SINGAPORE - The National Day Parade (NDP) in 2026 will be held at the National Stadium, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Aug 19.

This means that more Singaporeans will be able to watch the parade, as the 55,000-seat stadium has a larger capacity than the Padang, which can accommodate 27,000 spectators.

The NDP was last held at the new National Stadium in 2016 - the only time it was held there.

It will also commemorate 50 years since the NDP was first held at the old National Stadium , said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

To mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence in 2025, some 27,000 people attended the National Day Parade at the Padang on Aug 9, while another 200,000 enjoyed the

extended celebrations at Marina Bay

.

In July 2022, Mr Ng Eng Hen, who was Defence Minister then, hinted that

future NDPs could be held at the National Stadium

.

Mr Chan, who was speaking at an NDP 2025 appreciation function held at the Surbana Jurong Campus in Cleantech Loop on Aug 19, said: “We were last there almost 10 years back ... Next year, we will try something new.”

He added: “It will be a fresh venue, and we will have fresh ideas, fresh performances.”

“ I invite all of us here to contribute ideas on how we can make the SG61 NDP at the Sports Hub a special and meaningful experience for everyone.”

During the appreciation function, Mr Chan gave out awards to 148 principal partners and 33 g old a ward recipients for their contributions to NDP 2025.

Chief of Defence Force, Vice-Admiral Aaron Beng, handed out 400 other awards at the function.

In his speech, Mr Chan, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Public Services, thanked the many volunteers and participants who put NDP 2025 together.

Noting that many marvelled at how the parade came together, he said: “At every rehearsal (show), there are perhaps 27,000 audience members, but behind the 27,000 ... there are many more - tens of thousands of people behind the scenes - from the sponsors to the logistics team, to the traffic marshals, to the people in command and control centres, making sure that everything goes on like clockwork.”

He added that the NDP is also a powerful statement of the values that Singaporeans hold dear.

Noting that parade organisers will try to present something new each time, Mr Chan said this signals to the world that “we are a people who are constantly striving for innovation, for excellence”.

The countless rehearsals done by the performers and participants before the shows are also a reflection of a people who persevere, he said.

“I received a lot of congratulatory messages every year, after the rehearsal and after the actual NDP, and my humble answer to everyone was ‘thank you very much (and) we will improve next year’, because that’s the standard that we set (for) ourselves.”

Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing speaking at the appreciation function on Aug 19.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Mr Chan also noted that the most recent NDP demonstrated the spirit of inclusiveness, with everyday Singaporeans participating in the parade.

“We were prepared to present everyday, ordinary Singaporeans coming together to do extraordinary things.”

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