IMBA Theatre, Singapore’s first dedicated venue for large-scale immersive media-based art exhibitions, officially opened at Gardens by the Bay on 22 April 2026. Unveiled by Guest-of-Honour, David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore, IMBA Theatre comprises a major gallery, as well as two purpose-built black box theatres with state-of-the-art projection and sound technology.
Spanning over 80,000 square feet, the IMBA Theatre celebrates its opening with two major presentations for arts and culture lovers in the coming months. Be sure to catch these two presentations, Botero in Singapore and David Hockney: Bigger and Closer (not Smaller and Further Away).
Botero in Singapore
Presented with the Fernando Botero Foundation, Botero in Singapore is the world’s first tri-format presentation celebrating the life and art of Maestro Fernando Botero. It features Life in Fullness (immersive experience), Garden Grandeur (monumental outdoor sculptures) and Heart of Volume (gallery exhibition).
- Garden Grandeur (IMBA Theatre and Silver Leaf Gardens: 24 January to 18 May 2026)
- 10 monumental sculptures presented free-to-the-public. Four sculptures are displayed at IMBA Theatre and the remaining six are displayed at the Silver Leaf Gardens of Gardens by the Bay.
- Heart of Volume (IMBA Theatre Gallery: 13 February to 31 May 2026)
- The largest gallery exhibition of Maestro Fernando Botero’s artworks in Asia, featuring 118 original works from the Botero family collection.
- A Life in Fullness (IMBA Theatre 1: 26 April to 31 July 2026)
- The first-ever Botero immersive experience, jointly produced by IMBA and the Botero Foundation. The 40-minute experience is narrated by Fernando Botero Zea, the eldest son of Maestro Botero and Co-President of the Fernando Botero Foundation.
David Hockney: Bigger and Closer (not Smaller and Further Away)
A landmark immersive experience presented in partnership with Lightroom UK, this exhibition invites audiences to step into Hockney’s world, in an audiovisual show narrated by the artist himself.
Come step into David Hockney’s opera set designs and see his iconic works being digitally created in real time. First launched at Lightroom UK in February 2023, the show has toured internationally, from Seoul, South Korea, to Manchester, UK, and across China.
Curated Lifestyle Offerings
Beyond its exhibitions, IMBA offers a holistic visitor experience that blends art, design and lifestyle across its spaces. Visitors can look forward to the following offerings:-
- Prudential Experience Zone
- An immersive cultural zone by Prudential Singapore, it stretches across a 14-metre digital passage, designed as a playful and reflective experience encouraging exploration and curiosity.
- Visitors have the chance to customise their own avatars that are transported by a virtual koel bird into the ‘Lah Lah Land’ – a vibrant digital landscape which features renowned landmarks and local delicacies.
- IMBA Stacked Store
- A retail merchandise store for the venue, the IMBA Stacked Store will delight you with IMBA-exclusive merchandise and limited-edition collectibles inspired by its exhibitions and artists.
- You can also find a thoughtful selection of lifestyle and homeware pieces here, so be sure to take home a distinctive memento of your journey through IMBA.
- Realm Café
- A wellness dining concept which will be launched from June 2026. Designed to nourish both body and mind, Realm is a welcoming space for rest and connection between each IMBA experience.
- Beyond dining, it will host a curated line-up of community and wellbeing programmes.
A Platform for Local and Global Creativity
Committed to nurturing homegrown talent, IMBA is presenting the works of contemporary Singaporean artist IC Koh as its first local artist exhibition.
By placing local voices alongside global artistry, IMBA supports the continued growth of Singapore’s arts and creative community. It will collaborate with local artists and institutions to develop original content and new intellectual property, including partnerships with Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design and Media.
For more information, visit https://imbaglobal.com/whats-on and follow IMBA’s journey on Instagram @be.imba.
