Singapore Public Holidays 2025: Updated Celebrations & Dates

Rankers consistently place Singapore among the world’s best places to work, live, and start a company. That’s why people from all over the world come to Singapore, creating a diverse community of people with various cultural and religious backgrounds.

This unique mix has put Singapore on the map as a multicultural country with an array of celebrations that are observed throughout the year.

Key Public Holidays Celebrated in Singapore

As a nation that celebrates diversity and multiculturalism, we have public holidays for each of our ethnic groups – Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian. Furthermore, these festivals are considered the main public holidays for Singaporeans, alongside National Day, which falls on August 9 every year, to celebrate the nation’s independence.

The table highlighted all Key Public Holidays in Singapore

Note

Aside from those, if there is a general or presidential election in Singapore, Polling Day will also be an official public holiday. This is the government’s way of encouraging the Singaporean popular to exercise their rights and duties to the country by casting their vote. However, by-elections are not considered as a public holiday.

List of Singapore Public Holidays 2025

With the dates of each public holiday differing every calendar year, here’s a quick look at the full list of public holidays in Singapore in 2025!

*Subject to confirmation

Employees’ Entitlements on Public Holidays in Singapore

When it comes to the business end of public holidays, new employers in Singapore need to know that all their employees are entitled to be paid the gross rate of pay for every public holiday if:

• The employee was not absent on a working day immediately before or after a holiday without a valid reason.
• The employee was or will be on authorized leave on the day immediately before or after a holiday.

In any event that you would require your employees to work on a public holiday:

• The company will be required to pay an extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay
• Companies may have a mutual agreement with employees to substitute a public holiday for another working day

For those working in managerial or executive positions:

• Time off in lieu of the public holiday may be given – this amount depends on the agreed number of hours.

All employers in Singapore must follow these guidelines, which comply with Singapore’s Employment Act.

If you are looking to work or live in Singapore for more than a year, do reach out to us to learn more about:

• Securing your Employment Pass
• Becoming a Permanent Resident
• Relocation to Singapore
• Setting a new company in Singapore
• Incorporation with an employment pass

History of Public Holidays in Singapore

Did you know that many years ago until 1968, Singapore had an additional six public holidays? These six public holidays were:

• Celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad
• Additional Hari Raya Aidfilfitri holiday
• Thaipusam
• Holy Saturday
• Easter Monday
• Boxing Day

The reason why these public holidays were removed by the Ministry of Manpower was to improve the nation’s business competitiveness as this means a reduction of business costs incurred by Singapore companies and mitigate the impact brought about by statutory leave.

How Singapore’s Public Holidays Compare to Those of Its Neighbours

To put things into perspective on how the Singaporean government stands regionally when it comes to public holidays, let’s take a look at how the nation’s public holidays compare to our Southeast Asian neighbours – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Number of Public Holidays in Each Country

Most of the four countries have a similar number of public holidays, with the exception of Indonesia who has 16!

Public Holidays & Their Occasions

The similarities when it comes to the public holidays include:

1. Labour Day
2. National Day
3. New Year’s Day

While there are common public holidays, there are also differences that denote the cultural differences between the countries:

1. All the countries in comparison celebrate the Lunar New Year except the Philippines
2. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a two-day public holiday in Indonesia and Malaysia
3. Other Islamic festivals are also celebrated as public holidays in Indonesia and Malaysia
4. The Philippines also celebrates more Christian festivals

The Singapore Identity Through Public Holidays

Singapore has carved out a unique place for itself in the world today by celebrating its deep cultural heritage and multiculturalism. Singapore public holidays reflect our identity by celebrating all four core religions, staying true to our ethos and values.

Find out more about Singapore with us today. We provide business incorporation, working visas, tax services, and relocation services.