2026 in Singapore
| |||||
| Decades: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See also: | |||||
The following lists events that have happened or will happen during 2026 in the Republic of Singapore.
Incumbents
[edit]Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 14 January – Parliament passes a motion to declare Pritam Singh unsuitable as Leader of the Opposition, with all Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Workers' Party objecting.[1] Singh was then removed as Leader of the Opposition by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong the next day.[2]
- 30 January – The Economic Strategy Review reveals seven strategies in their mid-term update to keep Singapore's economy moving forward, including four on boosting Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and readiness, as well as several moves to reform risk-taking and get into new industries.[3]
February
[edit]- 1 February – The Singapore Civil Defence Force sounds the important message signal from the Public Warning System at 1500 hrs for the first time instead of 15 February, to mark the start of Exercise SG Ready in times of crisis.[4]
- 6 February - the six-year-old girl Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani was killed by the speeding SUV car in Chinatown at around 11:50am.
- 12 February – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered a statement on Budget 2026 in parliament.[5]
March
[edit]- 17–19 March – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made his first official visit to Japan to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Singapore and Japan.[6]
- 31 March – The Equatic-1 seawater carbon dioxide removal plant began operations in Tuas, with an initial capacity of removing 1 tonne of CO2 per day.[7]
April
[edit]- 1 April
- The Autonomous Intelligent Ride (Ai.R), which is an autonomous shuttle service, began public operations in Punggol, with 2 main routes and 1 express "mini" route.[8][9]
- The National Space Agency of Singapore is set up, having been previously announced by Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng for on 2 February.[10]
- Singapore Food Agency announces a lifting of ban of exports of pig blood curd, now requiring approval from the agency itself. The ban was first imposed in 1999 in response to the 1998–1999 Malaysia Nipah virus outbreak.[11][12][13]
- 10 April – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sign a mutual energy supply agreement, with Singapore agreeing to supply refine fuel in return for Australia supplying liquefied natural gas.[14]
- 13 April – Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing unveils a new medical classification system that will replace the Physical Employment Standards, focusing instead on functional deployments and medical exemptions. The system will be rolled out from October 2027.[15]
May
[edit]- 1 May – The Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, which increases the punishments for vape and tobacco offences, comes into effect. The maximum fine for vape users increases from S$2,000 to S$10,000, with longer maximum jail terms and mandatory caning for users, importers and traffickers of Kpods (a type of vape that contains etomidate). In vape cases, the onus is placed on the accused to prove that they did not know about the existence of vapes in their possession.[16][17]
- 4 May – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sign a "fuel for food" agreement to ensure a steady supply of essential goods such as food, fuel, construction materials and medicines in response to supply disruptions caused by the 2026 Iran war.[18]
- 10 May – Singapore tests SG Alert, a Cell Broadcast System to enable delivery of emergency alerts to the public via mobile phones. The system starts with Singtel-linked lines.[19][20]
- 13 May – The Economic Strategy Review releases their final set of eight thrusts spanning 32 recommendations,[21] the latest being to enhance energy and supply resilience due to geopolitical shocks.[22]
- 18 May – At about 5 am, 68-year-old Loh Hee Chen falls onto the train tracks at Segar station of the Bukit Panjang LRT line (BPLRT) and is pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic. Train services between Senja and Bukit Panjang stations are disrupted for about four hours.[23][24][25]
- 22 May – Lee Cheuk-hing, the principal of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Hong Kong, argues with and swears at two Singapore security guards during an exchange programme. A viral video of the incident is posted onto Threads on 23 May 2026, and he resigns from his position as principal of the school on 28 May 2026.[26][27][28]
June
[edit]- 1 June – Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for both Manpower and Health and MP for Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC), resigns from his positions as Senior Minister of State over "family matters". He remains an MP for Tampines GRC.[29]
- 17 June – A fire breaks out at a hawker centre in Whampoa. 100 people were evacuated, and there were no reported injuries.[30][31]
Predicted and scheduled events
[edit]- 12 July – Circle Line Stage 6 will open.[32][33]
Deaths
[edit]- 8 January – David Chia Kim Cheok, veteran singer and performer (b. 1952).[34]
- 18 January – Liu Thai Ker, architect and a former master planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (b. 1938).[35]
- 6 February – Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, a 6-year-old female pedestrian knocked down by a driver during 2026 Chinatown car accident.[36][37]
- 23 March – Eddie Kuo Chen Yu, Emeritus Professor at the Nanyang Technological University and Honorary Advisor at the Centre for Chinese Studies, Singapore University of Social Sciences (b. 1940).[38]
- 30 March – Loh Heng Chew, former national table tennis coach and player (b. 1929).[39]
- 16 April - Omar Bin Yacob Bamadhaj, drug trafficker who trafficked cannabis on 24 Feb 2021.[40]
- 5 May – Ong Ah Heng, former PAP Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Central SMC (b. 1944).[41]
- 18 May - Loh Hee Chen, retiree who fell onto the Bukit Panjang LRT tracks at Senja Station.[42]
- 26 May - Chua Bee Ting, 21 year old student allegedly stabbed to death in a lift at Choa Chu Kang.[43][44]
References
