By The Diary desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Singapore has four big festive street light-ups: Little India for Deepavali, Orchard Road for Christmas, Chinatown for Chinese New Year, and Geylang Serai for Hari Raya. All are free and switched on after dark. Little India’s usually runs from September or October until just after Deepavali, which falls on 8 November in 2026. Orchard Road lights up from around early to mid-November until New Year’s Day.
Quick facts
- There are four major light-ups, one for each big festival.
- All are free.
- Lights usually come on at about 7pm.
- Deepavali 2026 is on 8 November.
- Orchard Road’s 2025 light-up ran from 8 November to 1 January.
- Geylang Serai’s light-up has run every Hari Raya since 1985.
When does each one run?
| Light-up | Where | Usually | Latest dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepavali | Little India: Serangoon Road and Race Course Road | September or October until just after Deepavali | 2025: 6 September to 9 November. Deepavali 2026: 8 November |
| Christmas on A Great Street | Orchard Road, Tanglin to Dhoby Ghaut | Early to mid-November until New Year | 2025: 8 November to 1 January |
| Chinese New Year | Chinatown | The weeks before Chinese New Year and into the festival | Chinese New Year 2027: 6–7 February |
| Hari Raya | Geylang Serai | Through Ramadan to Hari Raya | 2026: until 30 March |
Little India for Deepavali
Serangoon Road and Race Course Road are strung with lights and arches. In 2025 they ran from 7pm to midnight daily, and until 1am at weekends. The Deepavali Festival Village alongside sells ethnic wear, jewellery, decorations and festive snacks.
Orchard Road for Christmas
Christmas on A Great Street covers 3.1km of Orchard Road, from Tanglin to Dhoby Ghaut, with lit arches, festive villages and light projections. In 2025 it switched on on 8 November and ran for 55 days, to 1 January 2026, with a Christmas Eve street party on roads closed to traffic.
Chinatown for Chinese New Year
Chinatown’s streets are lit in the weeks before Chinese New Year, which falls on 6 and 7 February in 2027. It’s busiest in the final week before the festival, when the street market is at its fullest.
Geylang Serai for Hari Raya
First lit in 1985, the Geylang Serai light-up runs through Ramadan alongside the bazaar, where visitors of every background join the breaking of fast. The 2026 light-up ran until 30 March. In past years the lights have been on from 7pm to midnight, with extended hours on the eve of Hari Raya.
How to see them
- Go on a weeknight; weekends and festival eves are the most crowded.
- Take the MRT: to Little India, to Somerset or Dhoby Ghaut for Orchard, to Chinatown, or to Paya Lebar for Geylang Serai.
- Arrive just after 7pm for photos before the crowds build.
- Eat at the bazaar or market that runs alongside each light-up.
The WahLiao Verdict
Go on a weeknight, go by MRT, and eat at the bazaar rather than before it. Each light-up is free, and each shows you a different part of the city at its best.
Questions people ask
Are the light-ups free?
Yes. They’re street displays open to everyone.
When do the lights come on each night?
Usually at about 7pm, running until midnight or later at weekends.
When does Orchard Road light up in 2026?
Check the official announcement. In 2025 the lights went on on 8 November, and they usually run until New Year’s Day.
Which is the busiest?
Each is busiest in the final days before its festival and on the eve itself.
Sources: SG101, Illuminating Geylang Serai (March 2026); Time Out Singapore on Orchard Road’s 2025 light-up and the Geylang Serai light-up; Little Steps Asia on Deepavali events; Park Hotel Group on festive celebrations; Secret Singapore on 2027 public holidays.
Read next: Chinese New Year in Singapore · MRT and Bus Fares in Singapore · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
