vOilah! returns this year with a line-up of 26 programmes and one ambition: to showcase the best of French culture to audiences across Singapore. From visual arts and cinema to music and performing arts, there is something for every interest, whether free or ticketed. Events will take place across the island, spanning from Jurong to Kallang, extending through Sentosa and Newton, bringing the festival experience in every corner of Singapore.

This year’s festival kicks off with a French Food Market at VivoCity, which promises to be a hit as gastronomy is an art both our countries value greatly. An art which the public will be able to get a taste of, but also to learn through masterclasses by Michelin-starred chefs.

Other highlights include an innovative exhibition on the oceans at the Science Centre Singapore, an exhibition on the Opéra de Paris at Alliance Française echoing a dance performance by the Singapore Ballet, as well as a presentation of masterpieces from the Louvre’s Islamic Art collection at the Asian Civilisations Museum. This marks the collection’s first appearance in Southeast Asia, and I am particularly happy that it will take place in Singapore. It offers a meaningful opportunity to illuminate the connections between Asia and Europe through a dialogue of cultures, reminding us that these ties extend far beyond the brutal realities of today’s geopolitics.

The arts are indeed a way to take a step back and immerse in beauty, whether by closing your eyes to listen to Debussy, Beethoven or Miles Davis, or open them for the creations of Ceet Fouad, Ziad Dalloul and Alexandre Levi. Yet they also invite us to look at the issues of our time with a heightened sensitivity: this is the case of the movie Love Me Tender, revolving around parenthood and gender roles, as well as Lacrima, a play inviting to reflect on workers’ rights.

Younger audiences have not been forgotten. vOilah! is partnering with the Asian Festival of Children’s Content and Sentosa to offer experiences specially designed for them, ensuring there is something for all ages.

In the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and Singapore, vOilah! builds on relationships established throughout the year and elevates them further. We are very proud that all the programmes presented involve local artists and institutions, bringing to life the cultural dialogue that the embassy aims to foster. They are too many to name them all, but we are especially excited that two productions will be part of the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) this year, and that the Alliance Française and Esplanade remain faithful partners. We are also pleased to collaborate with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra for the festival’s largest live event, and with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for one of maestro Hans Graf’s farewell series concert.

Let me conclude by inviting you to open your senses to the rich variety of experiences vOilah! has to offer from 25 April to 20 June. I look forward to welcoming you to the festival!

Last year, Singapore and France celebrated our 60^th year of diplomatic relations and upgraded our ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during French President Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit in Singapore.

We will continue to build on this enduring friendship – one of this is vOilah!, a testament to our two countries’ connection through the arts and culture, rooted in a shared understanding how cultural expression fosters connections across multicultural communities.

This year’s vOilah! Festival line-up encompasses a diverse range of programmes spanning theatre, music, visual arts, gastronomy, and cultural heritage. Audiences can look forward to a concert in the park by the Jazz Association Singapore paying tribute to French jazz legend Michel Etrucciani, alongside other exciting events in collaboration with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Ballet, and the Asian Civilisations Museum among others.

 May festivals like vOilah! continuing to serve as vital bridges between our communities, demonstrating the remarkable outcomes possible through collaborative spirit and shared artistic vision.

 I have no doubt that vOilah! 2026 will continue to be well-received, and I wish for all involved and attending to have a memorable and enriching time!