Singapore Festivals & Events

A visitor's guide to Singapore festivals

Singapore festivals reflect the many cultures that live side by side here. Chinese, Malay, Indian and other communities each mark their own holidays. Visitors are welcome at most celebrations, and street light-ups and markets are often free to see.

The main festivals follow lunar or religious calendars, so the dates change every year. Check the official dates before you book flights or hotels. The Ministry of Manpower publishes the list of Singapore public holidays each year.

Major festivals through the year

Chinese New Year (January or February)

Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, is the biggest holiday of the year. In the weeks before, Chinatown is hung with lanterns and hosts a festive street market. People give red packets of money, called hongbao or ang bao, and share mandarin oranges. Many restaurants serve yusheng, a raw fish salad that diners toss together for good luck.

Some hawker stalls and small shops close for a few days at the start of the new year. Read What's Open During Chinese New Year in Singapore? before you plan your meals. Chingay, a large street parade, usually takes place soon after the new year.

Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji

Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month. During Ramadan, Geylang Serai, home to Geylang Serai Market, hosts a large evening bazaar with lights and food stalls. Kampong Glam, around Sultan Mosque, is also busy in the evenings. Hari Raya Haji comes about two months after Hari Raya Puasa. Both dates move earlier by around 11 days each year.

Deepavali (October or November)

Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights. In the weeks before, Little India puts up street lights along Serangoon Road. Stalls sell flowers, sweets, clothes and small oil lamps. Temples such as Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple are busy with worshippers, so visit quietly and dress modestly. Little India Temple Etiquette: What Visitors Should Know explains what to expect.

Christmas (December)

Orchard Road is lit up for Christmas from around November, and many malls set up large displays. Christmas Day is a public holiday. Churches such as St Andrew's Cathedral hold services, and the city centre stays busy all season.

National Day (9 August)

National Day celebrates Singapore's independence. The National Day Parade includes flypasts and fireworks. The parade venue can change, so check the official details. Many visitors watch the fireworks from public spaces around Marina Bay, which gets very crowded. Weekend rehearsals in the weeks before often show some of the same displays.

Singapore Grand Prix (usually September or October)

The Singapore Grand Prix is a Formula 1 night race on streets around Marina Bay. You need a ticket to enter the circuit area. Roads around Marina Bay and the Padang, a large field in the civic district, close for several days. Hotel rates nearby often rise that week, so book early or stay a few stops away on the MRT, the city's metro.

Other dates worth knowing

• Thaipusam (January or February): a Hindu festival with a long procession of devotees on foot, starting in Little India.
• Vesak Day (May or June): Buddhists mark the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. Temples such as Buddha Tooth Relic Temple welcome respectful visitors.
• Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October): lanterns light up Chinatown, and bakeries sell mooncakes, a rich filled pastry.

How festivals affect your trip

• Closures. Government offices and some small businesses close on public holidays. Malls, big attractions and most restaurants stay open.
• Prices. Hotel rates can rise during the Grand Prix, Chinese New Year and big concerts. Book ahead if your dates overlap.
• Transport. The MRT may run longer hours on some festival eves. Road closures are common around Marina Bay and Chinatown.
• Long weekends. Singapore has 11 public holidays a year. When one falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is usually a holiday too.

Where to stay for festivals

Stay close to the area you most want to see. For Chinese New Year, Chinatown hotels let you walk to the light-up and the street market. Browse hotels in Chinatown & Tanjong Pagar. For Deepavali, try hotels in Little India & Jalan Besar. For National Day fireworks and the Grand Prix, hotels in Marina Bay & CBD put you close to the action. Expect higher rates on those dates.

Planning a short trip around one event? The Perfect 3-Day Singapore Itinerary leaves room for festival evenings.

FAQs about Singapore festivals

When is Chinese New Year in Singapore?

It falls in late January or February, on the first day of the lunar calendar. The first two days are public holidays. Chinatown decorations go up several weeks earlier.

Can tourists join festival celebrations?

Yes. Light-ups, street markets and bazaars are open to all. At temples and mosques, dress modestly, remove your shoes where asked and stay quiet during prayers.

Are shops closed during Singapore festivals?

Most malls, attractions and chain restaurants stay open. Some family-run stalls close for a few days, mainly at Chinese New Year. Check opening details before you travel.

How do I find exact festival dates?

Dates change each year. Check the official public holiday list from the Ministry of Manpower and the event pages on Visit Singapore.