[edit]- ^ "As it happened: Parliament backs motion agreeing that Pritam Singh should not continue as Leader of the Opposition". CNA. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "Singapore's opposition leader stripped of title after conviction for lying". BBC. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Singapore rolls out 7 strategies to secure growth, good jobs amid tariff and AI threats". The Straits Times. 30 January 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "Island-wide Sounding of the Public Warning System (PWS) Sirens on Sunday, 1 February 2026 at 3pm". www.scdf.gov.sg. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Budget Statement | Singapore Budget". www.singaporebudget.gov.sg. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "Official Visit by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong to Japan, 17 to 19 March 2026". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "World's largest facility to help remove CO2 from the ocean to begin operations in S'pore in 2026". The Straits Times. 24 August 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ^ Rahmat, Hyrie (1 April 2026). "Interactive: Singapore rolls out driverless vehicles, one route at a time". The Business Times. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ Bathan, Aiah (29 March 2026). "Self-drive shuttle service available is now open for registration starting in April". The Independent. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "Singapore to set up new national space agency on Apr 1". CNA. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Pig blood: Why and when was it banned in Singapore?". CNA. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ^ "Pig blood products to return to Singapore after ban". The Straits Times. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ^ "Singapore gives green light for pork blood products after almost three decades". CNA. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ^ Norman, Jane (10 April 2026). "Anthony Albanese and Singapore's prime minister talk trade, fuel in bilateral meeting". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ^ "Medical Classification System Refreshed to Better Deploy National Servicemen". Ministry of Defence. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "Singapore passes tougher laws on vapes with heavier penalties; protecting young a key concern". The Straits Times. 6 March 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ "Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Prohibited Tobacco Products and Imitation Tobacco Products) (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2026" (PDF). EGazette. 28 April 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Raguraman, Anjali (4 May 2026). "Singapore, New Zealand sign agreement to keep essential supplies flowing even during crises". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ^ Ng, Hong Siang (6 May 2026). "Islandwide testing of SG Alert system for Singtel users to take place at noon on May 10". CNA. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ^ Sun, David (17 April 2026). "New national alert system warning public about terror, major incidents to be rolled out from May 10". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ^ Ng, Abigail (13 May 2026). "Economic Strategy Review committees release final recommendations to set direction of Singapore's future growth". CNA. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ "DPM Gan Kim Yong at the Future Economy Conference 2026". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ Ng, Hong Siang (18 May 2026). "Man, 68, dies after falling in front of train at Segar LRT Station; service resumes after several hours". CNA. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Mah, Alessia; Tay, Shintaro (18 May 2026). "Man, 68, dies after falling in front of oncoming train at Segar LRT station; train service resumes". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "LTA investigating safety measures, incident response processes after death on LRT track". CNA. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Sim, Sherlyn (25 May 2026). "Hong Kong education bureau investigating principal seen swearing at security guards in S'pore". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ "Hong Kong school ordered to explain after principal swears on Singapore trip". CNA. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Wong, Man Shun (28 May 2026). "HK principal resigns after Singapore swearing incident". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Al Anthony, Darcel (22 May 2026). "Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon resigns for 'family reasons'". CNA. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ^ Wong, Man Shun (19 June 2026). "100 people evacuated after fire breaks out at hawker centre in Whampoa; no one hurt". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- ^ Koh, Wan Ting (19 June 2026). "Fire breaks out at Whampoa hawker centre, 100 people evacuated". CNA. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- ^ Hamzah, Aqil (14 May 2026). "Keppel, Cantonment, Prince Edward Road MRT stations on Circle Line to open on July 12". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ^ Kuek, Renee (14 May 2026). "3 new Circle Line MRT stations to open on Jul 12, completing its loop". CNA. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ^ "患末期前列腺癌 新加坡福建歌王谢金石病逝". Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ "Architect Liu Thai Ker, Singapore's first master planner, dies at 87". The Straits Times. 18 January 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Yasmine, Rhea (9 February 2026). "Girl, 6, who died in Chinatown accident in Singapore 'truly like a fairy', says aunt". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ "Driver arrested in Chinatown car accident that killed six-year-old girl". CNA. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ "Eddie Kuo, respected academic and founding dean of NTU's WKWSCI, dies aged 85". CNA. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "Loh Heng Chew, one of Singapore's first Asian table tennis champions, dies at age 97". The Straits Times. 2 April 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ^ "Singaporean man executed for importing cannabis". The Straits Times. 17 April 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ "Former PAP MP Ong Ah Heng dies at 84". The Straits Times. 6 May 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ^ "Segar LRT death: LTA probe ongoing, improvements to safety to be made 'as needed'". The Straits Times. 22 May 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ Alkhatib, Shaffiq (28 May 2026). "Man charged with murder of woman in Choa Chu Kang". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- ^ Chakraborty, Drima (30 May 2026). "'I can't bear to part with her': Parents lay Choa Chu Kang murder victim to rest". AsiaOne. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
