Singapore Kids Build Robots at New AI Festival

Imagine your child not just using technology, but understanding how to build it and shape its future.

That's exactly what Singapore's Science Centre hopes to spark with RoboFest 2026, the nation's first robotics and artificial intelligence festival. Running from April 9 to 12, the event welcomes families with children of all ages to explore the technology shaping tomorrow.

Science Centre Board CEO Tham Mun See says the goal is simple: transform kids from passive consumers into confident creators. The festival features four interactive zones where curiosity transforms into understanding.

For the youngest visitors, The Playground zone offers robot boxing matches and fire-fighting robot dog challenges. A comedy show called My Colleague Is A Robot Dog playfully explores how humans and robots work together.

Older children get their hands dirty with real building. Primary school kids and teens can construct actual robots and learn AI prompt-crafting through multiplayer games. These activities reveal the "how" behind the "wow," Tham explains.

The festival tackles a common problem: technology often feels mysterious and intimidating. "RoboFest was born from a simple belief: People shouldn't fear what they don't understand," Tham says.

Every intelligent machine represents human creativity and problem-solving. By showing the human story behind the technology, the festival demonstrates that innovation comes from curiosity, creativity and teamwork.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond building skills, RoboFest plants something deeper: the understanding that technology isn't magic reserved for experts. It's something anyone can learn, shape and improve.

The festival also introduces AI ethics, helping children understand how to use these powerful tools responsibly. As robots become everyday companions in homes and workplaces, this knowledge becomes essential.

Tham describes the experience as planting seeds of curiosity for the youngest visitors while giving older children tools to nurture that curiosity into real understanding. From competition arenas to social robot demonstrations, every activity reinforces a key message: the future belongs to those who work alongside intelligent machines.

Tickets for Singaporeans and permanent residents start at just $4 on weekdays for children and seniors, making the experience accessible to families across the city-state. Weekend admission includes full Science Centre access, offering even more opportunities to explore.

The next generation won't just live with AI; they'll shape it.