NDP 2026: Live music, exhibitions and photo spots to draw crowds to Kallang

SINGAPORE – Those heading to the Kallang precinct on Saturdays in the lead-up to National Day can expect more than just a glimpse of the rehearsals for the upcoming parade.

Singapore will celebrate its 61st year of independence at the National Stadium on Aug 9.

Live music featuring familiar favourites and songs from the National Day Parade (NDP) album will fill the area around the National Stadium, along with interactive exhibitions, dance performances and light installations, as organisers bring the celebrations beyond the parade venue. 

All the activities will be held on July 25, Aug 1 and Aug 9.

Among the highlights is a light installation along the Stadium Riverside Walk, offering visitors a photo opportunity inspired by the 2026 NDP theme: “Majulah Singapura, Go Beyond!”

The installation will be open daily from July 25 to Aug 9.

The Majulah Zone, presented by Defence Collective Singapore, marks the 60th anniversary of the National Pledge with an exhibition on its origins and continued relevance.

Visitors can also take part in interactive activities and pose for photos at a themed photo booth. The zone will be open at the Water Sports Centre on July 25, Aug 1 and Aug 9 from 3pm to 9.30pm.

A showcase titled WE Perform, WE Go Beyond will feature live music and dance by performers across generations.

The performances will take place at Kallang Wave Mall, Level 1, on July 25, Aug 1 and Aug 9 from 4pm to 6pm.

Elsewhere, DJs and buskers will perform National Day favourites alongside songs from the 2026 NDP album, while NDP mascots will make appearances to engage the crowd.

The music performances will be held on July 25 and Aug 9 from 4pm to 6pm, and again from 8.15pm to 9.30pm, around the Stadium MRT station exits.

The mascots will also be on hand on July 25, Aug 1 and Aug 9 from 4pm to 6pm, and again from 8.15pm to 9.30pm, around the National Stadium and the waterfront.

On National Day and parade rehearsal days, people in the Kallang Basin area will also be able to catch the state flag fly-past and the Presidential Gun Salute from outside the National Stadium.

For the first time, both will take place over Kallang Basin, bringing the segments closer to those gathered across the wider precinct.

The gun salute will take place during the President’s inspection of the parade.

This article was originally published on The Straits Times. Its inclusion on this website is solely for education purposes.