Singapore is set to welcome the world premiere of The Story of Studio Ghibli, adding another major cultural attraction to the city’s year-end calendar.
The Studio Ghibli Singapore exhibition will open at Gardens by the Bay on 18 December 2026 and run until 4 July 2027. Spread across nearly 3,500 square metres, it will feature 12 life-sized worlds inspired by some of the Japanese animation studio’s best-known films.
For Malaysians, the exhibition also offers a relatively accessible regional experience, particularly during the year-end and school holiday travel periods.
A World Premiere Close to Malaysia
Produced by TSUKURU, INC. and M Experience, with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, the exhibition turns familiar Studio Ghibli scenes into large-scale environments that visitors can walk through.
Films represented include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and The Boy and the Heron.
Among the highlights is an eight-metre-tall three-dimensional recreation of the bathhouse from Spirited Away, described by the organisers as a world-first. Visitors can also encounter the Ohmu from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and recreate the familiar bus-stop scene with Totoro and the Catbus.
Interactive multimedia elements will be used throughout the exhibition, moving the experience beyond a conventional display of artwork and production materials.
Cultural Experiences Become Part of the Tourism Economy
Large-scale exhibitions are increasingly part of how Asian cities build their cultural and tourism appeal. They give visitors another reason to travel while supporting activity around hotels, restaurants, transport and retail.
That makes the Singapore event relevant beyond Studio Ghibli’s fan base.
The exhibition is being positioned as an experience for different generations, including younger visitors discovering the films for the first time. Themes such as creativity, resilience and environmental stewardship will also be explored, while educational initiatives are being developed ahead of the opening.
Studio Ghibli itself has four decades of global recognition behind it. Founded in 1985 by Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki, the studio has produced 25 feature-length films, with several receiving major international awards.
Why Singapore Is Investing in Major Cultural Events
Hosting the world premiere gives Singapore another high-profile attraction with the potential to draw visitors from neighbouring markets, including Malaysia.
Singapore Tourism Board’s Director of Leisure Events, Guo Teyi, said experiences of this scale contribute to the city’s vibrancy and strengthen its appeal as a regional lifestyle destination.
The broader impact is worth watching. Entertainment exhibitions built around globally recognised creative properties can help destinations widen their visitor offerings beyond traditional sightseeing.
For Southeast Asia, they also show how culture and entertainment are becoming increasingly connected with tourism development and the wider experience economy.
Tickets and Visiting Details
Tickets for The Story of Studio Ghibli are now available through Klook, the exhibition’s official ticketing partner.
The exhibition will be held at the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay and will operate daily from 10am to 7pm.
Standard admission starts at S$49 for adults during off-peak periods and S$55 during peak periods. Concession tickets are available for children aged three to 12 and seniors aged 65 and above. Separate rates of S$39 for adults and S$29 for concessions apply to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Adult tickets bought during the early-bird period, which runs until 17 December 2026, will also include a limited-edition gift while stocks last.
A Regional Draw for Fans and Families
For Malaysian Studio Ghibli fans, Singapore’s selection as the world-premiere destination puts a major international cultural experience within relatively easy reach.
More broadly, the exhibition reflects how Asian destinations are using creative content to strengthen cultural tourism. Successful events can attract regional visitors while generating activity across hospitality, transport and surrounding businesses.
As cities compete for travellers seeking experiences rather than conventional sightseeing alone, cultural attractions such as The Story of Studio Ghibli could become an increasingly important part of Southeast Asia’s tourism mix.
