NDP 2025 guide
Every Singaporean knows that this year’s NDP is gonna be a special one. After all, it’s our beloved Little Red Dot’s 60th birthday, and if the string of celebratory SG60 payouts and vouchers are indicative of anything, it’s that this year’s festivities are bound to be next level.
Whether you’re planning to ballot for parade tickets, or gather your friends and fam for a private viewing from home, here’s a comprehensive NDP 2025 guide to get you all prepped for 9th August.
Where will NDP 2025 be held?
NDP 2024.
Like last year’s parade, NDP 2025’s main show will be held at the Padang. However, its festivities will stretch across a larger space than last year’s, with performances held all the way at Marina Bay as well.
At the Bay, audiences will be able to catch fireworks and performances on a mobile floating stage, all of which will be synced with the main show happening at the Padang.
How to get to the Padang?
| Colour of Seating Area | Nearest MRT Station(s) | Directions |
| Blue | Raffles Place station (EW line & NS line) or Clarke Quay station | Take Exit H from Raffles Place station and walk along Fullerton Road to Anderson Bridge. Cross the bridge to arrive at the Padang. Alternatively, take Exit A from Clarke Quay station, walk along the Singapore River and turn left at Victoria Concert Hall towards the Padang. |
| Green | Esplanade station (Circle line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Esplanade Drive. |
| Yellow | Esplanade station (Circle line) or City Hall station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Stamford Road. Alternatively, take Exit A from City Hall station and walk towards the Padang via Stamford Road. |
| Red | City Hall station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit B at City Hall station and walk towards Parliament Plaza. |
What is NDP 2025’s theme?
NDP 2025’s theme is a phrase that any true blue Singaporean would be familiar with – Majulah Singapura. Yep, the name of our very own National Anthem. The phrase, which means “Onward Singapore” in Malay, is a definitely fitting one for our diamond jubilee.
This year’s NDP logo.
Image credit: MINDEF
Similarly, this year’s logo design plays on the parade’s theme, with a “60” graphic that doubles as a “Go”, accompanied by five stars representing our nation’s core ideals – democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.
When are the NDP 2025 rehearsals?
Besides the main show on 9th August 2025, there are a bunch of NE shows and previews to catch prior. These include NE shows on 28th June, 5th July, 12th July, and 19th July; as well as previews on 26th July and 2nd August.
The rehearsals begin at roughly 5.30pm, and end close to 8.30pm after the fireworks display at 8.15pm. If you’re keen on catching the ’works IRL, check out our guide to fireworks viewing spots for this year’s show.
What will the NDP 2025 programme entail?
This year’s programme will be divided into 4 segments: the Pre-Parade, Parade & Ceremony (P&C), Mobile Column, and The Show.
Don’t be fooled by the term “pre-parade”; this part of the programme is just as exciting. This year, it’ll open with an original composition and music video, which will transition from the screen to a live dance performance.
Red Lions parachuting into Padang last year.
During this segment, we’ll also get to watch the Red Lions and Republic of Singapore’s Navy divers parachute into the Padang and Marina Bay respectively.
Next up, the parade and ceremony. Aside from yearly traditions like the State Flag Flypast, Salute to the Nation, and Presidential Gun Salute, NDP 2025’s P&C segment will feature a special aerial tribute by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), as well as the largest number of contingents to date.
GIF adapted from: Huy
Keep your eyes peeled for The Mobile Column as well, which is making its comeback to the Padang for the first time since 2019. Audiences will get to watch a drive-by of SAF and Home Team assets, accompanied by an aerial flypast over the Padang, and a maritime display at the Bay.
As for the highly anticipated show segment, NDP 2025’s line-up already sounds like a real treat for those of us who love belting out NDP bangers. There’ll be 4 acts to enjoy this year, each inspired by a verse from the National Anthem – very fitting for our Majulah Singapura theme indeed. Here, we’ll be greeted by familiar faces behind some of our fave NDP songs, including artistes like Charlie Lim, Dick Lee, Kit Chan, and Rahimah Rahim.
What’s the NDP 2025 theme song?
We can’t talk about National Day without discussing the NDP 2025 theme song. Titled “Here We Are”, this year’s track is performed by Charlie Lim, Kit Chan, and The Island Voices.
Co-written by Charlie Lim, Chok Kerong, and produced by Dr Sydney Tan, the song is a reflective ballad that fans of bops like Home and In A Heartbeat would love.
Where else to celebrate NDP 2025 besides the Padang & Marina Bay?
PSA: The National Day festivities don’t begin and end on the 9th of August. Starting 1st August, there’ll be NDP celebrations held across various locations in the heartlands.
Depending on where you stay, some events you can consider attending include:
| Region | Location | Event | Date | Price |
| North | Canberra CC | National Day movie screening of Inside Out 2 | 1st Aug 2025 | Free |
| East | Tampines East CC | National Day carnival with Old Chang Kee food truck | 3rd Aug 2025 | $8/pax |
| North-East | Kallang CC | Observance Ceremony and family carnival | 16th Aug 2025 | $5/pax |
| Central | Bukit Timah CC | Live screening of NDP ceremony | 9th Aug 2025 | $2/pax |
| West | Clementi | National Day Walk a Jog 2025 | 9th Aug 2025 | $5/pax |
For the full list of NDP celebrations in the heartlands, do refer to our full guide here.
Aside from heartland celebrations, you’ll also be able to ring in SG60 with a tonne of themed events all around Singapore.
A bunch of them take place in the central area, like the upcoming Bay Discovery Trail with SG-themed activity stations near the ArtScience Museum, and National Museum celebrations, which includes a new LEGO exhibition and nightly National Day-themed facade light-up.
Elsewhere on our island, there’re also exciting happenings to catch, like Changi Airport’s SG60 celebrations – featuring a special Light & Music showcase at the Rain Vortex – and Mandai’s Wild about SG60 event, where visitors can snap pictures at photo spots documenting iconic moments in Mandai’s history.
For the full rundown of SG60-themed events around Singapore, check out our National Day-themed activities guide.
Celebrate SG60 at NDP 2025
National Day is just around the corner now, and it’s prime time to start donning our red-and-whites to celebrate. Whether you’ve got tickets to this year’s parade, or are planning to celebrate at events near your home, there’s no shortage of happenings to show off your national spirit.
More National Day spirit:
- Ranking of NDP fun packs over the years
- Memorable NDP moments
- Things SG kids experienced during P5 NDP Preview
Photography by Huy Pham.