Chinese New Year Dates for 2027 and 2028

The 2027 dates are confirmed in the official Ministry of Manpower public holiday announcement.

You can also view the complete Singapore public holidays 2027 calendar and the currently available Singapore public holidays 2028 calendar.

Previous Chinese New Year Dates

The earlier dates can be compared with our complete Singapore public holidays 2026 calendar.

Is Chinese New Year a Public Holiday in Singapore?

Yes. The first and second days of Chinese New Year are gazetted public holidays in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower lists both days separately among the country’s 11 paid public holidays.

Employees covered by the Employment Act are generally entitled to paid public holidays. When a public holiday falls on a rest day, the next working day becomes a paid holiday.

When it falls on a non-working day, an eligible employee should receive another day off or an extra day’s salary. The exact arrangement depends on the employee’s regular working schedule.

💼 For 2027: Saturday, 6 February may be a non-working day for employees on a standard five-day week. Sunday, 7 February is commonly the rest day, so Monday, 8 February becomes the paid public holiday.

Any additional day off for the Saturday holiday should be arranged with the employer. It is not automatically fixed on Tuesday. Employees can check the official MOM public holiday entitlement guide for the rules applying to their situation.

Does Chinese New Year Create a Long Weekend in 2027?

For many people, yes. The confirmed Monday holiday creates a three-day Chinese New Year weekend from Saturday, 6 February to Monday, 8 February 2027.

Employees who receive another day off because the first day falls on Saturday may be able to extend their break. The date of that additional day depends on the arrangement with their employer.

Check your company calendar before booking flights or accommodation. Families should also compare their plans with the Singapore school holidays, as school breaks do not always match public holiday dates.

Is Chinese New Year’s Eve a Public Holiday?

No. Chinese New Year’s Eve is not a gazetted public holiday in Singapore. There is also no statutory right to a half-day.

Some employers allow staff to finish early so they can attend reunion dinners. However, this is a workplace arrangement rather than a nationwide public holiday rule.

What Is Open or Closed During Chinese New Year?

Government offices, schools and many banks normally close during the two Chinese New Year public holidays.

Some family-run shops, hawker stalls and restaurants may also close or operate for shorter hours. Closures are more common on the first day, although every business makes its own decision.

Malls, supermarkets, hotels, attractions and larger food outlets may remain open. However, opening hours can vary between businesses and individual branches.

🛍️ Check directly with the restaurant, attraction, supermarket or outlet before visiting. Do not assume that every business follows the same Chinese New Year schedule.

Does Public Transport Operate During Chinese New Year?

Yes. Singapore’s public transport generally continues to operate during Chinese New Year.

Train and bus timings, last-service times and routes may be adjusted around Chinese New Year’s Eve, Chinatown celebrations and other major events.

Passengers should check announcements from the relevant transport operator before travelling. The 2027 transport arrangements should not be assumed from schedules published in previous years.

How Chinese New Year Is Celebrated in Singapore

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, centres on family reunion, good wishes and welcoming a fresh start.

Families commonly gather for a reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve. During the festive period, people visit relatives through a tradition known as bai nian, exchange mandarin oranges and give red packets to younger family members.

🧧 A particularly popular Singapore tradition is lo hei. Diners toss yusheng, a colourful raw-fish salad, while saying auspicious phrases connected with prosperity, togetherness and good fortune.

Popular festive foods also include bak kwa, pineapple tarts and love letters. These foods are commonly shared at home, given as gifts or served during visits.

Public celebrations usually include Chinatown decorations, River Hongbao and Chingay. Event dates, locations and programmes can change each year, so visitors should check the official Visit Singapore Chinese New Year guide before attending.

A Short History of Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new year in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Its date changes each year on the Gregorian calendar, usually falling in January or February.

The wider festive period lasts for 15 days, although Singapore’s statutory public holiday covers the first two days.

Reunion dinners, red packets, home visits and auspicious greetings remain central to the celebration. Over generations, traditions brought by different Chinese communities have also developed a distinctly Singaporean character.

The communal tossing of yusheng has become particularly associated with Singapore and Malaysia. More information is available from the National Heritage Board’s Chinese New Year cultural resource.

Frequently Asked Questions