Singapore refreshes Orchard Road, Sentosa precincts

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) outlined plans to transform, expand and rejuvenate two key precincts – Orchard Road and Sentosa – at its annual Tourism Industry Conference last Friday.

“We envision Orchard Road to be an iconic lifestyle destination for all – enlivened by vibrant activations, concepts and experiences set within a city garden,” Grace Fu, minister for sustainability and the environment and minister-in-charge of trade relations, said in her opening speech.

Starting in mid-2026, the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Initiative will invite stakeholders to innovate across building façades, experiential art and night-time programming. Mark Shaw, chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association, told TTG Asia that the focus is on “night-time initiatives and experiential concepts” to improve street vibrancy and make the precinct more “Instagrammable”.

To support this, a tender will be launched in May 2026 for three “plug-and-play” pop-up spaces between Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City. These spaces will host a rotating selection of brands on short-term leases. Shaw noted that success relies on “continuous programming” rather than one-off events to keep the experience evolving. For instance, Scape Street Show, scheduled for July, is a recurring street performance platform showcasing a range of creative talents.

This effort will be supported by infrastructure projects such as the 3,000-capacity Grange Road events venue, managed by Live Nation, which will function as both a business events venue and a space for concerts and local arts. By late 2027, the Somerset Belt will evolve into a dedicated youth precinct, featuring a skate park and incubation spaces.

Orchard Road’s identity will be further developed in 2H2026 through a Creative Exploration System, featuring artistic markers and local poetry across Tanglin, Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut. Visitors will be able to scan QR codes on these landmarks to discover activities across the precinct.

“New precinct markers and creatively designed street benches will showcase Orchard Road’s unique identity. We look forward to a transformation that injects new concepts and experiences into the street,” said STB chief executive Melissa Ow.

Meanwhile, hospitality and heritage developments include a forthcoming tender for the 37 Emerald Hill site and the late-2026 opening of Asia-Pacific’s first NoMad luxury hotel at the redeveloped Faber House. The transformation extends to Tanglin, where Tanglin Shopping Centre will be redeveloped into a mixed-use project, while four heritage bungalows at the 1.9-hectare Seton Close site will be tendered for hospitality use.

Looking ahead, Istana Park is set to expand to three times its current size, integrating a pedestrianised stretch of Orchard Road to create a family-friendly green space.

Beyond the city centre, the Greater Sentosa Master Plan – encompassing Sentosa and Pulau Brani – will be developed into a major tourism destination over the next two decades. Fu noted that the 120-hectare Pulau Brani will be a focal point of this transformation, with expansion expected to double the precinct’s current visitorship. A key component is the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) 2.0 redevelopment, scheduled for completion around 2030.

Si Chen, chief operating officer at RWS, said: “We are refreshing and enhancing our attractions and hotels, as well as building RWS 2.0, which will introduce two new luxury hotels with 700 rooms, an iconic waterfront with its own mountain trail, and a landmark Heatherwick light sculpture.”

In addition, the Brani West zone has been designated for a new anchor attraction. To support increased visitor numbers, the existing monorail is planned to be replaced with a higher-capacity people-mover system, supported by expanded cable car networks and water taxis.

The transformation will also focus on integrating architecture and nature. Plans include a three-kilometre islet-hopping boardwalk, expanded waterfront areas, and a new Imbiah Canopy offering skywalks and treetop dining. The island’s beachfronts are also set for rejuvenation, featuring a new water and light show and the Sensorium wellness experience.