VivoCity is rounding off its 20th anniversary with a Nintendo-sized bang. The harbourfront mall has launched the Super Mario Holiday Power-Up, a free festive event running from 13 November to 27 December 2026, and it comes with the sort of headline attraction you can't miss: a 10-metre-tall inflatable Mario striking his fist-raised pose over the Outdoor Plaza — the first of its size in Singapore.
The plaza itself has become a life-sized slice of the Mushroom Kingdom, split into six themed discovery zones. Expect classic Warp Pipes, a Power-Up Block Wall for photos, and surprise appearances from Yoshi and Princess Peach at selected spots, with zones opening in phases through the season. To add to the atmosphere, the mall runs nightly snowfall sessions at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday — wintry flurries with a giant plumber in the background is an unusual photo op by any standard.
Inside, the Nintendo POP-UP STORE takes over the Central Court on Level 1 from 1 to 27 December, 10am to 10pm, stocked with official merchandise shipped in from Japan. The standout items are pop-up-exclusive Super Mario Winter Collection plushies — Mario, Luigi and Yoshi dressed as snowmen in scarves — plus matching Christmas tree ornaments and Singapore-exclusive T-shirt designs. Zelda and Animal Crossing fans aren't left out either; there are collectables including the Ocarina of Time and Bell Bags.
Gamers get their share too. From 20 November, free Nintendo Switch 2 demo stations near MLB let visitors try titles like Pokémon Pokopia, Pikmin 4, Splatoon Raiders and the newly released Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. Competitive types can enter the Mario Kart World Challenge across two weekends (5-6 and 19-20 December), racing through tracks like Rainbow Road for prizes at no cost.
For many fans, the biggest draw will be the meet-and-greets: Mario and Luigi appear in person on selected December weekends — the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th, at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm. You'll need a same-day receipt of at least $100 at VivoCity to redeem a pass, and only the first 50 redemptions per session get in, so arrive early. VivoRewards members have extra perks, including an exclusive Mario eco bag set for spending $300 across two same-day receipts, plus mystery eVouchers at various spend tiers.
There's more holiday shopping on site as well: the TANGS Christmas Market starts 1 December with goods from over 50 brands, and every visitor gets a free gift tag that can be customised with character stamps collected from stations around the mall.
Who should go? Anyone in Singapore with kids, Nintendo nostalgia or Christmas shopping to do — and given that Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Singapore is still only on the horizon, this is the closest you'll get to the Mushroom Kingdom locally for now. Admission is free; the only costs come from spending thresholds for passes and merch.
