ChildAid 2026 Festival: Open Stage takes place at UOB Plaza Atrium, 80 Raffles Place, on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November from 11am to 8pm. The organisers describe free public entry for this outdoor music, dance and theatre festival.
The first day emphasises acoustic music, singing and theatre, while the Saturday programme spans dance and a wider range of music. Use Raffles Place MRT and set UOB Plaza Atrium as the destination. Check the latest programme if you are travelling for a specific act.
- Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November, 11am–8pm.
- Venue: UOB Plaza Atrium, 80 Raffles Place, near the Singapore River.
- Free admission. Donations and food purchases are separate.
- The two beneficiaries are The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.
Find what you need
When and where is ChildAid Open Stage 2026? · What performances and activities are planned? · Who benefits from ChildAid and how can you donate? · How to get to UOB Plaza Atrium from Raffles Place MRT
| Day | Hours | Published programme focus |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov | 11am–8pm | Acoustic music, singing and theatre |
| Sat 14 Nov | 11am–8pm | Dance and music across several styles |
When and where is ChildAid Open Stage 2026?
The Business Times’ event report gives 13 and 14 November, 11am to 8pm on both dates. It names UOB Plaza Atrium at 80 Raffles Place as the venue. ChildAid’s organisers are The Business Times and The Straits Times. They describe this edition as an open arts festival instead of the previous seated concert format.
Which day fits your plans?
Friday can work for an office lunch break or a stop after work. Saturday can suit relatives coming from different parts of Singapore or people who want to spend longer by the river. Pick a time window rather than assuming you need to stay for the whole festival. If you are hoping for a particular performance, use the organisers’ latest schedule and leave enough time to reach the public viewing area.
Does free entry include a reserved seat?
The organisers describe free public entry. Use the venue’s instructions for viewing and any capacity limits. A free festival admission does not itself give you a numbered seat. If someone in the group needs a place to sit or a step-free route, confirm the arrangements before building the whole outing around a long stay.
What performances and activities are planned?
The organisers describe different emphasis across the two days. Friday highlights include acoustic music, vocal performances and theatre. Saturday’s programme covers dance and music, with styles ranging from ballet and hip-hop to classical and popular music. The Straits Times festival report gives more programme context.
What else is in the festival village?
The organisers describe a pledge activity and festival stations, alongside food for purchase. Check the arrangement and any charge at each activity. A child who is mainly coming for the performances may prefer a short look around the village afterward. For a visitor who wants to explore both, choose one set to watch and one other stop rather than relying on a tight schedule.
How to follow a performance with children
Ask the child to choose something to notice, such as the way a dancer changes pace or how a singer and instrumentalist respond to each other. If you only see part of a set, you can still talk about that moment. Follow the current audience rules for photography or moving through the viewing area. The programme is outdoors, so be ready to adjust if staff give new directions.
Who benefits from ChildAid and how can you donate?
ChildAid raises funds for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The organisers describe one fund as providing financial assistance to children from lower-income families and the other as helping young people from underserved backgrounds access the arts. Check the organisers’ named channels if you want to donate.
Are donations required for admission?
The organisers list free admission and optional donations through giving.sg or official on-site PayNow codes. Check that you are using the published campaign or an official festival sign. If you are attending with children, decide whether to donate or buy food separately. That makes it easier to explain which part is the arts programme and which part is fundraising.
How to talk about it with a child
Ask what they enjoyed watching and who helped put the performance together. You can explain that visitors can enjoy the arts while supporting opportunities for other young people. A family does not need to make an unplanned purchase to take part. The performers, volunteers and audience all contribute to the event in different ways.
How to get to UOB Plaza Atrium from Raffles Place MRT
Use Raffles Place MRT (EW14/NS26) and follow current directions to UOB Plaza and the river side of the district. Set the map pin to 80 Raffles Place. The atrium is the destination. The header photograph shows the wider Singapore River and Civic District rather than the festival site.
Make a short trip easy to finish
If you are coming from work, choose a public meeting point and decide how long you can stay. If you are visiting with children, leave time for toilets, food and the return to the station. Follow staff directions in rain or changing crowd conditions. A meal or a short riverside walk can be optional rather than another fixed appointment.
What to check before leaving home
Confirm the date, any act you specifically want to see and the current access instructions. Have a backup for poor weather if travelling from farther away. If a member of the group intends to donate, share the official information separately from the transport plan.
Planning a short ChildAid visit from the CBD or elsewhere
A Friday lunch break
Pick a time when you can walk to UOB Plaza and still have room to watch part of a performance. Check the current programme if you need to be back at work by a certain time. A festival spread across the day gives you more flexibility than an evening concert with one start, but individual performances have their own timing. Agree where to meet a colleague if you are coming from different buildings.
Saturday with children or grandparents
Choose one part of the programme and keep the rest of the visit flexible. Check where people can pause if standing for a long time is difficult. A family can spend a short time at the stage and then look at another activity or get a snack. If one person wants to stay longer, agree when and where to reconnect before heading home.
If you are visiting for a particular performer
Use an organiser update for the latest running order. Choose your arrival based on the walk from the station and the space you expect to use, rather than treating the festival opening time as a performer’s start time. If the programme changes, decide whether the rest of the event still suits you. A family that wants a flexible arts outing can choose another set without needing a separate booking for the whole day.
If rain changes the outing
Check event notices before setting off and follow staff directions at the atrium. Pick a public meeting point that does not depend on standing in a performance area. If the group travels from different parts of Singapore, share any change promptly. Keep the return route simple and use the station as a clear point to regroup.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChildAid Open Stage free?
Yes. The organisers list free admission and optional donations.
What are the opening hours?
11am to 8pm on 13 and 14 November.
Which station should I use?
Raffles Place MRT, then follow signs for UOB Plaza.
Is it a seated ticketed concert?
The 2026 event is advertised as a free outdoor festival at the atrium.
Do the two days have the same programme?
The organisers describe different programming on Friday and Saturday. Check the latest details for individual acts.
See the Singapore November and December events guide for more year-end outings.