Celebrate Deepavali 2026 at the Istana Open House, Singapore Open to public’s
Singapore residents and visitors will have an opportunity to explore one of the country’s most important landmarks as the Istana opens its grounds to the public on Sunday, 1 November 2026, ahead of Deepavali celebrations.
The special Istana Open House 2026 will feature cultural performances, music, family-friendly activities, a community marketplace and a special Changing of Guards ceremony. Visitors can also explore the beautiful Istana grounds and learn more about Singapore’s history and heritage.
The Istana is the official residence of Singapore’s President. Its grounds are traditionally opened to the public on selected occasions, including Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day, National Day and Deepavali.
| Event Details | Information |
| Event | Istana Open House 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, 1 November 2026 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Last Entry | 6:30 PM |
| Location | The Istana, Orchard Road, Singapore |
| Nearest MRT | Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station |
| Entry Gate | Main Gate, Orchard Road |
| Organiser | The Istana / President’s Office |
Ticket Prices and Admission Fees
One of the main benefits of the Istana Open House is free admission for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
However, visitors who do not fall into these categories must pay the standard admission charges.
| Visitor Category | Singapore Citizens & PRs | Standard Admission |
| Adults | Free | S$20 |
| Children (4–12 years) | Free | S$10 |
| Children below 4 years | Free | Free |
Migrant domestic workers accompanying families are also included in the free-entry arrangement for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Istana Villa Entry Fees
Visitors who wish to explore the Istana Villa must pay an additional admission fee. The Villa offers a self-guided visit, allowing visitors to discover its interior and view selected State Gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders.
| Category | Singapore Citizens & PRs | Standard Admission |
| Adults | S$2 | S$10 |
| Children (4–12 years) | S$2 | S$5 |
| Children below 4 years | Free | Free |
Payment information:
- All admission fees collected are non-refundable.
- Payments support the beneficiaries of the President’s Challenge.
- Only cashless payments are accepted.
- Visitors can pay using credit cards, debit cards and QR codes.
Payment Methods Accepted at Istana Open House
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, JCB, Bank of China, Citibank, DBS, HSBC, ICBC, Maybank, OCBC, PayNow, Standard Chartered, and UOB.
Food and Beverages
Food and beverage stalls will be available at the Istana Open House. Visitors should note that only cashless payments are accepted, including credit cards, debit cards and QR code payments.
What you see at Istana Open House 2026?
The Istana Open House provides more than an opportunity to visit the presidential grounds. Visitors can also explore selected experiences and participate in activities organised during the event.
1. Special Changing of Guards Ceremony
For the first time at an Istana Open House, the Changing of Guards ceremony will feature live narration.
The ceremony will provide visitors with a better understanding of this military tradition, which represents the formal handover of sentry duties between outgoing and incoming guards.
The programme will also include performances by the Singapore Armed Forces Ceremonial Band and the Silent Precision Drill Squad.
- Scheduled time: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
2. Cultural Performances and Live Music
Visitors can enjoy music, dance and cultural performances throughout the day. Some of the featured performers include:
- Ahmadul Amin
- Heema Izzati
- Project #JalanJalan
- Extraordinary People
- Micron
- Quantedge
- Singapore Polytechnic students performing Dikir Barat and Malay dance.
An outdoor concert will take place near the Japanese Garden in the evening, providing another highlight for visitors.
3. Family-Friendly Activities and Workshops
Families visiting the Istana can participate in various interactive activities and workshops.
Some of the planned activities include:
- Henna painting.
- Face painting.
- Scent pouch workshops.
- Storytelling sessions.
- Basketball games.
- DIY Drip Bear workshops.
- Bouncy castles.
- Reading activities and book displays.
- Istana Stamp Rally.
These activities provide entertainment for children and adults throughout the day.
4. Community Marketplace
A Community Marketplace organised by the Singapore Business Federation Foundation (SBFF) will showcase community organisations and inclusive employment initiatives.
Visitors can learn about organisations supporting persons with disabilities, seniors, caregivers and disadvantaged families. The marketplace will also feature community booths, merchandise, crafts and other activities.
