The best New Year's Eve parties and events in Singapore

What is it? A free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve precinct takeover with concerts, activities, and fireworks at Kallang. 

Why go? It’s the biggest, buzziest countdown event in town, sans the ticket stress. The Kallang comes alive with free activities from 7pm – think puppet shows, kids mass dance party, pop-up glam bars, and roving performances. The headline moment is a 35-minute, four-part fireworks spectacular over the Kallang Basin, with the first five-minute burst scheduled at 9pm so the little ones can catch the dazzling fireworks before turning in for the night. Its capped by a midnight finale alongside a live performance by K-pop legends Super Junior. 

What is it? A month-long Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebration along the scenic Marina Bay waterfront. 

Why go? If you love Christmas as much as NYE, this is the all-in-one festive bash for you. Marina Bay starts the festivities early with Togetherland by World Christmas Market at Bayfront Event Space. The carnival rides and Christmas twinkle are just a prelude to the big bang, though: think free live music performance at The Esplanade, nightly light projections on the facade of The Fullerton Hotel, and spectacular fireworks – a full 30 minutes! – set-up as an immersive, 360-degree experience to back up an hour-long musical segment. 

What is it? Singapore’s first large-scale indoor New Year’s bash with mega stars, 360-degree LED singalongs, and a festival village. 

Why go? You get to ring in the new year in air-conditioned comfort, for one. But here’s the main draw: some seriously big acts will be headlining the show – think K-pop legend Rain, Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo, and Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau. Get ready to belt your lungs out to their hits alongside an immersive LED singalong experience before hitting the festival village for Instagram-worthy photo ops, interactive games, flashy installations, merch drops and more. 

What is it? A free youth-focused shindig featuring up-and-coming artistes, tarot reading, and cocktails. 

Why go? For some serious street cred, duh. Jokes aside, this year-end event is the perfect opportunity to dive into the local and regional music scene. Get down and diggity with indie, alternative, and hip-hop music by homegrown names like Abangsapau and Sobs, and artists from neighbouring countries like Door Plant (Thailand) and Reality Club (Indonesia). Between sets, shop for eclectic art and accessories at the pop-up market or swig craft cocktails, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks.