National Day 2026 at Changi and Jewel: The SG61 Long-Weekend Guide
Singapore turns 61 on 9 August 2026, and Changi Airport plus Jewel Changi are running one of the biggest National Day programmes on the island. From 23 July through the long-weekend finale on 10 August, the public areas of Terminals 1 to 4 and the Jewel atrium host free mascot meet-and-greets, a multi-terminal stamp hunt, giant floral installations, a nightly Rain Vortex light show set to Kit Chan's "Home", live NDP screening, and 1-for-1 Canopy Park tickets. Most of it is free, and the few paid pieces are deliberately priced for families.
This guide walks through what is actually worth queueing for, what is free, and the four-day window in early August when the offers stack on top of each other.
Free Mascot Meet-and-Greets and the Live NDP Screening at ST3PS
The anchor of the National Day weekend is ST3PS, the entertainment hub at Terminal 3 Basement 2. On Saturday 8 August the Minions appear for photos, and on Sunday 9 August it is My Little Pony. Both sessions run as part of a National Day Weekend Special, 1:00pm to 2:30pm on the Saturday and 4:00pm to 5:30pm on the Sunday, with free goodie bags, stage games with prizes, and live music from local performers. Changi Rewards members who spend at least $50 at the airport can also claim a complimentary professional photo pass.
On 9 August, ST3PS shows the full National Day Parade live on the giant digital screen. It is air-conditioned, surrounded by food outlets, and avoids the outdoor heat of the Padang crowd. Travellers passing through Terminal 3 Transit on 8 August from 8:00pm to 10:00pm get a separate Charlie Lim concert and a live typewriter poetry station where passengers can pick up custom postcards.
Peranakan Heritage Experience on the Canopy Bridge
Up at Jewel Level 5, the Peranakan Heritage Experience runs in partnership with Baba Nyonya Restaurant. The ticket includes dress-up in traditional Peranakan attire for photos on the Canopy Bridge, a hands-on bookmark-making workshop, and a traditional food sampling platter. It also covers standard entry to Canopy Park and the Canopy Bridge, plus a $5 retail voucher. Pricing starts from $46 per person. It is the one genuinely paid cultural activity in the programme, and the only one that gives you access to the Canopy Bridge for a structured photo session rather than the usual free-roam.
The Buddy Bear Stamp Hunt Across All Four Terminals
The Buddy Bear Stamp Hunt is the activity that actually gets kids walking through the airport. Families collect six distinct stamps hidden across Terminals 1 to 4 and Jewel. To unlock the hunt you need a minimum spend of $28 at Hub and Spoke Cafe, Gift by Changi Airport, or the Changi Experience Studio. Complete all six stamps and you redeem a limited-edition Buddy Bear keychain. Budget roughly two to three hours if you are walking it with young children, and factor in the free T4 shuttle bus if you want to avoid the walk between terminals.
Four-Metre Vandas and a Six-Metre Bougainvillea Tree
The terminal horticultural displays are free to view and run throughout the programme. The standout is a four-metre-tall Vanda Miss Joaquim installation with moving kinetic butterflies in the Terminal 3 Departure Hall, and a six-metre-tall illuminated bougainvillea tree in the Terminal 2 Departure Hall. Floral installations celebrating Singapore's heritage are scattered across all four terminals, and they double as backdrops for family photos without any queue.
At Jewel, the Rain Vortex runs a limited-edition nightly light show throughout August. The water and light choreography is set entirely to Kit Chan's "Home", the 1998 National Day song. Shows run in the evening once it is dark, and the viewing is free from the Forest Valley railings on Levels 2 and 3.
2XGST Weekends and the 1-for-1 Canopy Park Window
The 2XGST promotion gives shoppers a double tax-absorption discount, effectively 9 percent plus 9 percent savings, with a minimum spend of $30 in a single receipt at more than 35 retail outlets in the public areas of Terminals 1 to 4. It runs across three consecutive weekends: 24 to 26 July, 31 July to 2 August, and 7 to 9 August.
The most valuable layered deal is the 1-for-1 Canopy Park offer for Singapore residents, which runs only 7 to 10 August. Pair that with a free ST3PS mascot session and a 2XGST shopping window on the same day and you get a full morning-to-evening itinerary at a fraction of the usual cost. Across Terminals 2 and 3, Singapore-inspired character pop-ups with Snoopy, Sanrio, and Ang Ku Kueh Girl also run from mid-July through September, with nostalgic photo spots and a retro Mamak Shop setup.
Practical Details
- Dates: 23 July 2026 onwards; 2XGST weekends 24 to 26 July, 31 July to 2 August, and 7 to 9 August; NDP live screening 9 August; 1-for-1 Canopy Park 7 to 10 August 2026
- Time: ST3PS mascot sessions 1:00pm to 2:30pm on 8 August and 4:00pm to 5:30pm on 9 August; Charlie Lim concert 8:00pm to 10:00pm on 8 August; Rain Vortex light show nightly after dark throughout August
- Venue: Changi Airport Terminals 1 to 4 public areas and Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666. ST3PS at Terminal 3 Basement 2. Peranakan Heritage Experience at Jewel Level 5. Floral displays across T1 to T4 Departure Halls.
- Nearest MRT: Changi Airport MRT (EWL East-West Line and CGA Changi Airport branch line). Terminal 4 via free shuttle bus from T2.
- Price: Most activities free. Peranakan Heritage Experience from $46 per person (includes Canopy Park and Canopy Bridge entry plus $5 retail voucher). Buddy Bear Stamp Hunt unlocked with $28 minimum spend at Hub and Spoke, Gift by Changi Airport, or Changi Experience Studio. 2XGST requires $30 minimum spend in a single receipt at participating outlets. 1-for-1 Canopy Park for Singapore residents 7 to 10 August. Changi Rewards professional photo pass with $50 minimum spend.
- Website: jewelchangiairport.com and changiairport.com/en/happenings
