Esplanade’s free Soundtracks series runs from 1 to 30 November 2026, with live music from films, television, games and stage musicals. Choose the show and check its venue before travelling. Some performances are inside at the Esplanade Concourse, while others take place at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre by Marina Bay.
Highlights include Disney and Pixar songs on Monday 9 November, television favourites on Wednesday 11 November, and Studio Ghibli and game music on Thursday 19 November. The 30 November programme brings the month to a close with musical theatre. Each of these four listings has two showtimes on the same evening, so choose one time that suits your group.
- Soundtracks runs 1–30 November 2026, with free live programmes.
- 9 November — Disney and Pixar songs at 7.15pm and 8.45pm, Outdoor Theatre.
- 11 November — TV and film songs at 6.45pm and 7.45pm, Concourse.
- 19 November — anime and game music at 6.45pm and 7.45pm, Concourse.
- 30 November — musical theatre at 6.45pm and 7.45pm, Concourse.
Plan your visit
Showtimes and visit details · Start planning · Common questions
Read the guide by section
- Which free Soundtracks concert should you choose?
- Other November shows to look up
- Concourse versus Outdoor Theatre
- How to make a short concert outing work
- Build a November outing around the music you want to hear
- What makes soundtrack music work without the screen?
- Plan the last walk before you leave home
- Choose a backup if your first show is affected
- Frequently asked questions
Dates and times at a glance
| Date | Start times | Show and venue |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 9 Nov | 7.15pm or 8.45pm | A Night of Disney & Pixar! · DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre |
| Wed 11 Nov | 6.45pm or 7.45pm | Abby & Tristan · Esplanade Concourse |
| Thu 19 Nov | 6.45pm or 7.45pm | Piano Realms · Esplanade Concourse |
| Mon 30 Nov | 6.45pm or 7.45pm | Musicals, Mischief & Mayhem · Esplanade Concourse |
Which free Soundtracks concert should you choose?
Start with the kind of music you already enjoy. A child who recognises an animated film may respond to the Disney and Pixar set. An older listener who grew up with Singapore television or Hong Kong songs might prefer Abby and Tristan. Someone who plays games or watches animation may get more from Piano Realms. A musical theatre fan can look for the Crimson Duo on the last evening of the series.
You can also choose by format. Disney and Pixar is the outdoor pick among the four listed here. The Concourse programmes suit a shorter indoor outing and can be easier to combine with a meal or another stop. The published length for the Disney and Pixar set is 45 minutes, while several Concourse programmes are 30 minutes. Allow time to reach the venue and settle before the music starts.
An early set gives you the rest of the evening to eat or walk by the bay. A later set can work better when family or friends are coming from different places after work. If one member of the group tires easily, decide what time you need to leave the Esplanade before you choose the show. It can be easier to enjoy the shorter visit when everyone already agrees on when it ends.
9 November — A Night of Disney & Pixar!
Esplanade lists two starts, at 7.15pm and 8.45pm, at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. The set runs for 45 minutes without an interval and features local musicians performing songs from Disney and Pixar, including princess ballads and songs from Disney Channel Original Movies. It is a good entry point for someone who already has a favourite film song and wants to hear how a live group handles it.
The outdoor venue is a feature of this outing. You can look out towards Marina Bay while you wait and choose how long to spend on the waterfront afterwards. Check weather and programme advisories before leaving. If heavy rain affects the show, use Esplanade’s update for any delay, relocation or cancellation. The venue name on the listing matters because the building has several spaces with very different exposure to the weather.
For a family, the earlier set leaves time for the walk back to the station. Try listening for an instrument the child can point out or a singer who changes the feeling of a familiar melody. A simple shared question gives younger listeners something to follow during songs they have never heard. Sit or stand where you can leave easily if a child needs a break.
11 November — Abby & Tristan: Songs We Remember
This Concourse programme is listed at 6.45pm and 7.45pm, with 30 minutes per set. It revisits music linked to Singapore television, Hong Kong favourites and newer screen songs. Bring someone whose television memories are different from yours. The fun is hearing one person recognise a song long before the rest of the group realises where it came from.
