Things to Do in Singapore This Weekend: 6–9 November 2026

Plan the Deepavali long weekend with Singapore Cat Festival, Asia Pacific Food Expo, Zoolympix, Borealis, Little India celebrations and more from 6–9 November.

Quick picks for the 6–9 November long weekend

This is not a normal two-day weekend. Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November, and Monday, 9 November is the public holiday for the 2026 calendar. That gives many Singapore residents a three-day weekend, while several major events either start or finish during the same four-day stretch from Friday through Monday.

1. Deepavali final weekend in Little India

Sunday, 8 November is Deepavali, and it is also the final day of the official Festival Village at Campbell Lane and the Indian Heritage Centre’s Deepavali Open House. The IHC programme includes free admission, a weekend bazaar, craft activities, a saree corner and photobooth, and selected free guided tours.

Go Saturday if you mainly want to browse and photograph the precinct with a little more flexibility. Go Sunday if you want to experience Deepavali day itself, but be respectful around worshippers and expect a more active community atmosphere. Monday is the public holiday, but the special Festival Village and IHC Open House end on Sunday.

2. Singapore Cat Festival at EXPO

Singapore Cat Festival 2026 runs on 7–8 November from 10am to 8pm at Singapore EXPO Hall 6. The event brings together the cat marketplace, photo zones, creative experiences, a CFA cat show, adoption and animal-welfare groups, and other feline-focused activities.

If you are already heading to EXPO, this is an unusually efficient weekend for combining events because the Asia Pacific Food Expo and Mega Beauty Festival are in neighbouring halls during the same period.

3. Asia Pacific Food Expo — free and open through Monday

The Asia Pacific Food Expo 2026 runs from 6–9 November, 11am–9pm daily at Singapore EXPO Hall 4, with free admission. Singapore EXPO lists local favourites, exhibitors from China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, plus a Hokkaido Pavilion.

This is one of the better Monday-holiday options because it continues through 9 November rather than ending on Sunday. If you dislike peak crowds, Friday afternoon or Monday earlier in the day should be easier than Saturday evening.

4. Zoolympix starts at Mandai

Mandai’s Zoolympix: Stars of Mandai Festive Challenge starts on 7 November and continues through 3 January 2027. Zoolympix Village at East Lawn, Mandai Wildlife East runs 10am–7pm daily, with the last entry at 6.30pm and tickets from S$15 according to Mandai’s current listing.

The village has 10 wildlife-inspired challenges built around Mandai’s animal personalities. Additional outpost activities are included with regular admission at selected parks. Families can therefore make this either a short standalone challenge visit or part of a full park day.

5. Borealis at Supertree Grove — free on Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Borealis recreates the visual effect of the northern lights at Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove. Before the festive-season timing change later in November, shows run every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 8pm to 8.30pm. That means the installation is scheduled on all three nights of the Deepavali long weekend.

Admission to Borealis is free under the normal listing, although Gardens by the Bay notes that the show can be cancelled in rain. Garden Rhapsody also runs daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm, so you can time a Supertree evening around both experiences.

6. Mega Beauty Festival at EXPO

Singapore EXPO lists the second run of the Mega Beauty Festival from 6–9 November, 10am–9pm at Hall 5B with free admission. The organiser advertises more than 500 curated makeup, skincare, fragrance, haircare and bodycare products alongside TikTok Shop-linked promotions and live creator content.

If you are attending the Cat Festival or Food Expo, this is an easy add-on rather than a separate cross-island trip. Check Hall 5B before making purchases based only on a “discount up to” claim; compare the final product price as you would during any major shopping event.

7. Last chance for Sunflower Surprise

Gardens by the Bay’s Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean remains in the Flower Dome through Monday, 9 November. Standard attraction admission applies, but it gives the public holiday a clear daytime option before a free Borealis show in the evening.

How to plan the long weekend

Friday: use the quieter weekday for Asia Pacific Food Expo or Mega Beauty Festival. Saturday: choose Singapore Cat Festival, Mandai Zoolympix or the IHC Open House, then add a night activity. Sunday: prioritise Deepavali if you want to experience the actual festival day. Monday: shift to attractions and events that remain open, such as Asia Pacific Food Expo, Gardens by the Bay or Mandai.

Do not try to combine Little India, EXPO, Mandai and Marina Bay in one day. The best weekend plan clusters one major area per half-day, especially with public-holiday crowds and possible rain.

Frequently asked questions

Is 9 November 2026 a public holiday in Singapore?

Yes. Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November, so Monday, 9 November is the public holiday.

What is free this weekend?

Free options include the Asia Pacific Food Expo, Mega Beauty Festival, the Little India Festival Village, selected Indian Heritage Centre activities and Borealis at Supertree Grove under normal operating conditions.

What is good for families?

Singapore Cat Festival, Zoolympix, Gardens by the Bay and the Deepavali Open House are among the strongest family choices. Check individual age, ticket and crowd considerations before bringing young children.

Which events continue on Monday?

Asia Pacific Food Expo and Mega Beauty Festival run through 9 November; Zoolympix and Gardens by the Bay also continue. The Festival Village and IHC Deepavali Open House end on Sunday.