Post by : Badri Ariffin

Singapore celebrated its 61st birthday on August 9, 2026, with about 42,000 people gathering at the National Stadium for the National Day Parade (NDP).

The event returned to the National Stadium for the first time in a decade. Despite the intense afternoon heat, spectators remained enthusiastic as they waited for the celebrations to begin.

Large crowds also gathered around the stadium and the Kallang Basin. Some people arrived early to secure spots for the fireworks, while others took photographs and met NDP mascots.

NDP 2026 Begins with Singalong and Flag Parade

The celebrations officially began at 6pm, with NDP regulars Joakim Gomez and Gurmit Singh joined by newcomers Hafidz Rahman, Udaya Soundari and Xixi Lim to lead the audience in a singalong.

The Singapore flag then took centre stage.

A film showed the national flag travelling across Singapore’s landmarks and heartlands before it entered the stadium, carried by Team Singapore athletes and para-athletes.

Among those taking part were Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu, kite-foiler Max Maeder and indoor skydiver Kai Minejima-Lee, along with student-athletes from the Singapore Sports School.

What Was Different About NDP 2026?

The 2026 National Day Parade introduced several changes to its traditional format. Popular segments such as the Red Lions and the aerial display were not included this year.

Instead, the parade featured 32 contingents, making it the largest civilian participation in more than a decade.

It also included the first contingent in recent years made entirely up of persons with disabilities.

Wheelchair users entered the stage through specially designed ramps, while Lim Lee Lee, who has a visual disability, was accompanied by her guide dog, Hesta.

The 21-member contingent was led by former para-athlete Yap Qian Yin, who won gold for Singapore in para-sailing at the 2014 Asian Para Games and the 2015 ASEAN Para Games.

Lawrence Wong and Tharman Shanmugaratnam Attend Parade

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam received loud cheers as they arrived at the National Stadium.

The audience stood for the National Anthem before watching the national flag being carried across the Kallang Basin by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

President Tharman, who served as the parade’s reviewing officer, reviewed the contingents as the traditional 21-gun salute was fired for the President. The salute was held at the Kallang Basin for the first time.

The ceremony was followed by the feu de joie, a ceremonial sequence whose name means “fire of joy”.

People’s Parade Highlights Singapore’s Communities

The parade then moved into the People’s Parade, which featured 18 floats.

The floats highlighted people and groups who protect, provide, create, build, care for others and uphold justice.

As daylight faded, the main show began. The production was led by creative director Brian Gothong Tan and involved more than 2,600 performers.

NDP Show Celebrates Singapore’s Heritage and Television History

One section focused on Singapore’s maritime heritage. Singer Asnida Daud opened the segment with Aok Diko, which means “Yes, of course” in the Orang Laut dialect.

She performed alongside 700 performers from Soka Gakkai Singapore, who carried large puppets representing native animals.

The show also used LED wristbands worn by members of the audience. The illuminated wristbands transformed the stadium stands into a moving display of light, images and text.

Another segment looked back at six decades of local television history, with Gurmit Singh returning to his well-known character Phua Chu Kang.

Jasmine Sokko Performs 30m Above Stadium Floor

Singer Jasmine Sokko delivered one of the evening’s major highlights when she descended from the stadium ceiling accompanied by two aerialists.

She performed her NDP song You’ll Be Okay while suspended 30m above the ground.

The performance was accompanied by a coordinated display involving 300 drones, drawing cheers and gasps from spectators.

61 Athletes and Coaches Join NDP Finale

The show reached its final stages with 61 coaches and athletes taking part in a performance of Iman Fandi’s Giants alongside a 61-member choir.

The segment marked Singapore’s 61st year of independence.

Gareth Fernandez and Dru Chen then performed Sparkle, the third song on this year’s NDP album.

The audience subsequently stood together to recite the National Pledge and sing the National Anthem.

Fireworks filled the sky over the Kallang Basin as the celebrations ended with the conclusion of the National Anthem.

Spectators Reflect on Singapore’s National Day

For some spectators, attending the parade in person made the celebration especially meaningful.

Aaris Pang, a 27-year-old early childhood educator who attended with her mother, said she was happy to have secured tickets for the event. It was her first time watching the National Day Parade at the National Stadium.

“I am proud of how Singapore has grown,” she said.

Dhanasekar Dhandapani, 48, attended with his brother, sister-in-law and niece. The IT professional, who has been a permanent resident for more than 20 years, said Singapore was home to his family and that attending the NDP felt like coming home.

Another spectator, Hajar Muhammad, 67, attended with her husband. She said watching the parade in person created a different atmosphere from seeing it on television and allowed people to experience the sense of pride and national spirit together.

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