The showcase opens at the National Museum of Singapore on December 12, 2025 and runs until February 22, 2026
Skullpanda, one of Pop Mart’s most recognizable designer toy characters, is about to make its international exhibition debut in Singapore. The Skullpanda Cage Uncage Showcase opens at the National Museum of Singapore on December 12, 2025 and runs until February 22, 2026, marking a major three-way collaboration between Pop Mart, the Singapore Tourism Board, and the museum.
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From toy shelf favorite to contemporary art icon
If you know Skullpanda, you know the character rarely stays in one world. Created in 2018 by Chinese artist and concept designer Xiong Miao, Skullpanda has taken on dozens of personas, each one reflecting the artist’s long-running fascination with identity, uncertainty and the search for authenticity. The figure’s wide-eyed, slightly eerie aesthetic has made it one of POP MART’s most sought-after lines, with series like The Ink Plum, Dark Maid and L’impressionnisme series selling out fast.
This exhibition is designed to go beyond the blind-box craze. The showcase breaks Skullpanda open as an artistic project, diving into six themes that mirror how people move through life: Emotion, Fortune, Rules, Exploration, Life and Direction. Visitors will walk through supersized installations, symbolic doorways and environments built to mimic the character’s internal world.
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The Singapore edition also features a special installation inspired by the country’s bird-singing tradition.
For the National Museum, this showcase is part of an ongoing effort to tap into contemporary cultural movements. The museum first tested the waters with Play:Date, which drew younger audiences who don’t always see museums as their playground.
What you’ll find inside the showcase
The showcase will take over multiple spaces inside the National Museum, transforming them into Skullpanda’s world. There will be large-scale sculptures and interactive corners. The narrative moves like a journey: visitors enter a world of questions, move through different emotional states, and exit with a deeper understanding of the character and themselves.
A pop-up store will also run at the Longer Concourse. Merchandise exclusive to the exhibition will only be available to visitors who have completed the showcase, with strict one-item-per-ticket limits.
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Planning a trip to Singapore during the exhibition?
If you’re heading to Singapore anytime between December 2025 and February 2026, this showcase is an easy add-on to your itinerary. The National Museum sits near the Bras Basah–Dhoby Ghaut area, which is surrounded by cafes, bookstores and arts spaces. You can pair your visit with stops at Design Orchard, Bugis, or even a stroll around Fort Canning Park.
As for the weather, expect cooler temperatures compared to mid-year, but also sudden rain. Bring a lightweight jacket, comfortable shoes and a waterproof bag if you plan to walk between museums.
Tickets will follow timed-entry, so advanced booking makes the visit smoother especially if you’re travelling during the year-end holidays when crowds peak. Tickets include access to other museum galleries. The first 4,500 visitors will receive a Singapore-exclusive Skullpanda Cage Uncage gift, while stocks last.
Early tickets are currently on sale while standard tickets open on December 1, 2025.
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