By The Diary desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
National Day Parade tickets are free and allocated by ballot, not sold. Citizens and PRs apply on the official NDP website with Singpass during a window that usually opens in May, asking for two, four or six tickets to one show: the parade itself or one of two previews. In 2026, applications ran from 23 May to 6 June and results went out in mid-June. If you miss out, the rehearsals and previews have fireworks too, the parade is broadcast live, and there are free vantage points near the venue.
Quick facts
- Tickets are free and allocated by ballot.
- Citizens and PRs apply with Singpass on the official NDP website.
- You apply for two, four or six tickets, for one show.
- The ballot usually opens in late May, with results in mid-June.
- Rehearsals, NE Shows and previews also end in fireworks.
- The fireworks move with the venue.
How does the ballot work?
You log in with Singpass on the official NDP website while the application window is open, then choose two, four or six tickets and one of three shows: the first preview, the second preview or the parade on 9 August. Tickets go by ballot, not first come, first served, so there’s no advantage in applying on the first minute. You must be a Singapore citizen or PR to apply.
What are the rehearsals, NE Shows and previews?
The parade is rehearsed in full on Saturdays from late June. In 2026, the combined rehearsals were on 27 June and 4 July. The National Education Shows, for students, were on 11 and 18 July, and the previews on 25 July and 1 August. All of them end with fireworks, usually from about 7.30pm with a finale between about 8.10pm and 8.30pm.
Where can I watch for free?
It depends on the venue. When the parade is at the Padang, the main fireworks go off over Marina Bay, and the waterfront around the bay fills up. In 2026 the parade returned to the National Stadium for the first time in ten years, and the fireworks moved to the Kallang Basin; the Stadium Riverside Walk and Tanjong Rhu Promenade were the popular free spots. Arrive by about 7pm on preview weekends and on National Day itself.
Other ways to join in
- Watch the live broadcast on Mediacorp’s Channel 5, mewatch, or NDPeeps’ YouTube and Facebook channels.
- Enter the separate ballots for community celebrations, such as NTUC’s NDP Bay Festival at Promontory @ Marina Bay.
- Collect a free national flag from a community club from late June.
The WahLiao Verdict
Enter the ballot for a preview rather than the parade, since the show is the same. If you miss out, a Saturday rehearsal from a waterfront spot gives you the fireworks without the crowds of 9 August.
Questions people ask
Can I buy NDP tickets?
No. They’re free and only allocated by ballot, so don’t pay anyone who offers to sell you one.
Can visitors apply?
No. The ballot is open to Singapore citizens and PRs.
When is the next ballot?
Dates are announced each year; in recent years the window has opened in late May. Check the official NDP website from April.
Where will the parade be next year?
The venue changes, so check the official announcement. The best free vantage points follow it.
Sources: GetGo, NDP 2026 guide; Little Day Out, where to watch the NDP 2026 fireworks; TheSmartLocal on NDP 2026 ticket balloting and free viewing spots; Trevallog on Marina Bay fireworks in Padang years; HoneyKids Asia on National Day family events.
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