Free Events in Singapore, September 2026: What Happened and What's Free in October

What's free in Singapore in October 2026

Four free things we have checked. The MINISO Disney x F1 pop-up at Orchard Central, Level 1, is free entry till 11 October, you pay only for merch. Borealis, the Northern Lights show at Supertree Grove, is free every Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 8pm, cancelled if it rains. The F1 race runs 9 to 11 October and our free F1 viewing spots piece sorts the actually-free bridges from the bars with minimum spends. From 19 October, the Singapore Dog Festival at Palawan Green, Sentosa, is free on Mondays to Thursdays, 4pm to 9pm.

For the full month, including the paid stuff, read our October 2026 events round-up or the October guide, which is rebuilt daily.

Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay, 12 to 27 September

Free admission, 6pm to 10pm every night from 12 to 27 September, across Golden Garden, Supertree Grove and the Bayfront area. Lanterns were the point, and the Supertrees were lit around them.

It closed on 27 September with the Singapore Big Flag Championship on the Supertree Grove Lawn and a dragon dance finale at 7.30pm. During the festival, Borealis under the Supertrees moved to 9pm and ran 15 minutes instead of 30. The marketplace food, carnival games and rides were paid, so free meant free to walk in, not free to eat.

Gardens by the Bay runs a Mid-Autumn festival every year around the Mid-Autumn date, so expect it back in 2027.

Sanrio Characters Moonlit Garden at VivoCity, ended 27 September

Six Sanrio zones on VivoCity's open-air Sky Park, Level 3, free to walk in, and it ended on 27 September. The five-metre Kuromi inflatable over the carnival containers was the photo everyone took.

The carnival and the Mini Express Train ran 5pm to 10pm daily, and lantern riddles won a Sanrio sticker set while stocks lasted. The character meet-and-greets needed an $80 same-day receipt. Our Sanrio Moonlit Garden write-up has the zone-by-zone detail.

Singapore River Festival, 11 to 20 September

The 10th edition, themed The Quay Collective, ran 11 to 20 September per Singapore River One, the organiser. It split the river into three: Entertainment Zone at Boat Quay, Expression Zone at Clarke Quay, Lifestyle and Wellness Zone at Robertson Quay.

There were back-alley projections, roving performances, acrobatics, light installations and an outdoor movie, with audio through the Cinewav app. Walking the river was free. A heritage boat ride, a MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore trail and Acai Social at The Riverhouse were ticketed. Ten editions in, it is a September fixture, but srf.sg had nothing up about an 11th when we checked on 6 October.

The other five, and which ones return

Baybeats ran 3 to 6 September at the Esplanade, 48 acts, all free. Esplanade has held it every year since 2002, so a 2027 edition is likely, though none was announced when we checked. Our Baybeats write-up covers who played. The Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival ran 5 to 13 September across the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park. The headline was EnlighTEN, the Gardens' first light show across five spaces, plus the Xinyao Lives On! concert and cultivator-led tours. NParks' festival page now says join us from next year, so it is coming back in 2027.

AL!VE Artisans Market took over the National Stadium concourse on 5 to 6 and 12 to 13 September with 30 handmade and small-batch brands. Public Garden filled Suntec Convention Halls 405 and 406 on 12 to 13 September, 1pm to 7pm, free entry. Its site still shows the September dates and no next edition. Reno Retreat ran 12 to 13 September at Pico Creative Centre with free entry for 150 registered homeowners. The organiser then held another weekend on 3 and 4 October at King Living's Alexandra showroom, also free, and that one has passed too. Our Reno Retreat recap has the detail.

FAQs

What free events were on in Singapore in September 2026?

Eight: the Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay (12 to 27 September), Sanrio Characters Moonlit Garden at VivoCity (ended 27 September), the Singapore River Festival (11 to 20 September), Baybeats at the Esplanade (3 to 6 September), the Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival (5 to 13 September), AL!VE Artisans Market (5 to 6 and 12 to 13 September), Public Garden at Suntec (12 to 13 September) and Reno Retreat (12 to 13 September). All have finished.

What free events are on in Singapore in October 2026?

The MINISO Disney x F1 pop-up at Orchard Central is free entry till 11 October. Borealis at Supertree Grove is free every Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 8pm. The Singapore Dog Festival at Palawan Green is free Monday to Thursday from 19 October, 4pm to 9pm. Public bridges like Helix Bridge give free glimpses of the F1 race on 9 to 11 October. Our October 2026 guide has the full list.

Is the Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival still on?

No. The 2026 edition ended on 27 September with a dragon dance finale. It runs every year around the Mid-Autumn date.

Is the Sanrio Moonlit Garden at VivoCity still on?

No. It ended on 27 September 2026.

Will the Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival return in 2027?

Yes. NParks' Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival page says to join them from next year. No 2027 dates were listed when we checked on 6 October 2026.