Speech by Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing at the NDP 2026 Appreciation Function on 25 Aug 2026

A FRESH, IMMERSIVE, AND INCLUSIVE NDP

Good afternoon to all of you. First, let me say, I should not be your Guest of Honour. This afternoon, we are gathered here to honour you, not to honour me, so you are the Guest of Honour. Thank you very much to all the guests of honours for turning up.

Every NDP is special, and this NDP is no different. For many Singaporeans, they might think that NDP is another Parade and Ceremony, another performance, and so forth. But NDP is never just about a parade or a show. NDP is always a display of our nation’s values and ethos. Let me explain why, then you will understand why every NDP is so special to those of us who organise it and participate in it.

This year, NDP was not easy. We went back to the Stadium after 10 years, so it was, in some sense, a brand new experience for many.

This year, there was a conscious decision that we will be more inclusive to highlight and showcase members of the differently enabled community. It was a difficult event to put together because we had 50% more spectators, and the performance stage was 30% bigger than that in Padang. And of course, we have to meet the expectations of fellow Singaporeans who are very used to what they have gotten, like the Red Lions, mobile column, and so on.

We have challenged ourselves to cut down the number of rehearsals and to increase the number of civilian participants. For all of these reasons, this NDP was very different from previous NDP.

What cheered me on was not just your sterling performance and the efforts you put in. It is a display of our nation’s values and ethos because there are some things that we have demonstrated once again through this NDP.

First, the willingness to try and do something different. It would have been easy for the NDP organising committee to go back to the tried and tested. That would have been easy to do. But we did not choose to do that; you did not choose to do that. Instead, we were prepared to try new ideas, to explore new frontiers, and then to see whether they work or not. This spirit of being willing and daring to try new things is something invaluable.

Second, constant improvement and constant attention to details. For all of us who have participated in this, I think you will agree with me that when we staged the first rehearsal in the Stadium, the outcome was very different from the eventual show.

In fact, after the first rehearsal, I heard some of you say, “Are you sure we made the right decision to go back to the Stadium? Are we sure we can pull this off?” But come what may, we pulled it off. And week by week, when we go through all the rehearsals, from the NE shows to the Previews, and to the actual day, you can see that spirit of constant striving to improve. Nothing was too small for us to leave it as a small detail.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND NDP 2026

I see volunteers and organisers going to every corner of the Stadium to check the smallest of detail, such as whether everyone seated in the Stadium will have a special experience. We are always asking ourselves how we can improve the experience for each and every one in the Stadium. From the sound effect to the visual angle, to the camera angles and so forth.

This is something which always defines the spirit of NDP. The ability and willingness to try something new, the attention to detail and the constant striving of improvement.

So I will say this. For this and future NDP, the venue will never define the experience. It is the people and the processes behind it that will define our experience. And for that, I want to thank all of you present today, because what made the NDP special was not just the new ideas from the EXCO or the creative team. It was the fact that each and every one of you pulled your weight and made something special out of the ordinary.

I am also saying this not just because of our wonderful emcees, but I want to pay a special tribute to all the special people behind the scenes who made this possible.

NDP is a huge logistics exercise. There are 42,000 spectators in the Stadium, but there are more than 10,000 people behind everything happening in the Stadium. Some of them are taking care of the logistics, the food, taking care of each and every one that comes through the Stadium. Some of them are deployed forward beyond the Stadium, managing the crowd. Some of them are deployed even further, and they never see the NDP themselves because they are on the outer cordon, making sure that Singapore can celebrate NDP in peace, and that everyone who joined the parade can have a peace of mind that nothing untoward will happen to us.

All these are the special people that help us to make NDP 2026 possible. Thank you very much to all the special people. Thank you very much to all the performers, organising committees, emcees, everybody – in front of the stage and behind the stage. Thank you very much!

LOOKING AHEAD — NDP 2027

Last but not least, next year will be a special year for us. Next year will be NS60 – 60 years of National Service.

Next year, the organising committee will try and plan something special for all Singaporeans, particularly for all those who have served to keep us safe all the past 60 over years. For that reason, next year we will have the NDP back at the Padang.

But having said that, do not need to cheer too fast because some people are quite stressed in front. Because I have given them a challenge.

When you go back to the Padang, it is easy for us to do the tried and tested, but we want every NDP to be special. We want every NDP to be able to break new ground, to show the world what we are capable of, and not just what we are used to, and what we are familiar with.

It is okay for us to try. It is okay that it does not come out perfectly, but the fact that we dare to try and keep improving, this is the essence of every NDP. The fact that we dare to dream of new ideas that have never been tried before and put them into action is the essence of NDP.

No stress to HQ Engineers, who is spearheading the organisation next year.

CLOSING — LOOKING FORWARD

We look forward to all your participation, all your contributions to make next year – NS60, another special year for fellow Singaporeans. Thank you very much for your participation and contribution.

More Resources

Minister for Defence Thanks NDP 2026’s Organisers, Participating Organisations and Sponsors