NDP 2026: Crowds soak up the atmosphere around the National Stadium and Kallang Basin
Thousands of Singaporeans gathered around the National Stadium to celebrate the 2026 National Day Parade. Despite the heat, families and individuals arrived early to secure spots for the festivities and fireworks display.
Why it matters
The event serves as a significant cultural touchstone for Singaporean national identity and community cohesion.
Listen SINGAPORE – Despite the relentless afternoon heat, empty spaces around the National Stadium and along the Kallang Basin quickly filled up with picnic mats, foldable chairs and ice coolers as around 20,000 people staked out their spots ahead of the National Day Parade on Aug 9 .
Many said they were looking forward to the main fireworks display at 8.15pm.
Among them was Ho Kien Mun, 57, who arrived alone at 1pm and set up his red-and-white chequered picnic mat on the bank of the Kallang Basin, close to Nicoll Highway MRT station.
Ho Kien Mun (back row) with (first row, from left) Ang Shihui, Yifan, Duoduo, Yiji, (second row, from left) Zhang Sijuan, Li Ting, Jacky Wang, (third row, from left) Dan Na Wu and Howard Yang.
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