5. Istana Stamp Rally
The Istana Stamp Rally, organised in partnership with Singapore Polytechnic, will return with newly designed stamps.
Visitors can explore different areas of the Istana grounds, collect stamps at designated locations and redeem exclusive Istana merchandise after completing the activity.
- Activity hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
- Registration closes at 4:30 PM.
Can Visitors Explore the Istana Villa?
Yes. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the Istana Villa between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM, with the last entry at 5:00 PM.
- The Villa tour provides an opportunity to view a collection of State Gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders.
- Additional admission charges apply.
Please note that the Istana Main Building is currently closed for restoration and will not be open to visitors until further notice.
List of Programme for Istana Open House
| Time | Activity | Venue |
| Performances | ||
| 11.00am to 1.00pm | Dance and Music Performance by Micron | Main Tent (next to Activity Tent) |
| Band Performance by Quantedge | ||
| Music Performance by Extraordinary People | ||
| Dikir Barat and Malay Dance Performance by Singapore Polytechnic | ||
| 2.30pm | My Little Chingay Float Storytelling by People’s Association | Main Tent (next to Activity Tent) |
| 3.30pm to 5.45pm | Raffles Institution School Choir – Raffles Voices | Outdoor Concert Stage (near Japanese Garden) |
| Raffles Institution String Ensemble – Raffles String Ensemble | ||
| Hwa Chong Institution Song Writing Pop Band – Weyoung | ||
| Cadence and Chaos Band | ||
| Ang Mo Kio Secondary School’s Concert Band | ||
| Traditional Indian Performance featuring Vocal accompaniment and Sitar – Parampara | ||
| Jazz Band – jazzE | ||
| Pop Band – Fourteen Aces | ||
| 6.30pm to 8.00pm | Ahmadul Amin | |
| Project #JalanJalan – Daydreamer | ||
| Heema Izzati | ||
| 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 | Scent Pouch Workshop by NParks | Main Tent and Activity Tent |
| Storytelling by Krayonkecil | ||
| Basketball Game, DIY Drip Bear Workshop and Bouncy Castles by Families for Life, Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) | ||
| Face Painting by Smiling Unicorn Face Painting | ||
| Henna Painting by The Henna Story | ||
| Sugar Smart Card games/quizzes by Diabetes Singapore | ||
| Sales of merchandise/Activity by Friends of the Disabled Society | ||
| Sales of merchandise by Children’s Cancer Foundation | ||
| Interactive activity and information booth by Football Plus | ||
| Outreach and information booth by CARINGSG | ||
| Sales of merchandise, crafts, and baked goods by APSN | ||
| NLB Mobile Library, Reading Space and ReadSG Activation by NLB | ||
| Sales of books by Book Bar | ||
| 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. | ||
| 8.30am to 6.00pm | Community Marketplace | Community Marketplace Tent (close to Activity Tent) |
| AM (Inclusive Hiring) | ||
| New Hope Community Services | ||
| Singapore Association for Mental Health | ||
| Inclus | ||
| VolunteerInc./SBFF | ||
| Daughters of Tomorrow | ||
| Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations (ABLE) | ||
| Centre for Seniors | ||
| Yellow Ribbon Singapore | ||
| Bizlink Centre Singapore | ||
| Caregiving Welfare Association | ||
| TOUCH Community Services | ||
| PM (Community Bazaar) | ||
| Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore | ||
| Guide Dogs Singapore | ||
| The Circular Classroom | ||
| Singapore Red Cross | ||
| Montfort Care | ||
| Caregiving Welfare Association | ||
| It’s Raining Raincoats | ||
| Extraordinary People | ||
| JOURNEY | ||
| Rainbow Centre | ||
| 10.00am to 6.00pm | Istana Stamp Rally* by Singapore Polytechnic | Meeting Point (located after security screening tentage) |
| *Registration closes at 4.30pm. | ||
| Guided Tours | ||
| 10.30am to 4.00pm | Istana Heritage Tour* | Meeting Point (located after security screening tentage) |
| *Tours start from 10.30am, with the last tour departing at 4.00pm. Pre-registration required. | ||
| Snacks and Merchandise | ||
| 10.00am to 7.00pm | Food Trucks | Near Food Tent |
| Old Chang Kee | ||
| Milo Van | ||
| Makan on Wheels | ||
| Food Stalls | Food Tent | |
| Potato Corner | ||
| Bettr Coffee | ||
| Soup Spoon | ||
| Playmade | ||
| The French American Bakery | ||
| Lee Wee Brothers | ||
| Mr Bean | ||
| Drinks Booths | Food Tent | |
How to Reach Istana Singapore?