If a song sounds familiar, see whether you recognise the melody or the production around it. An acoustic or stripped-back performance can bring a lyric forward that used to blend into a fuller recording. That change gives you something to talk about even if you and your companion remember different shows. You can compare the programme with your own memories on the way home.
19 November — Piano Realms: Anime & Game Soundscapes
Piano Realms is listed at the Concourse at 6.45pm and 7.45pm, with 30 minutes per set. Teachers from My Piano Room perform music connected with Studio Ghibli and games including Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Check the listing for the final programme if you are attending for one specific title.
This is an approachable option for a player who is curious about how a soundtrack works away from the screen. In a film or game, a piece may accompany movement, signal a location or tell you how a scene is about to change. In a live performance, that same music must hold your attention by itself. Listen for the part of the piece that still evokes a setting even if you close your eyes.
A piano student can pay attention to how the performer balances the melody against another moving part. One hand may carry a tune while the other keeps a pattern steady. The parts can swap jobs. If you recognise the original music, listen for what the live version has kept and what the performer has changed to fit the instrument.
30 November — Musicals, Mischief & Mayhem
The Crimson Duo’s musical theatre programme is listed at the Concourse at 6.45pm and 7.45pm. Esplanade describes a piano-and-vocal set drawing on the funnier and more theatrical sides of musicals, with examples from shows such as Wicked, Beetlejuice and Bat Boy. The source shows can differ widely in tone. If you are choosing for younger children, use the programme description to decide whether it matches their interests.
A musical song often has a job in a story. It can reveal a character’s plan or make an audience realise that two people are misunderstanding each other. Try to hear who the singer is addressing and what changes by the last line. You can follow the shape of the song even if you have never watched the original musical.
Other November shows to look up
The official programme includes more events than the four in the table. Trio Opal’s 12 November listing, for example, features film music in a piano, flute and cello setting, with composers including Ennio Morricone, John Williams and Ryuichi Sakamoto. If you prefer an instrumental set, look at its own page for the venue and times before deciding.
The festival also lists After Hours on 16 November, Jason Yu on 17 November and Sunday with Friends on 18 November. These have different musical interests, from jazz and bossa to acoustic pop and Malay and Indonesian soundtracks. Use the full Esplanade programme to find the right listing. A series name tells you the theme, while each event page gives the exact start time and room.
Some listings can remain visible after their date. When you share an event with a friend, send the individual page and the date you mean. That matters for a month-long series where a person searching later may find a performance from earlier in November. The dated calendar is the easiest way to separate the events you can still catch from past shows.
Concourse versus Outdoor Theatre
The Esplanade Concourse is an indoor public performance space. It suits a short stop without much walking once you are inside the building. Follow signs for the Concourse after reaching Esplanade, and ask a staff member if you arrive through a different level. Since the space is part of a busy venue, listen from a position that leaves a clear route for people moving through.
The DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre sits by the waterfront. The walk outside and the possibility of rain are part of the plan. Its location can be appealing if the main purpose is a relaxed evening by the bay. Confirm the show is running and follow instructions from Esplanade staff if conditions change.
How early should you arrive?
Allow enough time to find the correct space and take a position without rushing. A free public-space performance can attract a crowd, especially when the programme draws on a well-known film or game. Use the first few minutes at the venue to decide whether there is a suitable spot for your group. Esplanade’s page is the best place to check any specific admission or queue arrangements.
If your group includes children, people who use mobility aids or someone who prefers to sit, discuss how long you are comfortable waiting. A later set could be a useful option if you can stay out longer. Keep the second showtime in mind before travelling, then pick the one you actually need. You can also choose another Concourse programme on a different day.
Take the MRT that fits the rest of your evening
Esplanade MRT and City Hall MRT are both useful. Esplanade’s walking guide shows how to approach from Exit D of Esplanade station and use the sheltered link through One Raffles Link and CityLink Mall. From City Hall, the venue also describes the CityLink approach. The indoor route has changes of level. Check the route guide if you need to use a lift or stair lift.
Once at Esplanade, use the exact event space as the meeting point. If friends are arriving from different lines, set a time and meet at a recognisable point before walking to the performance. “Esplanade” by itself could mean the station, the mall, an indoor lobby or the theatre by the water. Adding the room name prevents an unnecessary detour.
