Deepavali lands on Sunday 8 November in 2026, with the public holiday observed the Monday after — and Singapore is pulling out all the stops. The centrepiece is Little India, where more than two kilometres of lights run along Serangoon Road, with arches and displays glowing nightly from 7pm to midnight until 29 November.
The Indian Heritage Centre is running its annual open house from 17 October to 8 November under the theme House of Memories. Expect heirloom saris lent by community members, a vintage photo booth where you can dress in traditional attire, mithai-box decorating and clay brooch painting. There's a weekend bazaar for festive goods and clothing, free guided tours of the permanent galleries every Saturday at 7pm, and a miniature painting workshop on 31 October and 1 November for S$28. Entry to the open house itself is free.
Along Campbell Lane, the Festival Village runs until 8 November with stalls selling Indian clothing, handicrafts and snacks. On 31 October the neighbourhood goes all in: a free clay diya painting workshop at Tekka Place from 2pm to 4pm (registration required), followed by Sangeetham Under The Stars — live Carnatic music, fusion acts and Bollywood favourites on Campbell Lane from 8pm to 10pm.
For something you can't usually do, head to the Istana on 1 November for its Deepavali Open House, 10am to 8pm. This year brings the first-ever narrated Changing of Guards ceremony, complete with the Singapore Armed Forces Ceremonial Band and the Silent Precision Drill Squad. You can wander the gardens, do the stamp rally, tour Istana Villa to see state gifts, and catch cultural performances and an evening concert. It's free for citizens and permanent residents; other visitors pay S$20 per adult or S$10 per child.
Families with young kids have an option too: fashion label Nimbu hosts a two-hour craft afternoon at DORS on Orchard Road on 1 November, 2pm to 4pm, where children make a mosaic coaster, an air-dry clay diya and a peacock decoration to take home. It's S$20 per child or S$35 for two siblings, booked in advance.
Food-focused travellers should book the 7 November session at the Museum of Food in Joo Chiat. Chef Shalu Asnani leads Pasar to Table 3.0: A Sindhi Diwali, a communal cooking class exploring the traditions of Singapore's Sindhi community, many of whom arrived after the 1947 Partition. You'll shop fresh ingredients at Jalan Tua Kong Wet Market, cook family-style Sindhi dishes, then eat together. It runs 11.30am to 2pm and costs S$68 plus a small booking fee.
The appeal here goes beyond the Hindu community — in multicultural Singapore, Deepavali doubles as an open invitation to explore Indian heritage, from music and crafts to recipes rarely seen outside home kitchens. With the lights staying up until 29 November, you have a generous window to catch the festivities even if you can't make the holiday weekend itself. Full details via the original SilverKris guide.
