SINGAPORE – Annual French cultural event Voilah! France Singapore Festival returns on April 25, once more taking to the stage, concert halls and galleries in May and June.

This time, its 26 programmes also extend to an immersive exhibition on ocean research at the Science Centre Singapore, created in partnership with the acclaimed Tara Ocean Foundation, whose schooner Tara has spent more than 20 years exploring and studying the oceans.

As with four years ago at Ion Orchard, Voilah! has also brought in oysters, cheeses and wines for a French food market to be held at VivoCity on April 25 and 26.

This continues the French embassy’s partnership with mall developer Mapletree after Singaporean photographer Melisa Teo’s exhibition at HarbourFront mall in 2025.

The Science Centre and VivoCity take Voilah! events outside Central Business District arts venues, maintaining the reach of a festival that regularly sees over 50,000 participants, both locals and expatriates.

French ambassador to Singapore Stephen Marchisio says: “When I say culture, I mean everything. I have a picture here of taking President (Emmanuel) Macron to Lau Pa Sat.”

President Macron was in town for a state visit in 2025, during which he visited Teo’s exhibition – then on its first leg along Anderson Bridge – with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

A platform like Voilah! allows Singaporeans to know the French better and is also an important avenue for French businesses to gain exposure to the Singaporean market, says Mr Marchisio. This is especially true with the food and drink retailers brought in for the event, with the industry one of the biggest earners for the French economy here.

Mr Marchisio adds: “For French people, this part of the world is a bit f...