NDP 2025 guide
Every Singaporean knows that this year’s NDP is gonna be a special one. After all, it’s our beloved Little Red Dot’s 60th birthday, and if the string of celebratory SG60 payouts and vouchers are indicative of anything, it’s that this year’s festivities are bound to be next level.
Whether you’re planning to ballot for parade tickets, or gather your friends and fam for a private viewing from home, here’s a comprehensive NDP 2025 guide to get you all prepped for 9th August.
Where will NDP 2025 be held?
NDP 2024.
Like last year’s parade, NDP 2025’s main show will be held at the Padang. However, its festivities will stretch across a larger space than last year’s, with performances held all the way at Marina Bay as well.
At the Bay, audiences will be able to catch fireworks and performances on a mobile floating stage, all of which will be synced with the main show happening at the Padang.
How to get to the Padang?
| Colour of Seating Area | Nearest MRT Station(s) | Directions |
| Blue | Raffles Place station (EW line & NS line) or Clarke Quay station | Take Exit H from Raffles Place station and walk along Fullerton Road to Anderson Bridge. Cross the bridge to arrive at the Padang. Alternatively, take Exit A from Clarke Quay station, walk along the Singapore River and turn left at Victoria Concert Hall towards the Padang. |
| Green | Esplanade station (Circle line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Esplanade Drive. |
| Yellow | Esplanade station (Circle line) or City Hall station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Stamford Road. Alternatively, take Exit A from City Hall station and walk towards the Padang via Stamford Road. |
| Red | City Hall station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit B at City Hall station and walk towards Parliament Plaza. |
What is NDP 2025’s theme?
NDP 2025’s theme is a phrase that any true blue Singaporean would be familiar with – Majulah Singapura. Yep, the name of our very own National Anthem. The phrase, which means “Onward Singapore” in Malay, is a definitely fitting one for our diamond jubilee.
This year’s NDP logo.
Image credit: MINDEF
Similarly, this year’s logo design plays on the parade’s theme, with a “60” graphic that doubles as a “Go”, accompanied by five stars representing our nation’s core ideals – democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.
What will the NDP 2025 programme entail?
This year’s programme will be divided into 4 segments: the Pre-Parade, Parade & Ceremony (P&C), Mobile Column, and The Show.
Don’t be fooled by the term “pre-parade”; this part of the programme is just as exciting. This year, it’ll open with an original composition and music video, which will transition from the screen to a live dance performance.
Red Lions parachuting into Padang last year.
During this segment, we’ll also get to watch the Red Lions and Republic of Singapore’s Navy divers parachute into the Padang and Marina Bay respectively.
Next up, the parade and ceremony. Aside from yearly traditions like the State Flag Flypast, Salute to the Nation, and Presidential Gun Salute, NDP 2025’s P&C segment will feature a special aerial tribute by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), as well as the largest number of contingents to date.
GIF adapted from: Huy
Keep your eyes peeled for The Mobile Column as well, which is making its comeback to the Padang for the first time since 2019. Audiences will get to watch a drive-by of SAF and Home Team assets, accompanied by an aerial flypast over the Padang, and a maritime display at the Bay.
As for the highly anticipated show segment, NDP 2025’s line-up already sounds like a real treat for those of us who love belting out NDP bangers. There’ll be 4 acts to enjoy this year, each inspired by a verse from the National Anthem – very fitting for our Majulah Singapura theme indeed. Here, we’ll be greeted by familiar faces behind some of our fave NDP songs, including artistes like Charlie Lim, Dick Lee, Kit Chan, and Rahimah Rahim.
What’s the NDP 2025 theme song?
We can’t talk about National Day without discussing the NDP 2025 theme song. Titled “Here We Are”, this year’s track is performed by Charlie Lim, Kit Chan, and The Island Voices.
Co-written by Charlie Lim, Chok Kerong, and produced by Dr Sydney Tan, the song is a reflective ballad that fans of bops like Home and In A Heartbeat would love.
Where else to celebrate NDP 2025 besides the Padang & Marina Bay?
PSA: The National Day festivities don’t end on the 9th of August. On the 10th, keep your red-and-whites on for celebrations at 5 community sites in the heartlands.
Here, attendees will get to see showcases of SAF and Home Team assets, plus enjoy live performances, fireworks, drone shows, and carnival games.
Celebrate SG60 at NDP 2025
We might still be 2 months away from National Day, but in true Singaporean kiasu fashion, it’s never too early to be prepared. We’ll continue to update this space with more info on things like NDP packs and heartland activities as they roll out, so be sure to check back in closer to the date.
But for now, read our article on NDP 2025 ticketing deets if you’re looking to score seats for this year’s parade. P.S. – applications open very soon on 28th May 2025!
More National Day spirit:
- Ranking of NDP fun packs over the years
- Memorable NDP moments
- Things SG kids experienced during P5 NDP Preview
Photography by Huy Pham.