The meeting point of global ideas.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Singapore, Singapore — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
A. C. Grayling · National Museum of Singapore · August 18, 2026
Philosopher A. C. Grayling offers a public lecture on the role of secular ethics in multicultural urban societies. He will situate the argument with historical examples and invite …
Pico Iyer · National Library Board (Central Public Library) · August 18, 2026
Renowned travel writer Pico Iyer reads from his latest essays and reflects on travel, home, and the art of observation in an anxious age. The event includes a short reading followe…
Yuval Noah Harari · National University of Singapore (LT27, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences) · August 18, 2026
Historian and public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari explores trends shaping urban life in the 21st century, from AI to climate adaptation. The lecture connects big-picture history …
Anne Applebaum · Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) Lecture Theatre · August 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Anne Applebaum examines threats to democratic institutions and the role of journalism in preserving open societies. She will draw on recent global…
Donald A. Norman · LASALLE College of the Arts · August 19, 2026
Design theorist Donald A. Norman considers how everyday products and digital systems can better serve human needs and preserve dignity. The session will combine theory with hands-o…
Amanda Lee Koe · LASALLE College of the Arts · August 19, 2026
Author Amanda Lee Koe discusses contemporary Singaporean fiction, craft, and the writer’s role within a small nation-state. She will offer a short masterclass on character developm…
Mohsin Hamid · LASALLE College of the Arts, Diploma Theatre · August 19, 2026
Mohsin Hamid discusses the craft of writing about migration, belonging and global modernity. The session will include a moderated conversation and student Q&A.
Ien Ang · LASALLE College of the Arts, Theatre 2 · August 19, 2026
Professor Ien Ang examines diasporic memory and cultural production in Southeast Asia, drawing on decades of scholarship in cultural studies. The talk will consider how migration r…
Tom Holland · National Museum of Singapore — Gallery Theatre · August 20, 2026
Historian Tom Holland examines pivotal moments of cultural contact and conflict that shaped modern Europe. He will place those narratives in conversation with Southeast Asian histo…
Amitav Ghosh · Asian Civilisations Museum, Performance Hall · August 20, 2026
Amitav Ghosh presents his research into climate, trade and the cultural flows that shaped pre-modern Asia, arguing for new frameworks to understand historical change. The lecture t…
Kishore Mahbubani · National Museum of Singapore · August 20, 2026
Former diplomat and academic Kishore Mahbubani outlines shifting power dynamics in Asia and their implications for Singapore. He will take audience questions in a moderated discuss…
Amanda Lee Koe · National Library, Singapore · August 20, 2026
Author Amanda Lee Koe discusses the intersections of memory, place and identity in contemporary Singapore fiction. The talk will include a short reading and a moderated audience Q&…
Alfian Sa'at · National Library Board (Central Public Library) · August 20, 2026
Playwright and poet Alfian Sa'at presents readings from his latest collection and reflects on contemporary Singaporean identity. The session includes an audience Q&A and a communit…
Yuval Noah Harari · Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay · August 20, 2026
Historian and bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari explores technological, ethical, and political shifts shaping human futures. He will discuss storytelling, AI, and the responsibi…
Hans Ulrich Obrist · LASALLE College of the Arts (Diploma Theatre) · August 20, 2026
Renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist reflects on transnational curatorial practice and the role of exhibitions in cultural diplomacy. He will share insights from recent projects and…
Kishore Mahbubani · National Museum of Singapore, Glass Atrium · August 20, 2026
Veteran diplomat and public intellectual Kishore Mahbubani discusses the strategic choices facing Southeast Asian states amid great-power competition. The talk will place Singapore…
Kishore Mahbubani · National Museum of Singapore (Lecture Theatre) · August 20, 2026
Former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani outlines Asia’s strategic role in shaping global governance and economic norms. He will comment on practical policy responses for small …
Sunil Amrith · National Museum of Singapore · August 20, 2026
Historian Sunil Amrith reflects on how objects and archives reshape national narratives in postcolonial museums. He will address curatorial practices that foreground migration and …
Kishore Mahbubani · National Museum of Singapore · August 20, 2026
Former diplomat Kishore Mahbubani examines shifting power balances in Southeast Asia and what they mean for Singapore's foreign policy. He will combine historical perspective with …
Sharlene Teo · National Library Board - Central Public Library · August 20, 2026
Author Sharlene Teo reads from her recent novel and discusses themes of memory, migration and identity in contemporary fiction. The session includes a short reading followed by a p…