How to make a short concert outing work
For a child’s first visit, choose the event with the strongest connection to something they already know. Tell them roughly how long the set lasts and where you will go afterwards. You can also point out an easy way to leave if they need a break. A short free concert is an opportunity to learn which sounds and settings they enjoy.
If two adults are meeting after work, make the performance the one fixed time and leave dinner flexible. Someone who arrives early can go straight to the venue and check the seating situation. A group may prefer to meet for food first when attending the later set. Give yourselves enough time to leave the table and reach the room without trying to cross a busy space at the last minute.
A solo visitor can treat the show as a way to listen closely to one thing. Focus on the difference between the live room and the recording you know. Notice what you hear from the side, or what becomes clearer when there is one performer instead of a full production. These changes are part of what makes a familiar song interesting in person.
Pair one show with a waterfront stop
If the weather is suitable, take a short walk after the show and compare the atmosphere with the room where you were listening. The Concourse can be lively and acoustically busy. The waterfront can give you more space to talk. Pick a point to turn back or a station to walk towards so the evening has an easy finish.
If rain changes your plans, keep the short concert as the main activity and use an indoor route to leave. A good fallback need only answer where you will meet, whether you still have time for a meal and how you are getting home. There is no need to pack a full city itinerary around a 30-minute performance.
How to listen when you don’t recognise the songs
Choose one sound and follow it for a short while. It might be a drum pattern, the lowest piano notes or the way the singer phrases the first line. Then listen to the whole group and see how that part fits. With children, try asking which instrument they would miss if it stopped. The answer can reveal how much they have heard without knowing an instrument’s name.
You can also listen for how performers create contrast. A quiet section can make the next phrase feel bigger. A change of speed can signal a new part of the story. When a singer changes their tone, ask what emotion has shifted. One good observation is enough to start a conversation after the performance.
Build a November outing around the music you want to hear
A month-long series gives you time to choose the right programme rather than squeezing several sets into one evening. Start by matching a listener to a theme. Someone who notices the sound of a film before its dialogue may enjoy Trio Opal. A singer may prefer to compare a television theme with a theatrical song. The same person might like more than one programme for different reasons, so write down what you hope to hear before choosing a date.
If you are choosing for visitors who are unfamiliar with Singapore, consider using the concert as the centre of a Marina Bay visit. Meet at the Esplanade itself, enjoy one performance and decide on a waterfront walk afterwards. If the weather looks uncertain, prioritise an indoor Concourse set. The itinerary works even if your companions have little time to explore the rest of the bay.
For someone who lives nearby, a repeat visit can offer a different kind of comparison. Hear an instrumental performance once and a vocal performance another evening. Pay attention to what each format uses to replace the moving image. A flute may carry an idea the screen once explained visually. A singer might use a turn of phrase to bring back a character’s point of view.
A choice for cinema music fans
Esplanade describes Trio Opal’s programme as film music for piano, flute and cello. It lists music connected with Cinema Paradiso and Memoirs of a Geisha, alongside works by Ryuichi Sakamoto. That combination makes a useful introduction to the sounds of a small ensemble. A tune may move from one instrument to another, changing the sense of distance or intensity even when the notes remain recognisable.
You can compare the three parts with a simple listening exercise. Choose the sound you can identify most easily, then listen for a quieter part underneath it. The cellist and pianist might share a sense of momentum while the flautist carries the melody, or the roles may move between them. After one piece, ask which instrument you would choose if you had to describe its mood to someone else.
A choice for listeners who follow regional screen music
The calendar lists Sunday with Friends on 18 November, with Malay and Indonesian original soundtracks. It can be a better fit for visitors looking for this material than a generic film-music concert. Share the listing with relatives who might recognise songs from shows you have never watched. Their memories can make the music easier to place, even if you do not know a programme in advance.
Abby and Tristan’s programme takes another route through regional screen music. Someone who wants to hear both can treat the shows as two separate evenings. Ask how each performer introduces a song, what languages they use and which melodies prompt recognition in the audience. The comparison works even if the concerts do not share a single song.
What makes soundtrack music work without the screen?
A melody can become associated with a character, a place or a particular feeling because it recurs at important points. When you hear it in a live concert, the stage does not supply the original action. Your memory may do part of the work if you know the story. If the music is new to you, the rhythm, register and change in dynamics can still suggest what is happening.