The Istana is located along Orchard Road in Singapore.
Visitors can take the MRT to Dhoby Ghaut Station, which is the nearest MRT station to the venue.
From there, they can walk towards the Istana Main Gate along Orchard Road.
Entry location: Main Gate, Orchard Road, Singapore.
Important Things Visitors Should Know
Before visiting the Istana Open House 2026, keep these points in mind:
- Entry is through the Main Gate on Orchard Road.
- Last entry to the Istana grounds is at 6:30 PM.
- Credit/debit cards and QR code payments are accepted for paid admission and purchases.
- Food and beverage stalls will be available.
- The Istana Main Building remains closed for restoration.
- Guided Istana Heritage Tours require advance online registration.
- Entry may be restricted due to capacity limits or bad weather.
- The event will not proceed if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) exceeds 200.
Where you can Register to visit Istana Open House on Diwali 2026?
Visitors can check the official Istana website for the latest programme details, admission charges, tour information and visitor announcements. Visitors interested in workshops and guided experiences should check the official booking information for availability and registration requirements.
- Official Website: www.istana.gov.sg
- Istana Visit Information: go.gov.sg/visitistana
Visitor Rules and Security Information
Before visiting the Istana Open House, visitors should understand the security requirements and entry restrictions. The Istana grounds are a secured area, and all visitors are subject to security checks.
Items prohibited inside the Istana include:
- Pointed and sharp objects, including knives, forks and scissors.
- Flammable items such as lighters and aerosol sprays.
- Tripods.
- Canned food and drinks.
- Aerosol cans.
- There are no storage facilities at the Istana. Visitors carrying prohibited items may be denied entry.
- Other important visitor guidelines include:
- Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes are prohibited.
- Pets are not allowed, except certified guide dogs.
- Cycling, rollerblading and personal mobility devices are not permitted.
- Visitors should maintain good hygiene and keep the grounds clean.
- People feeling unwell are encouraged not to visit.
Haze and Weather Advisory for Istana Open House
The Istana may restrict, suspend or cancel public admission due to adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
According to the official haze advisory, the 1 November 2026 Open House will not proceed if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) exceeds 200, which is classified as Very Unhealthy.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own masks and check the latest PSI readings before travelling.
In the event of lightning risk, visitors may be asked to seek shelter at designated tentages. Avoid taking shelter under trees or canopies.
FAQs
1. When is the Istana Open House 2026 for Deepavali?
- The Istana Open House will take place on Sunday, 1 November 2026, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
2. Is entry to Istana Open House free?
- Yes. Entry is free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Other adult visitors must pay S$20, while children aged 4 to 12 pay S$10.
3. What is the last entry time for Istana Open House?
- The last entry to the Istana grounds is at 6:30 PM on 1 November 2026.
4. Which MRT station is closest to the Istana?
- Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station is the nearest MRT station. Visitors can walk to the Istana Main Gate along Orchard Road.
5. Can visitors see the Changing of Guards ceremony?
- Yes. A special narrated Changing of Guards ceremony will take place from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
6. Is the Istana Main Building open to visitors?
- No. The Istana Main Building is currently closed for restoration and is not open to the public until further notice.
Final Words
The Istana Open House on 1 November 2026 is a special opportunity to explore Singapore’s presidential grounds during the Deepavali season. With free entry for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, additional Villa visits and selected family-friendly experiences, it is worth including in your Singapore weekend plans.
