Studio Ghibli fans in Singapore have a major date to mark on their calendars.
The Story of Studio Ghibli, an immersive exhibition celebrating the worlds and imagination of the legendary Japanese animation studio, will make its world premiere at Gardens by the Bay’s West Lawn on Dec 18, 2026. The exhibition will then open to the public from Dec 19 and run until July 4, 2027.
Spanning nearly 3,500 sq m, the Singapore edition will be the largest presentation of The Story of Studio Ghibli to date. Instead of simply displaying artwork behind glass, the experience will allow visitors to walk through 12 life-sized worlds inspired by some of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved films.
Among the films represented are My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and The Boy and the Heron.
Step inside the world of Spirited Away
One of the exhibition’s biggest highlights will be a world-first, eight-metre-tall three-dimensional recreation of the bathhouse from Spirited Away.
Visitors will also be able to step inside a recreation of the bathhouse’s boiler room, where Kamaji’s many arms work among rows of drawers and machinery.
The installation is designed with animatronic details, movement and atmospheric effects to make the setting feel more like a living part of the film rather than a conventional exhibition display.
Fans of My Neighbour Totoro will also get to see the iconic bus-stop scene recreated at life size, complete with Totoro waiting nearby and the Cat Bus forming part of the experience.
Another recreation will bring the Guchokipanya bakery from Kiki’s Delivery Service into the exhibition.
More than just a collection of movie sets
While the recognisable characters and locations are likely to be the biggest draw for fans, organisers say the exhibition is intended to explore the ideas behind Studio Ghibli’s films as well.
The experience will look at themes including creativity, resilience and environmental stewardship, while educational initiatives are also being developed to encourage visitors to engage more deeply with the stories.
Sean Lim, CEO of M Experience, said the exhibition was designed to be something visitors experience rather than simply look at.
That approach is reflected in the format of the Singapore show, which combines physical recreations with multimedia installations and atmospheric projections.
Singapore gets the world premiere
The exhibition is being produced by TSUKURU, INC. and M Experience, with support from the Singapore Tourism Board.
Singapore Tourism Board leisure events director Guo Teyi said the organisation was pleased to welcome the world premiere, describing the expanded immersive experience as an opportunity to bring Studio Ghibli’s stories to life for fans.
The choice of Singapore also adds another major attraction to Gardens by the Bay’s growing line-up of international experiences.
The exhibition will occupy the West Lawn at Gardens by the Bay, giving visitors more than six months to experience it.
It will be open daily from 10am to 7pm during its run from Dec 18, 2026, to July 4, 2027.
How much are tickets?
Tickets have already gone on sale.
For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, admission starts at S$39 for adults and S$29 for concession tickets, with concession tickets available for children aged three to 12 and seniors aged 65 and above.
Standard admission is priced higher depending on the period, with adult tickets ranging from S$49 during off-peak periods to S$55 during peak periods. Concession tickets range from S$43 to S$49.
There is also an early-bird promotion running ahead of the opening. Adult tickets purchased during the early-bird period will come with an exclusive limited-edition gift while stocks last.
A new way to revisit Ghibli’s most beloved films
Studio Ghibli has built a global following around films that combine fantasy, adventure and often surprisingly deep themes about family, nature, growing up and the human relationship with the world.
The Singapore exhibition appears designed to tap into that emotional connection rather than simply recreate familiar movie scenes.
For longtime fans, it offers the chance to physically enter places they have previously experienced only through animation.
For younger visitors discovering Ghibli for the first time, it could provide a different introduction to the studio’s films and the ideas behind them.
And with Singapore hosting the world premiere and the largest presentation of the exhibition so far, The Story of Studio Ghibli is shaping up to be one of the city’s biggest pop-culture attractions for the end of 2026 and the first half of 2027.
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