Sayembara Tari

Sayembara Tari 2026 is given over entirely to zapin, the Malay dance form this edition is built around. Era Dance Theatre Ltd runs the competition, and the floor belongs to young dancers from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, with schools competing in separate categories. Each team fields eight to 12 dancers with up to five minutes on stage to make its case, and the line-up draws performers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

It runs Sat 14 Nov 2026, 3pm to 5pm, at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Drive — two hours, in Malay, with free entry. The edition also backs Singapore's effort to have zapin recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, which gives the afternoon a bit more weight than your usual school showcase.