Welcome in a prosperous new year with a host of festivities across Singapore

Chingay Parade Singapore — Credit: Chingay Parade SG/Facebook

Whether you’ve been to Singapore before or are visiting for the very first time, January is a unique time to explore, thanks to Chinese New Year celebrations taking place at the end of the month. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse - an intense zodiac sign that onyl occurs once every 60 years.

For new year, visitors can look forward to an array of parties, parades and fun. Locals traditionally give and receive red envelopes labelled ‘Fú’, meaning good luck, pay respect to ancestors at temples and enjoy traditional dishes, like nian gao (sweet rice cakes) and pineapple tarts.

Every year at the start of February, Singapore hosts the Chingay Parade, which began as a Chinese New Year celebration but has evolved into an exciting annual festival featuring dazzling displays, performances and more.

Also taking place for the Chinese New Year is River Hongbao, Singapore’s largest event to welcome in a new year. The event will be held at Gardens by the Bay and feature interactive exhibits, street food, fairground rides and firecracker shows.

River Hongbao Singapore 2024 — Credit: River Hongbao/Facebook

Tip: If you want to truly celebrate like a local, try yusheng. This dish usually consists of raw fish slices and shredded vegetables. Once the meal has been assembled, diners use chopsticks to ‘toss’ the dish while sharing words of prosperity for the year ahead - it usually gets a little messy, but that’s all part of the fun.

Singapore’s Chinatown will also host its own New Year events, with impressive sculptures and lanterns on display and a countdown party at Banda Street carpark.

For visitors keen to mix sightseeing with ushering in the new year, the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay will be featuring Spring Blossoms, a magnificent flower display inspired by the Legend of the White Snake. There will be a 4.5m tall representation of the protagonist, Madam White Snake and a sea of thousands of colourful blossoms to bring the story to life.