NDP 2026 to return to National Stadium after 10 years

The National Day Parade (NDP) in 2026 will be held at the National Stadium, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Aug 19.

This means that more Singaporeans will be able to watch the parade as the 55,000-seat stadium has a larger capacity than the Padang, which can accommodate 27,000 spectators.

The NDP was last held at the new National Stadium in 2016 - the only time it took place there after the venue opened in 2014.

The last NDP held at the old National Stadium was in 2006, before it closed in 2007 and was demolished in 2010 to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub.

The 2026 parade will mark 50 years since the NDP was first held at the old National Stadium.

In July 2022, Dr Ng Eng Hen, who was then Defence Minister, hinted that future NDPs could be held at the National Stadium.

To mark Singapore's 60th year of independence in 2025, some 27,000 people attended the NDP at the Padang on Aug 9; another 200,000 enjoyed the extended celebrations in Marina Bay.

Mr Chan, who was speaking at an NDP 2025 appreciation function held at the Surbana Jurong Campus in Cleantech Loop, said: "We were last there (at the National Stadium) almost 10 years back... Next year, we will try something new."

He added: "It will be a fresh venue, and we will have fresh ideas, fresh performances.

"I invite all of us here to contribute ideas on how we can make the SG61 NDP at the Sports Hub a special and meaningful experience for everyone."

Mr Chan said it takes 15 months for each NDP executive committee to prepare for a parade, and the process of thinking about the 2026 edition got under way even before the 2025 parade.

During the appreciation function, Mr Chan gave out awards to 148 principal partners and 31 gold award recipients for their contributions to NDP 2025.

The principal partners included the Tote Board, biscuit producer Khong Guan, the Land Transport Authority and telecommunications company Singtel. The gold award recipients included Mr Boo Junfeng, creative director of NDP 2025, and Dr Sydney Tan, the parade's music director.

Chief of Defence Force Aaron Beng handed out 400 other awards at the function.

In his speech, Mr Chan, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Public Services, thanked the many volunteers and participants who put NDP 2025 together.

Noting that many marvelled at how the parade came together, he said: "At every rehearsal, there are perhaps 27,000 audience members, but behind the 27,000... There are many more - tens of thousands of people behind the scenes - from the sponsors to the logistics team, to the traffic marshals, to the people in command and control centres, making sure that everything goes on like clockwork."

He added that the NDP is also a powerful statement of the values that Singaporeans hold dear.

Noting that parade organisers will try to present something new each time, Mr Chan said this signals to the world that "we are a people who are constantly striving for innovation, for excellence".

The countless rehearsals by the performers and participants are also a reflection of a people who persevere, he added.

Mr Chan said: "I received a lot of congratulatory messages after every rehearsal and after the actual NDP, and my humble answer to everyone was 'thank you very much (and) we will improve next year' because that's the standard that we set (for) ourselves."

He noted that the most recent NDP demonstrated the spirit of inclusiveness, with everyday Singaporeans participating in it.

The parade, he said, presented everyday, ordinary Singaporeans coming together to do extraordinary things.

Mr Chan added: "For us, we will include everyone - from the little to the lost and to those with the least.

"And this is the spirit of Singapore, where we build a nation not just for any select group of people. It is a Singapore for all, including the most vulnerable."