AGP Executive Report

Street Dance Workshops: Vancouver dancers Simran Sachar and Sevrin Emnacen-Boyd are bringing free w*acking and breakdance sessions to Revelstoke this weekend, spotlighting street dance’s LGBTQ+ roots and its Olympic-era momentum. Teen Reading Woes: A new OECD PISA 2025 report links slumping teen reading to more screen time and less reading for pleasure, with scores at the lowest since 2000. Table Tennis in Macao: WTT Champions Macao 2026 kicked off at the East Asian Games Dome, with Chen Yi and Chen Yuanyu advancing to the round of 16 after straight-sets wins, and Singapore’s Zeng Jian facing Miwa Harimoto. Film & Festival Buzz (NYC): The Downtown Festival announced its 2026 lineup, including films by Paul Schrader and Ethan Hawke, running Oct 9–18 with one-night screenings and filmmaker talks. Fashion Spotlight: Iris van Herpen’s no-flagship, couture-only approach is in focus, with a Brooklyn Museum exhibition highlighting her “grown, not made” sculptural garments. Sports & Culture (UAE at Asian Games): The UAE Olympic Committee confirmed 165 athletes across 23 sports for Aichi–Nagoya 2026, including esports and padel tennis. Tech for Creators: Singapore’s YYForce is launching drone-and-AI facade inspection via a new JV, pointing to how automation is reshaping service work.

Live Music Economics: YouGov data shows concert culture is booming across APAC, but most fans don’t stand in front of stages regularly—so the “after” matters, from merch and collectibles to shared experiences. Luxury Craft in Focus: Hemmerle brings its unconventional high jewellery to Singapore, spotlighting years of experimentation and craftsmanship behind each piece. Teen Safety Online: A policy debate is heating up over how to protect teens on social media, weighing harms like bullying and misinformation against benefits like connection. Art Beyond Borders: Chinese artist Jiang Miao opens her first New York solo show, with carved acrylics exploring time and Taoist philosophy. Local Theatre for Families: There’s a Monster in Your Show heads to Abergavenny, an interactive musical built for young families. Comedy on Stage: Just For Laughs Singapore returns with Trevor Noah and other big names across October to December. Singapore Arts & Pop Culture: Ayden Sng discusses his Singapore roots while his career expands in China, and The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 finale details land for fans. Fashion Retail Watch: Izipizi opens its first stand-alone store in Tokyo, signalling deeper global expansion. Jewellery & Philanthropy Research: New findings on Asia’s wealth and giving highlight how families steward wealth and fund impact.

ASEAN–EU Diplomacy: PM Lawrence Wong says Singapore’s next ASEAN Chairmanship can deepen ASEAN-EU ties with Luxembourg, including cooperation on quantum, AI, space and satellite links. AI for Kids: Central Singapore CDC’s “My Digital Bootcamp” expands to 1,000 children, adding age-appropriate AI literacy alongside coding, robotics and digital art. Crypto Crime in the Spotlight: Singaporean Malone Lam, accused in a $240M Bitcoin theft via Gemini/Google impersonation, is set for a U.S. plea hearing as prosecutors detail a social-engineering scheme and alleged laundering spree. Sports & Asian Games Build-up: India’s Satwik-Chirag ride their China Masters win into the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, stressing fine-tuning and “no added pressure.” Arts & Culture Calendar: Kampong Gelam Festival spotlights Nusantara music, kebaya craft and Malay theatre; One Stage, Two Traditions brings Singapore Potehi puppetry together with Japan’s Awa Ningyo Joruri. Screen & Music Buzz: “Ted Lasso” season 4 episode 6 lands on Apple TV on Sept 9; ENHYPEN adds extra London and Berlin dates for its Blood Saga tour, with Singapore National Stadium on March 14.

K-pop on the big screen: A documentary on Blackpink’s Lisa, Always Lalisa, will screen in Singapore cinemas from Oct 12–17, with the EP Press Play also due Oct 23. Local arts & culture: National Library Board kicks off ReadSG and National Reading Month, urging Singaporeans to read 15 minutes a day through the ReadSG Challenge. Film festival spotlight: Tokyo International Film Festival adds new awards in Nippon Cinema Now and relaunches Crosscut Asia+ with international jury focus. Music & theatre: Global hit musical Cats returns to Korea in December after a three-year gap, with a tour planned for major cities including Busan, Sejong and Seoul. Design & hospitality: The St. Regis Singapore unveils its reimagined Presidential Suite, a 335 sq m biophilic residence inspired by the Botanic Gardens. Sports-meets-tech: Virtual taekwondo debuts at the Asian Games, letting athletes compete in both real and VR formats. Singapore business backdrop: Retail sales growth slowed to 1.5% y/y in July, with food and department store sales down.

