 25 October 2026 while you can. Pair it with lunch in Tanjong Pagar for an easy, art-filled half day.
Questions people ask
Is the Singapore Art Museum free?
Yes for Singapore Citizens, PRs, children six and below, local students and teachers. Foreign adults pay S$10 and foreign seniors S$5, as of October 2026.
Is SAM open on Mondays?
Yes. SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark opens daily, including public holidays, from 10am to 7pm.
Which MRT station is nearest?
Cantonment on the Circle Line; take Exit 1 for a short walk.
Is SAM good for children?
Yes. The Learning Gallery runs until June 2027, under-sevens enter free, and the large installations suit young visitors. Keep small hands off the artworks unless signs say otherwise.
Sources: Singapore Art Museum, visitor information, hours and admission; Singapore Art Museum, current and upcoming exhibitions; Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, future plans for SAM, May 2024; Wikipedia, Singapore Art Museum history. The Eye explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: The National Gallery Singapore: What’s Free and What to See · Singapore Art Week and ART SG 2027 · Back to The Eye
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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