The Deepavali Istana Open House 2026 will take place this Sunday, 1 November 2026, from 10 am to 8 pm (last entry at 6.30 pm. For the first time, visitors can look forward to a narrated Changing of Guards ceremony held in conjunction with an Istana Open House, an evening outdoor concert, and a range of cultural performances and activities for all ages.
There will also be a Community Marketplace organised by the Singapore Business Federation Foundation that will showcase inclusive employment support and practices, and feature booths by community organisations.
Deepavali Istana Open House 2026 Highlights
YEAR-END CAMPS: Give Your Child's Language Skills A Boost With Themed Camps
Changing of Guard Ceremony with Live Narration
The Changing of Guards Ceremony, accompanied by live narration offers insights into this longstanding military tradition.
The ceremony marks the formal handover of sentry duties from outgoing to incoming guards, reflecting the discipline, pride and honour of the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command.
Visitors can also enjoy a performance by the SAF Ceremonial Band and synchronised rifle drills by the Silent Precision Drill Squad.
Performances and Activity Booths
Additionally, visitors to the Deepavali Istana Open House 2026 can look forward to a diverse lineup of music, dance and cultural performances.
These will be held throughout the day before ending in an evening outdoor concert.
Look forward to acts such as homegrown singer-songwriters Ahmadul Amin and Heema Izzati, as well as performing groups from Project #JalanJalan, Extraordinary People, Micron and Quantedge.
Students from Singapore Polytechnic will also present Dikir Barat and Malay dance performances.
Here’s a look at the schedule of performances and the activity booths that will at the Istana Open House.
|
Time |
Activity |
Venue |
|
Performances |
||
|
11.00am to 1.00pm |
|
Main Tent (next to Activity Tent) |
|
2.30pm |
|
Main Tent (next to Activity Tent) |
|
3.30pm to 5.45pm |
|
Outdoor Concert Stage (near Japanese Garden) |
|
6.30pm to 8.00pm |
|
|
|
1.00pm to 4.00pm |
Street Performances by Project #JalanJalan – HCI String Orchestra, Three Thirds, Sam & Aleesha, Northbound, Strawberry with Chocolate, The Chefs and NYSE |
Centre Gate (beside Food Tent) |
|
6.30pm to 7.00pm |
Changing of Guards |
Main Gate |
|
Activity Booths |
||
|
10.00am to 7.00pm |
All proceeds from admission to the Istana grounds, Istana Heritage Tour and the State Gifts Display will go towards benefitting programmes supported by the President’s Challenge. Proceeds from the Social Service Agencies’ booths will go to the respective agencies. |
Main Tent and Activity Tent |
Community Marketplace
The Singapore Business Federation Foundation will also be holding a Community Marketplace featuring community organisations and inclusive employers, highlighting their efforts to support vulnerable individuals and foster a more inclusive society.
Visitors can take part in hands-on activities and learn more about the community organisations at the Community Marketplace.
Participating organisations include:
- Inclus, which supports persons with disabilities in finding meaningful employment;
- New Hope Community Services, which provides shelter and employment support for disadvantaged individuals and families; and
- the Caregiving Welfare Association (CWA), which supports seniors and their caregivers.
Reading Space
The National Library & Archives Board has been launching a lot of initiatives recently and they will also have a presence at the Deepavali Istana Open House 2026.
Visitors can enjoy a dedicated reading space as part of its ReadSG initiative. This will feature a selection of books recommended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Ms Jane Ittogi.
Visitors can browse the recommended titles, participate in reading-related activities, including joining the ReadSG Challenge, and redeem limited-edition “I Read at the Istana” collectibles.
NLB’s mobile library, MOLLY, will be onsite for visitors to borrow books. Independent bookstore the Book Bar will also offer books for sale.
Istana Stamp Rally
The Istana Stamp Rally, developed in partnership with Singapore Polytechnic, will return with newly designed stamps for visitors to collect.
Suitable for all ages, the student-led initiative encourages visitors to explore different parts of the Istana grounds through activities at designated pitstops, where they can collect unique stamps and redeem exclusive Istana merchandise upon completion.
The stamp rally offers a fun and interactive way for families and friends to explore the Istana together.
Food and Beverages
Food and beverage stalls will be available at the Istana Open House.
However, take note that only cashless payments via Credit/Debit Cards or QR Codewill be accepted.
Admission to the Istana Open House for Deepavali 2026
Entry to the Istana grounds will be by foot via the Main Gate at Orchard Road.
Entry to the Istana grounds is free for Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and migrant domestic workers accompanying families.
Other visitors are required to pay an admission fee of $20 per adult and $10 per child (4 to 12 years old).
Additional fees apply for other activities, such as the guided Istana Heritage Tour and visiting the Istana Villa.
If you are planning a visit, here are some places and things that you can expect at the Istana Open House.
