National Day Singapore 2027 and 2028

National Day in Singapore 2027 and 2028

National Day in Singapore falls on Monday, 9 August 2027. It is a gazetted public holiday, the date never changes, and in 2027 it creates a three-day weekend with no annual leave needed.

National Day Singapore Dates for 2027 and 2028

National Day is fixed on 9 August every year. It is one of Singapore’s eleven gazetted public holidays under the Ministry of Manpower and it does not move, unlike Hari Raya Puasa, Good Friday or Deepavali.

The 2027 date is confirmed in the Ministry of Manpower’s official public holiday announcement for 2027. The 2028 date is certain because National Day is a fixed calendar date, although the formal gazette is normally published around the middle of the preceding year.

Is National Day a Public Holiday in Singapore?

Yes. National Day Singapore is a gazetted public holiday for all employees covered by the Employment Act. If 9 August falls on a day you would normally work, you are entitled to a paid day off.

National Day 2027 Gives You a Three-Day Weekend

9 August 2027 falls on a Monday, so Saturday, Sunday and Monday are all off without touching your annual leave.

If you want longer, four days of leave from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 August turn it into a nine-day break running Saturday 7 August to Sunday 15 August. August is otherwise an empty month in the Singapore holiday calendar, so this is worth planning early.

What Happens When National Day Falls on a Weekend?

If National Day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday, 10 August, is gazetted as a public holiday in its place. This happened in 2026.

If it falls on a Saturday and Saturday is a non-working day for you, your employer must give you either a day off in lieu or one extra day of salary. This was the case in 2025, when Singapore also marked SG60.

Neither applies in 2027, when National Day already falls on a Monday.

Working on National Day Singapore: Pay and Time Off

If your employer requires you to work on National Day, the Employment Act entitles you to one of the following:

• An extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay, on top of your gross rate of pay for that day
• A day off in lieu, taken on a mutually agreed date
• For managers and executives, time off in lieu of a duration agreed with the employer

Part-time employees receive pro-rated public holiday benefits based on their contracted hours.

What Is the National Day Singapore Parade?

The National Day Parade, usually shortened to NDP, is Singapore’s main National Day celebration and one of the largest annual events in the country.

The show combines a military and civil contingent parade, an aerial flypast by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, a mobile column of military vehicles in some years, a mass display performance, the recitation of the National Pledge, the singing of Majulah Singapura, and a fireworks finale.

The parade rotates between the Marina Bay Floating Platform, the Padang and the National Stadium at Kallang, with heartland celebrations held at the same time across the island. Venue and ticketing details are announced each year by the NDP organising committee, generally from around April.

How Do You Get National Day Parade Tickets?

NDP tickets are never sold. They are distributed free through a public ballot open to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, usually held in May or June. Successful applicants are notified by SMS.

Preview shows are staged on the two Saturdays before 9 August and are balloted separately, with the same free-ticket rule.

If you miss the ballot, the parade is broadcast live on national television and streamed online, and the fireworks are visible from public areas around Marina Bay.

Where to Watch the National Day Fireworks

• Marina Bay waterfront promenade — closest free viewing, extremely crowded
• Merlion Park and Esplanade Bridge — strong skyline framing, fills up early
• Marina Barrage — open lawn, popular with families
• Gardens by the Bay East — distant but calm, clear view across the water
• Heartland celebration sites — smaller displays across the island with far smaller crowds

What Is Open or Closed on National Day?

• Shopping malls and supermarkets — open on normal hours
• Restaurants, cafes and hawker centres — mostly open
• Banks and government offices — closed
• Schools — closed
• Attractions, museums and parks — open and busy
• Roads around the parade venue — partial closures from the afternoon

Does Public Transport Operate on National Day?

Yes. MRT and buses run on the normal public holiday schedule, and services near the parade venue are usually extended late into the night to clear crowds after the fireworks.

Expect heavy congestion at City Hall, Raffles Place, Bayfront, Esplanade and Promenade MRT stations from late afternoon onwards. Driving into the Marina Bay area is not practical on the day.

Previous National Day Dates

A Short History of Singapore’s National Day

National Day marks 9 August 1965, the day Singapore separated from Malaysia and became an independent, sovereign nation. The separation was announced that morning, and Singapore was admitted to the United Nations the following month.

The first National Day Parade was held at the Padang in 1966, one year after independence, and it has been held every year since. Over the decades it grew from a straightforward military parade into the large-scale civic and cultural production it is today.

The National Day Rally, delivered by the Prime Minister a few weeks after the parade, has become one of the most closely watched political events of the Singapore calendar, and is where major policy directions are typically announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is National Day always on 9 August in Singapore?

Yes. Unlike Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali or Good Friday, National Day is a fixed date and falls on 9 August every year.

Is National Day a public holiday in 2027?

Yes. Monday 9 August 2027 is a gazetted public holiday and creates a three-day weekend.

When is National Day 2028?

Wednesday, 9 August 2028. It falls midweek, so leave is needed to extend it.

What happens if National Day falls on a Sunday?

The following Monday, 10 August, becomes a public holiday in its place. This last happened in 2026.

Do I get paid extra if I work on National Day?

Yes. You are entitled to an extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay, or a day off in lieu.

Are National Day Parade tickets free?

Yes. Tickets are distributed free through a public ballot open to citizens and permanent residents. They are never sold.

Can tourists attend the National Day Parade?

The ballot is limited to citizens and permanent residents, but visitors can watch the fireworks from public areas around Marina Bay and follow the live broadcast.

Are shops open on National Day?

Most malls, supermarkets and restaurants stay open on normal hours. Banks, government offices and schools are closed.

Is National Day Eve a half-day in Singapore?

There is no statutory half-day on 8 August. Some employers release staff early by choice, but it is not a legal entitlement.

What is the best free place to watch the NDP fireworks?

The Marina Bay promenade and Merlion Park give the closest views. Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay East are calmer alternatives.

Last verified against the Ministry of Manpower’s official public holiday announcement on 1 September 2026. Written and reviewed by Mudassar Nazar.