By The Diary desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
The Singapore festivals 2027 calendar opens with Thaipusam on Friday 22 January and Chinese New Year on Saturday 6 February, then Hari Raya Puasa on Wednesday 10 March, Good Friday on 26 March, Hari Raya Haji on Monday 17 May and Vesak Day on Thursday 20 May. After National Day on Monday 9 August come the Hungry Ghost Festival (peaking on 16 August), the Mid-Autumn Festival on Wednesday 15 September, Deepavali on Thursday 28 October and Christmas on Saturday 25 December. Only some are public holidays: Thaipusam, Qingming, the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn are not. Public holiday dates below are MOM’s; the others follow the lunar and Hindu calendars.
One small island, four calendars and a year full of light, food and colour. Here is the whole year on one page, so you can plan the outings, and the leave.
Quick facts
- Public holidays in 2027: 11 days, from New Year’s Day (Fri 1 Jan) to Christmas (Sat 25 Dec).
- Chinese New Year: Sat 6 and Sun 7 Feb, with Mon 8 Feb a public holiday because the second day is a Sunday.
- Not public holidays: Thaipusam, Lantern Festival, Qingming, Dragon Boat, Hungry Ghost and Mid-Autumn.
- Saturday holidays: Labour Day (1 May) and Christmas (25 Dec) fall on Saturdays, so there is no Monday holiday after them; if Saturday is your rest day, check your employer’s policy and MOM’s rules on days off in lieu.
- Long weekends: New Year, CNY, Good Friday, Hari Raya Haji and National Day.
- Event dates: parades, light-ups and bazaars are announced by organisers nearer the time.
The 2027 festival calendar
| Date (2027) | Festival | Public holiday? | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Yes | Countdown fireworks the night before |
| Fri 22 Jan | Thaipusam | No | Kavadi procession from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple |
| Sat 6 Feb | Chinese New Year | Yes (Sat 6, Sun 7; Mon 8 off) | Chinatown light-up and bazaar, River Hongbao, Chingay |
| Sat 20 Feb | Lantern Festival (Chap Goh Mei) | No | Last night of the CNY season |
| Wed 10 Mar | Hari Raya Puasa | Yes | Geylang Serai light-up and Ramadan bazaar in the weeks before |
| Fri 26 Mar | Good Friday (Easter Sunday 28 Mar) | Yes | Church services |
| Mon 5 Apr | Qingming | No | Families visit columbaria in the weeks around it |
| Sat 1 May | Labour Day | Yes | – |
| Mon 17 May | Hari Raya Haji | Yes | Prayers and korban at mosques |
| Thu 20 May | Vesak Day | Yes | Temple visits and candlelit processions |
| Wed 9 Jun | Dragon Boat Festival | No | Rice dumplings; boat races in some years |
| Mon 9 Aug | National Day | Yes | Parade, rehearsals and fireworks |
| Mon 16 Aug | Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan) | No | Getai stages and offerings through the seventh lunar month |
| Wed 15 Sep | Mid-Autumn Festival | No | Lanterns and mooncakes; Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay celebrations |
| Thu 28 Oct | Deepavali | Yes | Little India light-up and festive bazaar |
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Yes | Orchard Road light-up from November |
Lunar and Hindu festival dates are calculated from their calendars and can differ by a day between sources; temples and community bodies confirm the exact day. Ramadan, the fasting month before Hari Raya Puasa, is expected to start in the second week of February 2027, with MUIS confirming the date.
What are the big events in each season?
January to March is the busiest stretch. Thaipusam’s procession walks from the temple on Serangoon Road to the temple on Tank Road. Chinese New Year brings the Chinatown street light-up, River Hongbao by the bay and the Chingay Parade. In 2026 Chingay was held on 27 and 28 February at the F1 Pit Building, with tickets from S$20 to S$60; 2027 dates have not been announced. Ramadan and Hari Raya then fill Geylang Serai with lights and food. Singapore Art Week also runs in January.
April to August is quieter on the streets but full of meaning: Easter, Qingming, Vesak, Hari Raya Haji, the Dragon Boat Festival, and then National Day with its parade and fireworks. The seventh lunar month, around the Hungry Ghost Festival, brings getai concerts to estates across the island.
September to December glows. Mid-Autumn lanterns light up Chinatown and the gardens, Little India dresses for Deepavali, and Orchard Road switches on its Christmas lights before the year ends with the Marina Bay countdown.
How to plan your 2027 festival year
- Mark the public holidays first. Five long weekends shape the year: New Year (Fri 1 Jan), CNY (Sat 6 to Mon 8 Feb), Good Friday (26 Mar), Hari Raya Haji (Mon 17 May) and National Day (Mon 9 Aug).
- Add the non-holiday festivals. Thaipusam, Qingming and Mid-Autumn fall on working days, so plan an evening rather than a day.
- Watch for event announcements. Chingay tickets, light-up switch-ons and bazaar dates usually come out weeks to months ahead.
- Expect closures. Many hawkers and shops close over CNY; check before you go.
- Go on weekdays. Light-ups and bazaars are calmer on weekday evenings.
The WahLiao Verdict
Pick one festival from each community you do not belong to and go properly: watch the Thaipusam procession at dawn, walk Geylang Serai during Ramadan, light a lantern at Mid-Autumn and wander Little India the week before Deepavali. Book leave around the long weekends early, especially CNY and National Day, and leave the rest of the calendar for unhurried evenings. It is the best free education Singapore offers.
Questions people ask
Is Thaipusam a public holiday in Singapore?
No. Thaipusam is not on MOM’s public holiday list. In 2027 it falls on Friday 22 January.
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027. Because the second day is a Sunday, Monday 8 February is a public holiday.
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2027?
Wednesday 15 September 2027, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is not a public holiday.
When is Deepavali 2027?
Thursday 28 October 2027, a public holiday. The Little India light-up usually starts several weeks before.
Sources: Ministry of Manpower, public holidays 2027; Drik Panchang, Thaipusam 2027 date; StudyCLI, 2027 Chinese festival dates; Sassy Mama, Chingay 2026 dates and tickets. The Diary explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Singapore Public Holidays 2027 and the Long Weekends · Festive Light-Ups in Singapore · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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