Things to Do in Singapore in October 2026: Deepavali, Halloween, CATS & More

The Formula 1 weekend has ended, so an October guide should now help you plan the second half of the month rather than keep promoting expired race-week events. The strongest remaining reasons to go out include Singapore Dog Festival, Deepavali activities in Little India, major concerts, Halloween attractions and the opening performances of CATS.

16 Oct–1 Nov: Singapore Dog Festival

Palawan Green hosts Singapore Dog Festival from 16 October to 1 November. The 16 October opening is restricted, while the first public ticketed weekend is 17–18 October. Public weekday sessions begin from 19 October. Dogs enter without a ticket, but pets are not allowed on the Sentosa Express, so owners need to plan transport carefully.

See our full Dog Festival guide for ticketed versus public weekdays, getting there and dog-owner preparation.

17 Oct–8 Nov: Deepavali Open House and Little India

The Indian Heritage Centre starts its Deepavali Open House on 17 October with free admission and four weekends of programmes through 8 November. The Little India street light-up is already running, and the Festival Village at Campbell Lane operates from 10 October to 8 November.

This is one of October’s best free cultural outings because you can combine museum entry, festive streets and evening lights in one precinct. Our Deepavali 2026 guide breaks down the dates and free experiences.

16–18 Oct: a major concert weekend

The mid-month weekend is crowded with live music. NCT 127 performs at Singapore Indoor Stadium on 18 October, while other major concerts and fan events take place around the island across 16–18 October. Check official ticketing pages before travelling because availability and entry rules differ by show.

If NCT 127 is your plan, check the official Ticketmaster event page for current availability and venue rules; our Friday weekend update will also include practical transport notes.

Halloween Horror Nights and seasonal scares

Halloween Horror Nights 14 remains one of the month’s biggest paid evening attractions and continues into early November. If you are visiting on a Friday or Saturday, treat it as a high-demand night: secure your dated admission, check operating hours and plan the trip back from Sentosa before entering.

For readers who want a lower-cost evening, Little India’s light-up and waterfront/night walks provide alternatives without a theme-park ticket.

From 29 Oct: CATS at Sands Theatre

CATS begins its Singapore run on 29 October and continues to 22 November. Official prices span S$68–S$238 before booking fees, with performances spread across Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle categories.

Use our CATS Singapore guide to compare dates and price bands, then check the Sands Theatre seating guide before choosing a section.

Best free or low-cost October ideas

• Walk the Little India Deepavali light-up after sunset.
• Use the Indian Heritage Centre Open House for free cultural programming from 17 October.
• Explore Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay outdoor areas at night.
• Choose a neighbourhood park, dog run or nature-friendly outing when event prices are stacking up.

How to plan the rest of October

Use the weekend of 17–18 October for Dog Festival, Deepavali or concerts; save a later October evening for Halloween; and choose 29–31 October if CATS is your priority. That spreads the month out instead of trying to combine several crowded headline events on the same Saturday.

For the immediate weekend, use our continuously refreshed Things to Do in Singapore This Weekend guide.