Forum: Will NDP at Sports Hub limit major events?

The hosting of National Day Parade (NDP) at the National Stadium in 2026 will enable more to enjoy the festivities (

NDP 2026 to be held at National Stadium to accommodate more Singaporeans

, Aug 20). But this could come at a significant opportunity cost.

As then Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong pointed out in 2022, there is a five- to seven-month lead time before and after the parade, where many of the facilities may be decked up for rehearsals and therefore unavailable.

This could set back the ministry’s plan to position Singapore as a preferred destination for entertainment and sports events. The National Stadium played host to only one major event in July to August 2025 – the Singapore Festival of Football. But 2026 may be different.

With 2025 and early 2026 set to see the release of albums from many A-list artistes including Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, BTS, and Sabrina Carpenter, we can expect that they would embark on world tours. If Sports Hub facilities are not available, they could choose to skip Singapore altogether, as no other venue of comparable scale exists.

While the Sports Hub is now managed by Sport Singapore and high rental costs are no longer an issue, have the long-term opportunity costs of using the National Stadium for NDP 2026 been fully considered?

Ryan Goh