Singapore National Day

Singapore National Day is observed every year on August 9 to commemorate the country's independence from Malaysia in 1965. This holiday includes a National Day Parade, an address by Singapore's Prime Minister, and fireworks displays.

The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony held at The Float @ Marina Bay, the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub, or the Padang. For the first time, the Parade was held at The Float @ Marina Bay in 2007, and in 2016, it was held at the Singapore Sports Hub. The parade features performances based on the year's theme.

Since 1966, the National Day Message has been an annual tradition. The Prime Minister of Singapore "examines domestic and global developments, reviews economic performance and outlook, and outlines national priorities and government plans as he inspires Singaporeans to move forward with a unified sense of purpose" in each year's recorded message.

The Prime Minister of Singapore delivers an annual address to the nation on the second or third Sunday after National Day, known as the National Day Rally. Since 1966, the Prime Minister has used this rally to address the nation on its key challenges and future directions, similar to the President of the United States' State of the Union Address. Prior to 2005, the rally consisted of a continuous speech beginning at 8 p.m. Since 2005, the Malay and Chinese versions have been delivered at 6.45 p.m., with a 7.30 p.m. break, while the English version has been delivered at 8 p.m. Since 2007, opposition MPs have been invited to the rally.

Fireworks displays are also part of the National Day celebrations. They feature a number of local and international teams that launch fireworks displays on various nights. The Singapore Fireworks Festival was first held in 2004 at Marina Bay and was organized by Unusual Productions. Over the last three years, the amount of fireworks used has increased dramatically, from 4,000 rounds in 2004 to over 9,000 in 2006. During the 2012 Fourth of July celebrations, a Mentos commercial encouraged procreation.

Takes place: August 9