By The Diary desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February. Because the second day is a Sunday, Monday 8 February is a public holiday too. Most hawker stalls run by Chinese families close on the first day; more reopen on the second, and some stay shut longer. Supermarkets close early on the eve and run shorter hours on the first days, and many shops close. Malls, big attractions and the airport mostly stay open, and they get busy.
Quick facts
- Chinese New Year 2027: 6 and 7 February, with Monday 8 February off in lieu.
- Many hawker stalls close on day one; more open on day two.
- Supermarkets close early on the eve and keep shorter hours on the first days.
- Most attractions and big malls stay open.
- By day three, most places are back to normal.
- Some businesses reopen only on an auspicious day later on.
What closes?
Most hawker stalls run by Chinese families close on the first day, because the hawkers are out visiting relatives. More stalls reopen on the second day, but some take a longer break and only reopen on an auspicious day later in the new year. Many shops close on the first two days too. One retail chain’s 2026 schedule, for example, closed most of its stores on days one and two, keeping only its airport and a handful of mall outlets open.
What stays open?
Most big shopping centres, attractions and the airport stay open, though prices and crowds rise because it’s a public holiday for everyone. Supermarkets open with reduced hours. In a past year, FairPrice closed most stores at 5pm on the eve and the first day while its 24-hour stores ran as usual, and Sheng Siong opened 26 outlets from 8am to 6pm on the first two days. Hawkers and shops that don’t celebrate the festival often stay open.
How long before things are normal?
The first two days are the quietest. In recent years, most supermarkets and shops have returned to normal hours from the third day. Individual stalls vary, and the ones that wait for an auspicious date can stay shut for a week or more.
How to plan around it
- Do your grocery run before the eve, when supermarkets close early.
- Book reunion dinners well ahead.
- On day one, eat at malls, hotels and fast-food chains.
- Save the hawker crawl for day three or later.
- Check your favourite stall’s signboard in the week before; most post their break.
The WahLiao Verdict
Shop before the eve’s early closing, eat at the malls on day one, and don’t plan a hawker crawl until day three. If you’re visiting, the quiet streets and the lights are worth seeing, but the food scene isn’t at full strength.
Questions people ask
Why is Monday 8 February 2027 a holiday?
The second day of Chinese New Year falls on a Sunday, so the following Monday is a public holiday.
Are attractions open?
Most are, and they’re busy. Expect public-holiday pricing where it applies.
Why do some stalls reopen on odd dates?
Some owners wait for a day they consider auspicious to start the year’s business.
When do the Chinatown lights go up?
In the weeks before the festival; the festive light-ups guide on this desk has the pattern.
Sources: Secret Singapore, 2027 public holidays; The Occasional Traveller on Chinese New Year opening patterns; Women’s Weekly Singapore on supermarket hours over the holiday; Eu Yan Sang, 2026 store hours.
Read next: Singapore Public Holidays and the Long Weekends · How a Hawker Centre Works · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
