The Story of Studio Ghibli 2026: a family guide to the Singapore exhibition at Gardens by the Bay

The Story of Studio Ghibli, the big Studio Ghibli exhibition coming to Singapore, opens at Gardens by the Bay on Friday 18 December 2026 and stays until Sunday 4 July 2027. It takes up nearly 3,500 square metres of the West Lawn, next to Active Garden, and it's open every day from 10am to 7pm. Resident tickets cost $29 for a child and $39 for an adult. A visit takes 60 to 75 minutes, though nobody hurries you out.

Inside are 12 scenes from the films that you walk into rather than look at. Your kids can stand in the rain at the bus stop from My Neighbor Totoro with Totoro beside them, gape up at an 8-metre bathhouse from Spirited Away, watch Kamaji's many arms work the drawers of his boiler room and push open the bakery door from Kiki's Delivery Service. If your child hasn't seen the films, watch My Neighbor Totoro together the week before, so the bus stop means something when they get there.

We took every date, price and rule on this page from the official exhibition site and from Gardens by the Bay's own pages on 6 November 2026. The exhibition is run by M Experience, not by the Gardens, so its own site has the last word on timings and tickets.

Studio Ghibli exhibition dates, hours and ticket prices

Here's what to plan around, with the family sums done for you.

The official site doesn't say what age counts as a child or whether babies go free. Check the age rule on the ticket page before you pay for a toddler who might spend the hour in a carrier.

Buying tickets and picking a timeslot

Tickets are sold online through Klook, the organiser's authorised ticket seller, and the Book Tickets button on the official site takes you there. A small number may be sold at the door when there's room, but the organiser says to book ahead if you want a particular day and time. Booking online also gets you the best prices, the site says.

Get there 10 to 15 minutes before your slot. Late entry depends on how full the next slots are, and the organiser won't promise it, which matters if you're coming with a napping baby or a toddler who won't be rushed. Even with a ticket you may queue for a few minutes at busy times, although the timed slots keep that short.

You can't book the exhibition for a private party, so a Ghibli birthday means buying regular tickets for everyone. School and corporate groups book by email through the official site.

Is it suitable for babies, toddlers and young kids?

Yes. The organiser says it suits all ages, as long as an adult supervises children the whole time. It's a walk-through with a few interactive touches along the way, so there's nothing a toddler has to sit still for, and they can move through it at their own pace.

Expect lighting effects, sound and rooms built to surround you. The organiser advises guests with sensitivities, epilepsy included, to take care. If your child is wary of loud sounds or flashing light, hold their hand at the start and keep a carrier handy.

The exhibition is mostly in English, but it leans on what you see and walk through rather than on reading. A child who can't read yet won't miss much, and the organiser says deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors can enjoy it too.

Strollers, bags and nursing rooms

Strollers are allowed inside, but the organiser warns that some areas are tight. A light stroller or a baby carrier will be easier than a big pram. The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible.

Small bags are fine. Luggage storage at the exhibition is limited and first come, first served. Gardens by the Bay has electronic lockers at Golden Garden, The Canopy and Floral Fantasy for $4, $6 or $8 depending on the size. They take only $2 notes, so bring a few.

The exhibition site doesn't list a nursing room inside. Gardens by the Bay has nursing rooms at Golden Garden near the information counter, at The Canopy near the Flower Dome entrance, at The Meadow, in the Far East Organization Children's Garden, inside Cloud Forest and in the Floral Fantasy gift shop.

Photos and videos are welcome in marked areas, but flash and tripods may not be. Pets have to stay home, even though Active Garden next door welcomes them.

Getting to the West Lawn by MRT, shuttle or car

Bayfront MRT on the Circle and Downtown lines (CE1/DT16) is the nearest station, the organiser says. Take Exit B and follow the underground linkway, then cross the Dragonfly Bridge or the Meadow Bridge into the Gardens. Once you're inside, follow the signs past the Supertree Grove to the exhibition.

