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: September 24, 2026
Ian McEwan · Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Recital Studio) · September 25, 2026
Novelist Ian McEwan discusses the craft of fiction, the role of memory in storytelling, and the ethical responsibilities of writers. The event will feature readings from his recent…
Tim Harford · Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay · September 25, 2026
Journalist and economist Tim Harford explores how data and incentives shape public policy and household decisions. The talk will mix stories from the field with practical insights …
Anne Applebaum · Asian Civilisations Museum · September 25, 2026
Historian and columnist Anne Applebaum explores the tools of modern authoritarianism and the information battles shaping Asia and the West. The lecture traces historical parallels …
Sunil Amrith · Asian Civilisations Museum · September 25, 2026
Historian Sunil Amrith explores maritime migration histories across the Indian Ocean and their relevance to contemporary migration debates in Asia. The talk will be followed by a s…
Pankaj Mishra · National Museum of Singapore · September 25, 2026
Pankaj Mishra examines contemporary nationalist and populist movements and the responsibilities of writers and intellectuals in contested public spheres. The talk connects historic…
Kishore Mahbubani · National Museum of Singapore (Jubilee Hall) · September 25, 2026
Former diplomat Kishore Mahbubani reflects on Asia's growing geopolitical influence and what it means for global governance. He will map historical trends and respond to audience q…
Tan Twan Eng · National Library, Victoria Street (National Library Board) · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer-shortlisted author Tan Twan Eng reads from his latest novel and discusses the craft of writing across Southeast Asian histories. An audience Q&A and book signing will foll…
Zadie Smith · LASALLE College of the Arts (Lecture Theatre) · September 25, 2026
Novelist Zadie Smith joins LASALLE students and the public for a wide-ranging conversation about urban life, fiction, and the craft of writing. The session is free and open to the …
Siddhartha Mukherjee · National Library Board Singapore (Central Public Library) · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer-winning physician-author Siddhartha Mukherjee explores how advances in genomics and AI are reshaping ideas of illness and selfhood. He will discuss the ethical and social …
Pico Iyer · National Library Board Singapore · September 25, 2026
Travel writer Pico Iyer discusses the art of stillness in an age of constant motion and how travel reshapes identity. The talk includes a short reading and a Q&A with the audience.
Cherian George · National Library Board (Central Public Library, Kim Seng Theatre) · September 25, 2026
Media scholar Cherian George examines patterns of misinformation and the challenges they pose to democratic debate in Southeast Asia. The session includes a practical segment on me…
Amanda Lee Koe · National Library Board Singapore · September 25, 2026
Singapore-born author Amanda Lee Koe reads from her new fiction and discusses contemporary Singaporean identity in literature. The event includes an audience Q&A and book-signing.
Mohsin Hamid · National Library Board, Singapore (Library Theatre) · September 25, 2026
Novelist Mohsin Hamid reads from his recent work and speaks about fiction-making in a divided world. The event ends with an audience Q&A about narrative form and political storytel…
Amanda Lee Koe · National Library Board Singapore (Central Public Library, Plaza) · September 25, 2026
Award-winning Singaporean novelist Amanda Lee Koe reads from her forthcoming work and discusses contemporary Singaporean fiction. The session includes a moderated Q&A and book sign…
Kishore Mahbubani · National University of Singapore (NUS) - Kent Ridge Lecture Theatre · September 25, 2026
Former diplomat and public intellectual Kishore Mahbubani discusses Asia’s geopolitical rise and what it means for global governance. The lecture includes a moderated Q&A with stud…
Ho Tzu Nyen, Tang Da Wu, Ute Meta Bauer · LASALLE College of the Arts (Lecture Theatre) · September 25, 2026
A panel of artists and curators—Ho Tzu Nyen, Tang Da Wu and Ute Meta Bauer—explores how politics and censorship shape artistic practice across Asia. Attendees will engage in an ext…
Pico Iyer · Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Theatre Studio · September 25, 2026
Pico Iyer considers how digital technology is reshaping attention, travel and the practice of writing about place. This illustrated talk will explore ways artists and audiences can…
Catherine Lim · National Museum of Singapore, Object Theatre · September 25, 2026
Writer Catherine Lim considers the relationship between literature, memory and the rapid urban transformations of Singapore over recent decades. The talk will pair personal recolle…
Bilahari Kausikan · The Arts House — Chamber · September 25, 2026
Senior diplomat Bilahari Kausikan leads a panel on strategic challenges and diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Panelists from academia and policy will debate contemporary security and ec…
Anne Applebaum · Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) · September 25, 2026
Historian Anne Applebaum discusses memory, nationalism and the politics of history across Europe and Asia. The lecture will consider museum practices, monuments and contested narra…