NDP 2026: Crowds soak up the atmosphere around the National Stadium and Kallang Basin
Many said they were looking forward to the main fireworks display at 8.15pm.
Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) drew large crowds to the National Stadium and Kallang Basin on August 9, despite the hot afternoon weather. Picnic mats, foldable chairs, and ice coolers were set up in advance, with many attendees eager to witness the main fireworks display at 8:15pm. Ho Kien Mun, a 57-year-old business development director, arrived early to stake his claim with a red-and-white checkered picnic mat on the Kallang Basin shore, excited about the marching commands and feu de joie.
Ong Rui Yang, 46, and his family returned to the area after a decade, bringing their children to join the festivities. The NDP will be held in the National Stadium for the first time since 2016, accommodating about 42,000 spectators. Authorities and police maintained order as people queued for tickets. Non-Singaporeans such as Joy Garcia, a Filipino stay-at-home mum, and Karan Singh, an Australian visitor, also joined the crowds to share in Singapore's multicultural atmosphere and enjoy the fireworks.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