In games, music can also help a player understand a change of state. A quieter loop may let you explore for longer. A new rhythm or sound can signal tension before anything obvious appears. When an instrumental version is performed live, listen for changes that would work as cues. This can be an enjoyable question for a teenager who spends more time with game music than with live concerts.
Songs from musicals have an additional layer because they can carry dialogue, choices or jokes. Try listening for the first clear change of mind or feeling in a number. It may come in a repeated line with a different delivery. That small listening task gives the music a story to follow even when you have never seen the staging.
Try a two-minute listening conversation after the show
Ask each person for one moment that would still make sense without the film or game. Let them identify the clue they heard, such as a sudden silence, a repeated tune or the entry of another instrument. You can then discuss whether recognition came from the music itself or from a scene they remembered. Children can describe a sound in their own words, and adults can join in without needing to name a technique.
A musician in the group might try replaying a short melody from memory later. A non-musician can sketch the shape of the tune with a rising and falling line. Both are ways to remember what stood out. Choose only one piece to revisit and leave the rest of the evening free for ordinary conversation.
Plan the last walk before you leave home
Save the event listing and the exact performance space in one note. If you take the sheltered route, follow it to the Esplanade itself before looking for the room. If you are heading to an outdoor set, check whether you need to cross to the waterfront side after arriving. Share the room or outdoor venue with anyone meeting you separately.
Build in time for a wrong turn, particularly with a small child or someone visiting for the first time. If you use a taxi or ride-hail car, consult Esplanade’s official pick-up and drop-off information. A few minutes of margin gives you a chance to choose a suitable place before the set begins and to have a more relaxed walk back later.
When a short stop is enough
An audience member may only have time to catch one complete set. Plan for that, then add another nearby activity only if the group still has energy. A brief concert can be the entire outing. If you want to stay later, use the extra time for a meal or a conversation about the performance rather than leaving the first set early to reach another commitment.
Choose a backup if your first show is affected
The calendar includes a mixture of evening formats, so your best backup depends on what made you choose the first show. If you wanted familiar film themes, an indoor film-music set can keep the idea of the visit intact. If the main draw was seeing live music outdoors, check the weather and venue updates for another evening. Make the decision before leaving if the venue has posted a change.
Look at the programme for the rest of the month before asking someone to move a dinner or a work commitment. There may be another date with similar music but more convenient timing. A 6.45pm Concourse start works differently from an 8.45pm waterfront set when your group needs to travel home afterwards. The useful comparison is the whole evening from the station to the final walk, including the time you can spend listening.
If a performer or a particular score is your reason for going, use the individual listing as your source. A calendar summary can group together different styles that sound similar in a headline. The individual artist page helps you see what is being presented and whether it suits an audience that has never heard the original soundtrack.
Frequently asked questions
Are Soundtracks concerts at Esplanade free?
Esplanade lists Soundtracks 2026 as a free series. Check the individual event page for the current venue and any attendance arrangements.
Is the Disney and Pixar concert indoors?
It is listed at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre for 9 November at 7.15pm and 8.45pm. Check Esplanade’s advisories if rain is likely.
Where is Piano Realms?
Piano Realms is at Esplanade Concourse on 19 November at 6.45pm and 7.45pm. The listing includes anime and video-game music.
Do I need to attend both sets?
Choose a single published showtime for a normal visit. Check the event page if you want to know whether the programme varies between sets.
Can I bring children?
Choose a programme and setting that suit the children in your group. The Disney and Pixar set and Piano Realms have recognisable starting points for many families. Check the individual listing and follow any on-site directions.
Where should I check for changes?
Use the Esplanade Soundtracks calendar and the exact event listing. For outdoor programmes, also check the venue’s advisory before travelling.
Official information and further reading
- Official Soundtracks 2026 programme
- A Night of Disney & Pixar!
- Abby & Tristan: Songs We Remember
- Trio Opal’s 12 November concert
- Piano Realms: Anime & Game Soundscapes
- Musicals, Mischief & Mayhem
- Esplanade venue maps and MRT directions
The header shows the Singapore River, Esplanade and the Civic District from the eduKateSG photo collection.