Volcanic Travel Chaos: Singapore Airlines cancelled 19 flights to Jakarta and Scoot cancelled 12 on Sunday after Mount Anak Krakatau’s ash led to temporary closures at Soekarno-Hatta, disrupting hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers. Badminton Spotlight: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stunned He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 to win their maiden China Masters title, a confidence boost ahead of the Asian Games. Tennis in Singapore: Alex Eala, fresh off a US Open third-round exit, is set to headline the Singapore Tennis Open at Kallang this September alongside top WTA names. Music & Local Talent: Brb. will headline Homegrown 2026 (11–13 Sep) at Paya Lebar Quarter, joining acts like Regina Song and Forests. Fashion Talk: Sofia Richie Grainge wore a vintage Chanel Cruise 2014 dress—first seen on Kendall Jenner at Cannes in 2014—at a London wedding weekend. Sports Event Watch: WTT Champions Macao 2026’s draw is out, with singles action running 8–13 Sep at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.

Singapore Arts & Culture: OMM’s ambitious semi-staged Siegfried at the Esplanade Concert Hall signals strong local appetite for Wagner, following Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. Fashion & Society: Shein’s ultra-fast fashion IPO stumble—valuation slashed after a pivot to Hong Kong—adds fuel to the debate over ESG risk and whether “ultra-cheap” can ever become truly sustainable. Film & LGBTQIA+ Stories: Taiwanese-Singapore co-production Will You Still Be My Friend boards international sales via Moveria, with a trailer out and a stop in San Sebastián’s New Directors sidebar before Busan. Family-Friendly Arts: ChildAid 2026 Festival opens free outdoor Open Stage auditions (video submissions due Sept 12), with adults now eligible alongside youth performers. Music Pop Culture: Dolly Parton impersonator Kelly O’Brien says Dolly’s death leaves her “devastated” but with a “great responsibility” to carry on the legacy. Tech & Creativity: Colour analysis is going viral as a styling “palette” method, turning wardrobe choices into a personalised, shareable ritual.

Cruise & Culture: Seabourn Quest’s 138-day “Iconic Islands” world cruise is open for bookings, with stops including Easter Island, Bora Bora, Bali, Singapore (overnight), Sydney, Zanzibar and Cape Town, plus 20 extended stays and 8 overnight ports. Reality TV (Singapore access): Bigg Boss 20 premieres Sept 6 with Salman Khan returning, plus the Vardan “second chance” twist; the show will stream on JioHotstar and is also available in the UK, Canada and Singapore. Badminton (China Masters): Satwik-Chirag stormed into the China Masters final again, beating Malaysia’s Nur Mohd Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong 21-15, 18-21, 21-11, setting up a title match against China’s Ren Xiang Yu and He Ji Ting. Arts & Theatre (local): Claire Teo’s Monstress (ART:DIS) at Esplanade Theatre Studio reframes “monstrous-feminine” themes through disability and caregiving. Music & Community: Jazz@Pangbourne spotlights saxophonist Karen Sharp with The Terry Hutchins Quartet. Sports Tech: World Taekwondo’s Virtual Championships head to Muju Taekwondowon in June 2027, with virtual taekwondo set as an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games. Haze Watch: Moderate haze returned to Singapore with PSI in the unhealthy range in the central area.

Singapore Arts & Culture: Claire Teo’s Monstress at Esplanade Theatre Studio reframes “monstrous-feminine” horror through disability and caregiving, turning unseen struggles into stage empathy. Music & Live Jazz: Jazz@Pangbourne brings saxophonist Karen Sharp with The Terry Hutchins Quartet tomorrow night. Language & Identity: More young Singaporeans are signing up for dialect classes, with learners like Hainanese student Eldred Wee seeking identity and stronger family links. Family-Friendly Heritage: Singapore Botanic Gardens & Fort Canning Park Heritage Festival 2026 runs 5–13 Sept, featuring new exhibitions including Hidden World: Creepy Crawlies of Singapore and Funtastical World of Fungi. Local Film & Animation: Fann Wong and Christopher Lee reunite after 17 years for Library of Mystory, a Tang-dynasty-inspired 3D animated feature. Streaming & Pop Culture: JioHotstar launches globally in the UK, Canada and Singapore with 160,000+ hours of Indian content, while Bigg Boss 20 readies its premiere with confirmed contestants teased online. Local Spotlight: Hidden World exhibition opens at Fort Canning Centre, pairing big photography with live specimens for a close-up look at Singapore’s insects and arachnids.

