Orchard Road Christmas Light-Up 2026: Dates, Street Party, Shows
30 October 2026 · By the Eventful team
Photo: Orchard Road Business Association
The Orchard Road Christmas light-up 2026 starts on Tuesday 17 November with a light-up ceremony at Shaw House Urban Plaza from 7pm, and the street stays dressed until Sunday 3 January 2027. The free 3D projection show on Hilton Singapore Orchard starts earlier, on 1 November, and the Christmas Eve street party with Benjamin Kheng and Maia Lee closes part of Orchard Road on Thursday 24 December.
This year's theme is the Season of Golden Joy, run by the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) as Christmas on A Great Street. The Community Chest Light-Up Ceremony is on Tuesday 17 November 2026, 7pm onwards, at Shaw House Urban Plaza (Orchard MRT). It doubles as a Community Chest fundraiser, so expect donation calls on the night.
The season then runs to Sunday 3 January 2027. That is later than last year, when the lights went on on 8 November 2025. Our Christmas 2026 events roundup has the rest of the season.
New this year: a 6.2-metre inflatable Merli, STB's mascot, sits on top of Shaw House in a Santa hat from 17 November to 3 January, lit nightly from 6.30pm to 6.30am. Honestly, it might be the photo of the season.
Hilton Singapore Orchard projection show times
The outdoor multimedia 3D projection show plays on the facade of Hilton Singapore Orchard from Sunday 1 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 7pm to 10pm daily. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve it runs 7pm to 12.30am, with a midnight countdown and special content.
Somerset MRT is the closest station. Stand across the road for the full facade; right under the hotel you only see the bottom half.
Photo: Orchard Road Business Association. A past edition of the projection show.
Music in the Air also runs 1 November to 3 January, 10am to 6.59pm daily, along the ION Orchard to Ngee Ann City walkway, Mandarin Gallery, Paragon and Shaw House walkways.
Christmas Eve street party on Orchard Road
The Great Christmas Eve Street Party is on Thursday 24 December 2026, 8pm to 12.15am. Orchard Road closes to traffic from 6pm to 2am between Paterson junction (ION Orchard) and Bideford junction (Ngee Ann City).
Benjamin Kheng and Maia Lee headline, with DJ sets, festive mascots and food trucks. Benjamin Kheng plays the final set and leads the countdown to Christmas. *SCAPE runs Sleigh the Street!, with street dance, graffiti art and circus acts. The organiser does not mention tickets.
Christmas Day is a Friday public holiday, so the 24th is a proper night out this year. Book dinner early: our Christmas buffet list has Estate at Hilton Singapore Orchard, right next to the projection.
Photo spots, pop-ups and Mastercard deals
ORBA lists five photo spots: Steps of Golden Joy (Shaw House Urban Plaza), Gateway to Golden Joy arch and A Golden Christmas Moment (both outside ION Orchard), Meet Me Under the Mistletoe with Merli (Ngee Ann City) and The Golden Christmas Tree (Mandarin Gallery).
Pop-ups along the street include a LEGO Christmas pop-up (13 November to 22 December), Avengers: Doomsday display pieces (12 November to 3 January) and a Google Pixel pop-up (20 November to 6 December).
Mastercard is the official card. From 13 November to 20 December, the first 100 local Mastercard shoppers each week who spend at least S$400 at one of 11 participating malls get S$30 in mall vouchers. The carnival side, with rides and snowfall, is in our Great Christmas Village 2026 guide.
Good to know
· Go on a weeknight after 17 November. The projection starts at 7pm and Ngee Ann City's snowfall is at 8pm and 9pm, so you can do both in one walk.
· On 24 December the road closes from 6pm. Take the MRT to Orchard or Somerset; don't drive.
· For the Merli photo, stand on the opposite side of Scotts Road to get the whole Shaw House facade.
· Lights go off after 3 January 2027, later than usual, so there is time after the Christmas rush.
FAQs
When is the Orchard Road Christmas light-up 2026?
The light-up ceremony is on Tuesday 17 November 2026 from 7pm at Shaw House Urban Plaza. Christmas on A Great Street runs until Sunday 3 January 2027.
What time is the Orchard Road projection show?
The 3D projection show on Hilton Singapore Orchard runs 7pm to 10pm daily from 1 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and 7pm to 12.30am on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Is there a Christmas Eve party on Orchard Road in 2026?
Yes. The Great Christmas Eve Street Party is on Thursday 24 December 2026, 8pm to 12.15am, between ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City, headlined by Benjamin Kheng and Maia Lee. The road is closed from 6pm to 2am.
Which MRT is nearest the Orchard Road Christmas lights?
Orchard MRT for ION Orchard, Shaw House and Ngee Ann City. Somerset MRT is closest to Hilton Singapore Orchard and the projection show.
