Senior School International Day 2026

Written by Harry A and Arki L (Year 12)

Senior School International Day 2026 was a vibrant celebration of the 55 nationalities that make up Tanglin’s diverse and vibrant student body. Organised by a committee of students with support from teachers, the event brought together cultures, traditions and experiences from around the world in a truly memorable way.

At the heart of the celebration were more than 40 individual stalls, hosted across Senior School, with each stall offering a unique insight into a country’s heritage, from traditional food and dress to games and cultural displays. In addition, 10 countries hosted their own classrooms, transforming these spaces into immersive cultural experiences. One particularly popular room featured karaoke, where students came together to perform traditional songs and celebrate through music.

New for 2026 was the introduction of international sport. Students had the opportunity to take part in activities enjoyed across the globe, including cricket, futsal, basketball and table tennis. A standout addition was Buroinjin, an Indigenous Australian ball game from South Australia, which offered many students a completely new sporting experience.

The fair itself was a riot of colours and smells. The Senior learning areas came alive with colour, music, and the aromas of global cuisine as students dressed in traditional attire or national colours proudly represented their heritage. From the fragrant spices of Thai Pad Thai to the sweet flavours of Romanian baked biscuits, every corner offered something new to discover.
 

Students also enjoyed a high-energy assembly featuring traditional Indian dance and Chinese musical pieces, and even a special Hari Raya performance performed by Mr Famie Sulliman, Tanglin Musical Technical Executive (and lead singer of the well-known, local band, The Pinholes), performing “Besok Oh Yeah” alongside Middle School students who had been preparing the piece especially for the occasion.

International Day continues to be a highlight in the Senior School calendar, celebrating not only cultural diversity but also the spirit of collaboration and community that defines Tanglin.
 

 

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Student Reflections

Korea – Lena B (Year 10)
“Managing the Korean stall during International Day was an incredible experience, especially seeing how our culture acted as a bridge to bring people together. It was truly amazing to see everyone engage with our culture and enjoy it through traditional games and foods.”

USA – Sadie H (Year 12)
“I, along with two others, ran the USA stall, and we saw a really enthusiastic reaction to the American snacks and the trivia game we created. We brought popcorn, cookies, donuts, necklaces and flags, and it was great to see others learning more about American pop culture while enjoying some well-known treats.”

Singapore – Nitya M (Year 12)
"Having the opportunity to host the Singapore stall was fantastic! I personally enjoyed the games we had, and the best food was the classic gem cookies that we brought in!"

Australia – Ysabel H (Year 12)
"Running the Australian International Day stall at school was a really fun and memorable experience. I enjoyed meeting new people and learning new things while preparing for the stall. I made fairy bread, which turned out to be a huge hit with everyone — it was gone within seconds, so I think people really loved it. Overall, it was a great way to share a part of Australian culture with others."

England – Lily C (Year 12)
"I helped run the England stall during International Day, where I brought some homemade biscuits for the food batch. I also quizzed other students on English culture and gave them food prizes for getting it correct. I found this a really fun way to share my knowledge about my country. I also loved trying the food from the other stalls and learning about their different cultures."