By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 29 September 2026

On most public holidays in Singapore, supermarkets open as usual. Chinese New Year is the big exception. In 2026, FairPrice kept about 36 outlets open round the clock on Chinese New Year eve while its other stores closed at 5pm, opened 156 stores on the first day, 42 of them for 24 hours, and extended selected FairPrice Xtra hypermarkets to 2am in the nights before. Other chains publish their own reduced festive hours. The rule for any festival is the same: check the chain’s announcement for that year, because the hours are set fresh each time.

The busiest shopping days are not the holidays themselves but the days just before them, when queues are longest and popular items sell out. Shop two or three days early if you can.

Holiday hours: quick facts

Most public holidays	Supermarkets usually open as normal; check your local branch
Chinese New Year eve 2026	About 36 FairPrice outlets open 24 hours; other FairPrice stores closed at 5pm
Chinese New Year day one 2026	156 FairPrice stores open, 42 of them for 24 hours
Before Chinese New Year 2026	Selected FairPrice Xtra outlets open until 2am from 12 to 15 February
Other chains	Publish their own festive hours; in past years, some closed early on the eve and opened only selected outlets on the first two days
Online orders	Usually continue over festivals, sometimes at reduced delivery capacity

The WahLiao Verdict

Cost	A minute checking the chain’s holiday hours before you go.
What you get	No wasted trip to a closed shop, and a calmer festive shop.
The alternative	A 24-hour outlet, or an online order placed well before the holiday.
Worth it for	Anyone cooking a reunion dinner, hosting over a long weekend, or shopping on a festival eve.
Skip it if	You shop at a 24-hour outlet and the holiday is not Chinese New Year.
Last verified	29 September 2026, against FairPrice Group’s announcements for Chinese New Year 2026 and published reporting. This page is updated before each major festival.

What usually happens at Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is the one festival when many supermarkets shorten their hours or close some branches. The pattern in recent years has been consistent:

• The days before: longer hours. In 2026, selected FairPrice Xtra hypermarkets stayed open until 2am from 12 to 15 February for reunion dinner shopping.
• The eve: most branches close early, typically in the late afternoon, while a set of 24-hour outlets stays open. In 2026, around 36 FairPrice outlets ran round the clock on the eve, and all other FairPrice stores closed at 5pm.
• The first day: many branches open, some with shorter hours. In 2026, 156 FairPrice stores opened on the first day, 42 of them for 24 hours.
• The second day: most chains resume normal hours, or open more branches than on the first day.

Other chains announce their own arrangements. In past years, for example, Sheng Siong closed all outlets in the late afternoon on the eve and opened a list of selected outlets with shorter hours on the first two days. Check each chain’s own announcement for the current year. For what else closes over the festival, from hawker stalls to clinics, see The Diary’s guide to what closes at Chinese New Year.

What about Christmas, New Year and other public holidays?

On most other public holidays, including Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, Vesak Day, Good Friday, Labour Day and National Day, supermarkets generally open as usual, though individual branches in malls or offices may follow their building’s hours. The days before Christmas and New Year’s Eve are busy, and some branches extend their hours. When in doubt, check the branch. Our public holidays guide lists the dates for the year ahead.

Where to check holiday hours

1. The chain’s website or app. FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Cold Storage and Giant publish festive hours, usually a week or two before Chinese New Year.
2. The store locator. It shows each branch’s hours, though festive changes may appear only in the announcement.
3. A map app’s “open now” filter, as a cross-check.
4. A phone call to the branch on the day, if it matters.

Round-the-clock outlets are the safest bet on festival evenings; our guide to 24-hour supermarkets explains which chains run them.

How to shop around a festival

• Buy dry goods and drinks a week early, when shelves are full and queues short.
• Buy fresh fish, meat and vegetables two or three days before, and store them properly.
• Order online early for delivery before the eve; festive delivery slots fill quickly.
• Watch for festive price freezes and promotions, which chains announce in the weeks before; see our guide to supermarket promotions.
• Remember the alcohol hours. Takeaway alcohol cannot be sold between 10.30pm and 7am, festival or not.

Frequently asked questions

Are supermarkets open on Chinese New Year in Singapore?

Many are. In 2026, 156 FairPrice stores opened on the first day, 42 of them for 24 hours. Most chains shorten hours or open selected branches; check each chain’s announcement for the year.

What time do supermarkets close on Chinese New Year eve?

Most branches close early, often in the late afternoon; in 2026, FairPrice stores closed at 5pm except for about 36 outlets that stayed open for 24 hours.

Are supermarkets open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day?

Generally yes, though branches in malls or offices may follow their building’s hours. Check your branch if unsure.

Can I order groceries online over Chinese New Year?

Usually yes, though delivery capacity may be reduced on the first days of the festival. Order early for delivery before the eve.

Where can I find a chain’s holiday opening hours?

On the chain’s website or app, in its festive announcement, and in its store locator.

Read next

This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with 24-hour supermarkets and festive hampers.

Sources checked 29 September 2026: FairPrice Group and NTUC reporting on Chinese New Year 2026 store hours (February 2026); FairPrice Group announcements on Chinese New Year hours in earlier years; published reporting on Sheng Siong’s festive hours in earlier years. Hours change each year; this page will be updated before each major festival. Last updated 29 September 2026.