For the first time in 24 years, Chinatown will not feature its usual large-scale Mid-Autumn lantern displays. Instead, the festival will spotlight community-made lanterns, handwritten wishes and a lantern procession from 11 September to 4 October 2026.
The Chinatown Festival Committee explained that such displays were rare in Singapore when the tradition began 24 years ago. Now that similar installations can be found at Gardens by the Bay and Jurong Lake Gardens, the festival is shifting its focus back to the community.
Don’t Miss The Festival’s Main Celebration
The main celebration, “Light a Lantern, Share Your Blessing”, begins at 6pm on Saturday, 19 September, at Kreta Ayer Square. Visitors can join a community lantern procession, enjoy mooncakes and tea, and solve lantern riddles in Singapore’s four official languages.
A Lantern Design Competition will also be held at Kreta Ayer Community Club. The multilingual riddles add a uniquely Singaporean spin to the centuries-old tradition, giving families a fun reason to compare answers.
Add Your Blessing To A Lantern
From 11 September to 4 October, visitors can write their well-wishes on lanterns at designated booths at Kreta Ayer Community Club and selected grassroots events. The lanterns will then be progressively added to community displays at Kreta Ayer Square and Banda Street.
Immerse Yourself In Traditional Arts And Culture
Smith Street will host an afternoon of cultural activities from 2pm to 5pm on 19 September, featuring lion dance and wushu performances, a lantern-making talk, ukulele music, community singing and heritage games.
Visitors can also try paper cutting, calligraphy, handmade crafts and fan dyeing. The Lantern Painting Competition is open to children aged seven to 12. Registration may be required, so check availability before visiting.
Chinatown Point Adds Arcade Games And An Uncle Ringo Carnival
Chinatown Point is also hosting Pixel Moon, giving families a weatherproof gaming stop between the outdoor festivities. Its main attraction is the Pixel Moon Arcade, presented by Timezone at the Level 1 Indoor Atrium from 14 September. Until 30 September, visitors can purchase S$100 in game credits for S$50, subject to terms and conditions.
The fun continues when Uncle Ringo brings its carnival experience to the mall from 28 September to 11 October. Pixel Moon also features mooncake promotions and a sure-win Lantern Scratch Card for shoppers who spend at least S$88 across three same-day receipts. Shoppers can receive an additional card with any receipt issued after 6pm. Redemptions are limited to one per shopper per day, while prizes are subject to availability.