K-pop & Local Talent: SM Universe Singapore says Michelle Garcia, 13, has joined its K-pop professional training programme, sharing how she flies in weekly from the Philippines for coaching in singing and dance. Art Fairs in Asia: Seoul Art Week’s PAVILION launches its first edition in the city, using a boothless, neighbourhood-style setup and QR-linked pricing to lower barriers for galleries and audiences. Fashion Meets Travel Retail: Kashkha will debut two destination-inspired collections at TFWA Cannes 2026, including silk scarves and printed cashmere wraps designed as “wearable souvenirs,” with the brand already operating at Changi and other airports. Global Pop Culture: Netflix’s Global Non-English TV list spotlights Youku’s workplace romance “The Early Spring,” which hit No. 2 for Aug 24–30 and topped charts in Singapore during the tracking week. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: F1 and Disney’s “Fuel the Magic” continues at Monza with Lightning McQueen making an honorary lap, tying Pixar’s Cars franchise to the Italian GP weekend.

AI & Social Media: Instagram will label AI-generated profiles more clearly and may restrict accounts that use AI people without disclosure, renaming the label to “AI-generated profile.” Arts & Craft: British artist Es Devlin brings light-led installations to Homo Faber’s 2026 edition, spotlighting 500 artisans across immersive works. Photography: The International Photography Festival “Crossing Bridges” kicks off in Ulaanbaatar, running Sept 3–9 with tours and shoots featuring Singapore photographers among 150+ participants. Hospitality Tech: Singapore expands hotel support for AI and digitalisation via the EDGE for Productivity scheme, starting with AI-enabled digital concierge solutions from Nov 1. Sports for Seniors: SportSG says participation in the Seniors National Games is up over 30%, and it’s exploring new sports and possible overseas partnerships. Local Living & Homes: Punggol East riverside state plots may be redeveloped into over 8,000 homes, with some leases ending Dec 31, 2026. Culture in Nature: Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Learning Forest opens visitors to wetlands and “Walk With Giants” via boardwalks and elevated paths. Entertainment & Games: Netflix’s Dhamaal 4, Gandhari and GDN land this week, while Gran Turismo 7’s Spec IV update adds new tracks and cars in two parts.

Singapore Arts & Culture: National Gallery Singapore marked a banner year in 2025 with $8.4m in donations and 2.2m visitors, underscoring continued public appetite for exhibitions and collections. International Arts & Design: Frieze Seoul and Kiaf are drawing collectors with a more Asia-Pacific-forward lineup and a citywide Neighborhood Nights programme, signalling a maturing regional art week beyond hype. Film & Entertainment: Teochew-dialect hit “Dear You” lands a wide North America release via Well Go USA, expanding overseas reach for Chinese-language storytelling. Gaming & Pop Culture: Gran Turismo 7 announced its Spec IV update in two parts (October and December), adding new cars, tracks, and online modes—a big deal for racing fans. Tech & Consumer Gadgets: Dyson’s new R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub UV uses UV light to detect and scrub “invisible” stains, debuting at IFA Berlin. Sports (Local relevance): Singapore’s BWF China Masters action saw Weng Hongyang and Wang Zhiyi advance to quarterfinals after key wins.

Singapore Airlines: SIA says it will unveil a “new travel experience” in November, including next-generation long-haul cabin products, upgraded in-flight food and beverage, a new KrisWorld entertainment system, and new amenity kits. Marina Bay revamp: Marina Square will close next March for a major redevelopment into a hyper-mixed complex with luxury residences, serviced apartments, premium offices, arts and cultural spaces, and sports and wellness facilities. Music & pop culture: NCT 127’s Seoul concert will be screened live in 1,030 cinemas worldwide, with the band also streaming the first two days on Beyond LIVE and Weverse. Film: Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam: The Conclusion trailer has cleared CBFC review with a U/A 16+ certificate ahead of its October 2 cinema release. Sports (local): Singapore will play Brazil, Paraguay and Japan in November friendlies at the National Stadium, with tickets going on sale Friday. Food & lifestyle: A new Singapore food guide spotlights everything from hawker classics to fine dining. Fashion: France’s world-first fast-fashion rules add new fees for brands like Shein and Temu, targeting ultra-fast fashion advertising and environmental impacts.

Streaming Expansion: JioHotstar has launched in Singapore, bringing 160,000+ hours across 12 Asian languages, plus interactive viewing and live voting for Bigg Boss editions starting Sept 6. Local Arts & Culture: Singapore’s AJF non-classroom days leaned into walking—turning neighbourhood routes, museums and MRT hops into real conversations and community-building. Sports Spotlight: Olympic champions Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang are treating the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as a key test for LA 2028, with Zhang shifting focus to sprint events. Motorsport Development: F1 star Lando Norris co-founded LN4 Fusion and launched the LN4 Legacy Programme to fund and mentor junior drivers across F4/F3 and beyond. Collectibles & Watches: Seiko 5 Sports Field x Honda Motocompo limited edition is now on sale in Singapore for SG$599.50. International Film & Theatre: The BFI London Film Festival unveils its 70th edition line-up with 251 titles from 88 countries, including nine world premieres. Gothic Ballet: Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest returns to Melbourne this September/October, with a score blending major classical composers.

Streaming Expansion: JioHotstar has officially launched in the UK, Canada and Singapore, replacing Hotstar with a single app and a library of 160,000+ hours across 12+ Asian languages, plus interactive features and Bigg Boss live voting (with no IPL at launch). Local Arts & Community: Baybeats turns 25 this year, running Sept 3–6 at Esplanade with 50+ free sets by Singapore and regional acts, including The Observatory returning to the festival. Singapore Screen Culture: Yishun 10—Singapore’s first multiplex—will close on Mar 2, 2027, to be redeveloped into a mixed-use complex with about 110 homes and a retail podium. Music & Nightlife: Amsterdam techno collective Intercell brings its warehouse rave to Singapore on Nov 21 at Pasir Panjang Power Station, with a lineup featuring Effy, Mall Grab, Osmosis Jones and Skin On Skin. Fashion Spotlight: Shein’s Hong Kong IPO priced below the top end and shares slid on debut, underscoring a valuation reset amid growth worries and higher import duties. Entertainment Business: KC Global Media Asia’s drama “VIII: Awakening” has wrapped production in Beijing, a modern fantasy reimagining of Chinese mythology.

Fast-Fashion Shake-Up: Shein’s long-awaited Hong Kong IPO opened weakly, with shares sliding as investors worried about slowing growth, rising costs and regulatory headwinds; the Singapore-headquartered retailer priced at about US$26.3b valuation after a massive drop from its 2022 peak. Local Arts & Entertainment: Varun Dhawan brought his family to Madame Tussauds Singapore to pose with his wax statue—an easy, celebrity-friendly stop that doubles as a Singapore getaway moment. Sports Spotlight: Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew bounced back at the China Masters by beating home favourite Shi Yuqi in straight games, setting up a next-round clash. Screen & Streaming: Prime Video’s Reacher Season 4 Episode 6 lands Sept 2 (3pm SGT), while Apple TV’s Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 5 drops around Sept 2 (9am SGT). Singapore Culture & Community: Marina Square will close in March 2027 for redevelopment, leaving tenants and shoppers scrambling over timing and compensation. Tech for Learning: Gauth launched over 200 AI math courses for back-to-school, including tools for students to build their own lessons. Health & Wellness: Catalyst Performance hit 67 five-star Google reviews in eight months at its Manulife Tower studio, positioning itself as a long-term training option. Arts & Film: Hum—a debut feature by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan—has completed its cast, starring P-pop lead Taneo Sebastian and Ymeiliza Tabora, set in Benguet with an earthquake-mystery premise. Music & Pop Culture: Y Entertainment Awards 2026 is set for Sept 3 in Bangkok, with Singapore listed among international viewing times. Environment Watch: Indonesia’s haze forecast warns pollutants from Sumatra and Kalimantan may drift toward the Strait of Malacca and potentially Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Orchard Road Live Music: Live Nation will open Grange House, a new 3,000-capacity live entertainment venue at Somerset, by mid-2027, aiming to bridge the gap between small venues and stadiums. Big Screen Culture: Chinese Teochew family drama Dear You—a migration-and-memory story—heads to North American cinemas on Sept 4, testing whether regional Chinese storytelling can travel beyond Chinese-speaking audiences. Fashion Meets Finance: Shein’s long-awaited Hong Kong IPO debuted with shares down about 10% after pricing at HK$48.56, as investors weigh slowing growth and trade/geopolitical risks. Local Retail Revamp: Marina Square will close on Mar 31, 2027 for redevelopment, adding luxury residences, serviced apartments, offices, and a new 304-room hotel by 2031. Gaming for Fans: Singapore will host the Pokémon World Championships for the first time in August 2027 (Aug 13–15), with the main event at Singapore Expo and Championship Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Community & Heritage: Chinatown Singapore’s Mid-Autumn Festival returns Sept 19 with lion dance, Wushu, lantern-making talks, and traditional performances. Art & Craft Spotlight: Round and Round Gallery is expanding to Joo Chiat with a larger space for ceramics, glass, teaware, and rotating exhibitions.