Previous Pop-Up Store Rosie (credit - OUE Limited)

(Singapore, 8 May 2026) Orchard Road continues its steady transformation into Singapore’s iconic and must-visit lifestyle destination. Building on years of strategic planning under the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan, a series of initiatives will be rolled out this year to enhance street-level experiences and create distinctive new spaces for visitors and locals.

Driven by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Parks Board (NParks), these enhancements demonstrate sustained commitment to revitalising the precinct and strengthening its position as a premier lifestyle destination. Enhancing street-level experiences Launch of Tender for design, build and management of pop-up spaces (May 2026)

STB will launch a tender in May 2026 for the design, build and management of up to three pop-                                             

                                                                                                                  Grange Road Events Venue - Artist’s Impression 1 (credit - Live Nation) 

up spaces along the Orchard Road pedestrian mall.  Located between Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City, the pop-up spaces will run until the end of 2028, and are available for rent to both local and foreign brands, with a rental period of between one and six months for each brand. The first round of pop-ups is expected to open by the end of 2026. 

Previous Pop-Up Store Coca Cola (credit - Orchard Road Business Association)

Visitors can expect new-to-market brands, trendy brands test-bedding new concepts or offering limited-time experiences, or up-and-coming local brands looking to inject differentiated retail and F&B experiences. STB will work with the appointed managing agent to identify and curate the rotation of brands to fill these pop-up spaces. Launch of Orchard Road Rejuvenation Initiative (Mid-2026)

With the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Initiative commencing around mid-2026, STB invites the precinct’s stakeholders to innovate and develop pilot events or experiences to enliven Orchard Road in three key areas:  a. Building façade enhancements such as innovative and/or artistic exterior improvements, digital display boards, interactive building surfaces, or architectural lighting that transform building exteriors into engaging visual experiences that attract visitors and enhance streetscape appeal.

b. Experiential concepts and artwork installations in common gathering spaces such as mall atriums or privately owned public spaces, including immersive retail experiences, interactive art, or event programming. Individual store enhancements or experiences are not eligible.

c. Night-time initiatives such as illumination projections, night markets, or extended operating hours activities that activate the precinct during the night (after 6pm) and create vibrant night-time experiences for tourists and locals.

Previous Pop-Up Store Ed Sheeran (credit - OUE Limited) 

Grange Road Events Venue - Artist’s Impression (credit - Live Nation) (2)

The initiative is open to stakeholders such as mall operators, hotel operators, event organisers and associations for initiatives in Orchard Road, and will run for two years. Interested Orchard Road stakeholders may participate by submitting their proposals for precinct vibrancy initiatives for STB’s evaluation. Shortlisted proposals may receive funding support through the initiative.  

Installation of Creative Exploration System (2H 2026) 

As part of the government-led works, STB is installing a series of creative precinct markers to guide visitor exploration of Orchard Road and strengthen the precinct identity. The initiative will be completed by the second half of 2026. 

The Creative Exploration System consists of artistic precinct markers located along Orchard Road, encouraging visitors’ engagement and exploration of the precinct. The system comprises four physical markers and three road markers, providing visual continuity across the four Orchard Road sub-precincts: Tanglin, Orchard, Somerset, and Dhoby Ghaut.  

Designed by local designers, PLUS Collaboratives, the four physical markers will also feature poetry by local poets.

Creative Exploration System - Road Markers                           Previous Po-Up Store Clarins 

(credit - Singapore Tourism Board)                                           (credit - Orchard Road Business Association) 

Installation of Orchard Road Benches (2H 2026) 

To inject moments of delight and more community gathering spaces, eight winning designs for benches from the Orchard Road Bench Design Competition will be installed along the Orchard Road pedestrian mall by the end of 2026.  

Co-organised by URA and the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), the competition invited professional designers and design students to reimagine the everyday bench as more than just a place to sit. Set against the vibrancy of Orchard Road, the benches can be interactive play elements, striking sculptural landmarks, community gathering points, or memorable photo spots. Launched on 18 March, the design competition received more than 150 submissions at the deadline (4 May 2026).

Building fresh spaces for diverse experiences Grange Road Events Venue  

The Grange Road Events Venue will add further vibrancy to the Somerset sub-precinct and its construction is ongoing. It is Live Nation’s first event venue in Singapore, in partnership with Lendlease Global Commercial REIT and supported by STB.

Grange Road Events Venue - Artist’s Impression (credit - Live Nation) 

The 3,000-capacity space fills the need for a purpose-built, indoor and versatile events venue on Orchard Road. The venue will also feature a terrace that doubles up as a youthful public space in the heart of Somerset, an activation walkway which will also serve as an incubator to the local arts scene, and a restaurant open year-round that will add to the vibrancy of the existing Somerset Discovery Walk.

 While Live Nation will curate a regular pipeline of events – from live music concerts to international touring acts and community events – the venue will be available to host MICE events, conferences and exhibitions, seasonal fairs, activations and other experiential events. Its programming will also be synergised with STB-led events such as Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS), and Christmas on a Great Street (COGS). These programmes will inject greater buzz into the precinct and strengthen Orchard Road’s positioning as a must-visit lifestyle destination. Launch of tender for 37 Emerald Hill site (2026) 

STB will launch a tender in the coming months to transform 37 Emerald Hill, site of the former Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, into a mixed-use development featuring a unique hotel concept, distinctive lifestyle products and experiences, as well as community and public spaces that honour the site’s rich heritage.  

NoMad Hotel (End-2026)

• On the hospitality front, the former Faber House has been redeveloped into a 19-storey hotel in the heart of Orchard Road. Owned by UOL, the hotel will debut as Asia Pacific’s first NoMad brand from Hilton, a luxury lifestyle brand, scheduled to open by the end of 2026. In addition to the hotel, the development will feature a curated selection of F&B options and a new public space. Somerset Belt (2H 2027) 

37 Emerald Hill - Artist’s Impression (credit - Singapore Tourism Board)

Somerset Belt will be transformed into a vibrant youth precinct that features four distinct but interconnected zones: Youth Park as “The Living Room” for community gathering, Incubation Nexus as “The Ideas Market” for youth creativity and innovation, Skate Park for active urban sports, and Somerset Slopes offering green space for quiet reflection and connection. Construction is expected to be completed from the end of 2027.

Redevelopment of Tanglin Shopping Centre 

The spotlight will be on art and culture within Tanglin, when Tanglin Shopping Centre is redeveloped into a mixed-used development comprising retail, office, wellness and cultural uses. It will be redeveloped by Singapore-based property investor and developer Pacific Eagle Real Estate, whom STB will work with to anchor best-in-class retail concepts and add vibrancy to the sub-precinct.

Istana Park Expansion Plans 

The Istana Park expansion will transform Dhoby Ghaut into a family-friendly green oasis, creating a lifestyle destination within Orchard Road. A 500-metre stretch of Orchard Road from Buyong Road to Handy Road will be pedestrianised allowing Istana Park to be better integrated with the Istana entrance and commercial establishments in the sub-precinct. The newly expanded park will be three times its current size, with features such as a nature playgarden, an open lawn and an activity promenade to hold events.

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