With a stroller or tired legs, take the Gardens' shuttle instead. It runs from Bayfront MRT to Active Garden and on to the Flower Dome about every 20 minutes from 9am to 9pm, with the last ride at 8.45pm. Two rides cost $3 for an adult or a child, and you buy them online or in the Gardens by the Bay app. Get off at the Active Garden stop for the West Lawn. The service can stop without notice in bad weather.

On the Thomson-East Coast line, Gardens by the Bay station (TE22) has an exit straight into the Gardens. From the East-West line, Tanjong Pagar (EW15) Exit C leads to bus stop 03223 at International Plaza, where bus 400 runs to Marina Gardens Drive.

If you drive, the Gardens name Bayfront Plaza and the Main Entrance car parks as the nearest to Active Garden. Bayfront Plaza has 172 lots, four of them family lots, and charges 3.5 cents a minute, capped at $30 a day. A shaded path called the Sensory Trail runs from Bayfront Plaza to Active Garden. Taxis can drop you at Bayfront Plaza too.

Food near the exhibition

There's no food or drink for sale inside, and you can't take your own in. The organiser says food trucks will park nearby. The closest sit-down option is Starbucks at Active Garden, open from 8am on weekdays and 7am at weekends and on public holidays, until 10pm.

For a proper meal, Jurassic Nest Food Hall serves Asian dishes with halal and vegetarian choices, and the Gardens also have a halal-certified McDonald's near the Supertrees. Active Garden has a bottle-filling station, so pack empty water bottles and refill them before you go in.

If it rains, and how to beat the queues

The walk from Bayfront MRT is covered only while you're underground. You come up into the open air by the Supertrees and walk the rest of the way, so bring an umbrella or a rain cover for the stroller. The shuttle may not run in a storm.

If the weather turns after your visit, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are the indoor backups. Floral Fantasy is another, with the Disney Garden of Wonder on until 14 March 2027. Each needs its own ticket.

The organiser's advice on crowds is simple: book early to get the date and time you want, and arrive on time. Peak periods can still mean a short wait at the entrance, even with a ticket in hand.

Make a day of it with playgrounds and festive lights nearby

Active Garden and its PropNex Family Zone are right beside the West Lawn and free to use from 5am to 2am. There's an inclusive playground with a giant Becky Bunny, a musical playground with a xylophone and drums, and wide lawns to run off the hour of being good indoors.

The Far East Organization Children's Garden is free for children aged 12 and under with their adults. Its Toddler Play Zone is for ages one to five. During the December school holidays it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm and the water play closing at 6.30pm. Use the new entrance near the Sun Pavilion. Our Gardens by the Bay family guide covers the rest of the park.

Christmas Wonderland runs at the Supertree Grove and The Meadow from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 6.30pm to 11pm. A late-afternoon Ghibli slot followed by dinner and the lights makes a long but very full day. Our Christmas in Singapore guide has the details, the Disney Garden of Wonder guide covers Floral Fantasy, and our school holiday activities guide and What's On for families list everything else on this season.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Studio Ghibli exhibition open in Singapore, and how long does it run?

The Story of Studio Ghibli opens on 18 December 2026 at the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay and runs to 4 July 2027. It's open daily from 10am to 7pm.

How much do tickets to the Ghibli exhibition cost for a family?

Resident tickets are $29 for a child and $39 for an adult, so two adults and two children pay $136. Non-residents pay $43 for a child and $49 for an adult. A Fortune Bundle costs $9 more per ticket online.

Is the exhibition suitable for toddlers?

Yes. The organiser says it suits all ages, with children supervised by an adult at all times. It has lighting and sound effects, so keep a nervous toddler close.

Can we bring a stroller inside?

Yes, strollers are allowed, though some areas have limited space. A compact stroller or a baby carrier is the easier choice.

Which MRT station is nearest to the exhibition?

Bayfront MRT (CE1/DT16). Take Exit B through the underground linkway, or ride the Gardens' $3 shuttle from Bayfront to the Active Garden stop next to the West Lawn.