No large-format lanterns for Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2026

There will be no lantern decorations along Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road for the Mid-Autumn Festival this year.

Instead, a community lantern procession will replace the large-format street lantern displays after 24 years.

In a press release by the Chinatown Festival Committee (CFC), Chairman of the CFC Peh Cheng Hoo noted that 24 years ago at the start of the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration, similar celebrations and large-format lantern decorations were rare.

"Over time and through more than 700 days of street lantern decorations and festive fairs, large-format lantern decorations became a cherished tradition and are regularly seen at major attractions such as Gardens by the Bay and Jurong Lake Gardens."

He concluded: "It is therefore time to make a change to focus on the local community."

"Hope to create a new Mid-Autumn tradition"

Peh added that the CFC was "deeply grateful to our merchants, vendors and community partners

for this legacy".

"We hope to create a new Mid-Autumn tradition with our community lantern display at Kreta Ayer Square."

He noted that the street lantern decorations will continue to be presented during Chinese New Year.

Focus on community-led celebrations

The community-led celebrations are organised by the Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng Grassroots Organisations (GROs).

From Sep. 11 to Oct. 4, 2026, residents and visitors will be invited to pen their well-wishes on lanterns at designated booths in Kreta Ayer Community Club and grassroots events.

According to the press release, these lanterns will be progressively added to displays at Kreta Ayer Square and Banda Street.

The new highlight, "Light a Lantern, Share Your Blessing" celebration will commence at 6pm on Sep. 19, 2026.

It will feature a community lantern procession, a mooncake and tea appreciation session and lantern riddles presented in Singapore's four official languages.

Other activities

A Lantern Design Competition will also be held at Kreta Ayer Community Club on Sep. 19.

The festivities will also extend beyond the main celebration at Kreta Ayer Square, with three neighbourhood celebrations held at River Place, Havelock View and Chin Swee-Hong Lim.

Designed as smaller community editions of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sessions will bring the celebration closer to residents through engagement booths, games and festival keepsakes.

For more information, check out the Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng People's Association website here.