Istana Open House 2026: Tours and Family Activities

One of the most magnificent buildings in The Lion City, The Istana, attracts with its beauty and sense of power in every detail. It boasts a long and eventful history and many exciting secrets. It is the building that can inspire and even change lives. And several times a year, the Istana opens its doors to all guests to show everyone the incredible world inside and share its fascinating stories. BusyKidd invites you to check out the Istana Open House 2026 – and plan your visit to Singapore’s historical and architectural gem. So, how often is the Istana open to the public? How much is the entry fee for the Istana Open House? Is the Istana Open House family-friendly? We are going to find this out in today’s article!

Related Reading: Check out our guides to National Gallery Singapore, National Museum Of Singapore, MacRitchie Reservoir.

The Istana

Image Credit: Wikipedia

The Istana (‘palace’ in Malay), one of The Lion City’s oldest heritage sites, is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore. The building was finished in 1869 and has impressed all Singaporeans and city guests with its magnificent beauty, both inside and outside, for over 150 years already.

We should note that the Istana is much more than a building itself – it is also an oasis of greenery right in the bustling and hustling city with a boundless lawn, an enchanting garden, a beautiful pond, and many charming inhabitants. In general, the Istana is home to 260 plant species and diverse wildlife. All this realm of impressive architecture and lush greenery, with the charming Istana park, covers an area of 40 hectares. Yes, and you can admire this beauty and feel the spirit of the Istana on certain days when the Istana Open House takes place.

Istana Open House: Dates and Details for 2026

The Istana is open to the public on 4 or 5 selected days each year. This year, it intends to welcome guests for five open houses to celebrate significant Singapore public holidays in 2026, which we will talk about a bit later. During the open house, visitors of all ages can join special performances, take a tour of some rooms in the Main Building, and explore the grounds of the Istana. By the way, the very first Istana Open House was held on 1 January 1960.

This year, the first Istana Open House, the Chinese New Year-dedicated one, will take place on 22 February 2026. The second Istana Open House will be devoted to Hari Raya Puasa and is planned for March. The next one, the Labour Day Istana Open House, is expected to take place in May. The Singapore National Day Istana Open House is planned for August. The last open house in 2026, the Deepavali-dedicated one, is intended to appear in November.

So, the whole list of holidays that Open Houses at the Istana will be dedicated to is as follows.

Istana Open House 2026 Schedule:

Chinese New Year: 22 February 2026
Hari Raya Puasa: TBA
Labour Day: TBA
Singapore National Day: TBA
Deepavali: TBA

Enter the Main Gate – and dive into the Istana kingdom. Roam through its grounds and stunning gardens. Watch colourful cultural performances. Participate in fun competitions. Treat yourself to mouthwatering delights at food booths and trucks. Don’t miss great shopping opportunities – the merchandise booths offer a wide range of nice items and limited-edition souvenirs that you won’t find anywhere else.

You can also embark on the Istana Heritage Tour. It is a guided journey around this kingdom. And now, we invite you to take a virtual Istana Heritage Tour through its charming grounds. To get some inspiration before the Istana Open House.

Istana Heritage Tour

Looking for romantic date ideas in Singapore? Planning a family day out and want it to be fun, educational, and inspiring at the same time? Well, the Istana Heritage Tour is a great option for a memorable experience with your nearest and dearest.

The fascinating guided walking tour through the grounds of the official residence and office of the President of Singapore lasts 1 hour and begins near the Main Gate. During the tour, highly dedicated guides will tell you the story of the Istana and its architectural heritage and open you to an astonishing world of its flora and fauna.

The Istana Heritage Tours are conducted in English and Mandarin with an interval of 1 hour, from 9 AM to 4 PM. During your adventure, you’ll get acquainted with the Swan Pond and a pair of its icons, lovely swans; walk through the Japanese Garden with an incredible combination of nature and traditions; visit The Villa, which has seen many important guests; take great photos at the Gun Terrace – and this is just the beginning. Sri Temasek, The Lodge, Lily Pond Garden, Ceremonial Plaza, Function Lawn – they are all filled with history and beauty and absolutely deserve your attention. Well, and the highlight of the Istana Open House is, of course, the Main Building, mighty, enchanting, and inspiring at the same time.

Be sure to take many pictures – to make life-long memories of this incredible day at the official residence and office of the President of Singapore.

Istana Open House: 22 February 2026

On 22 February, the Istana will welcome Singaporeans and visitors to the city for this year’s first Istana Open House that commemorates the Chinese New Year. Along with traditional heritage tours, inviting food stalls, and excellent shopping opportunities, Istana’s guests will enjoy a thrilling celebration with brilliant live performances and joyful activities, from engaging workshops for visitors of all ages to old-school games. Families will also have an opportunity to learn more about authentic Lunar New Year traditions, as well as about the history and culture of Singapore. Some active things to do are promised as well. Well, and what kind of Chinese New Year would it be without a lion dance?

Check out the selection of limited souvenirs – there’s definitely something to take home to remember this exciting day. Of course, the choice of traditional treats will be wide and delicious as well.

Please note that the Istana Main Building is currently closed for restoration.

While all details on other editions of Istana Open House 2026 will be unveiled soon, we invite you to see how it all was last year.

Istana Open House: Hari Raya Puasa and Labour Day

The Istana Open House in April 2025 was dedicated to both Hari Raya Puasa and Labour Day. Traditionally, the official residence and office of the President of Singapore opened its gates for all guests to explore this unique combination of architecture and natural wonders.

The visitors explored Istana’s grounds, joined the guided tour, learned more about its history, and plunged into a festive atmosphere with bright cultural performances and engaging family-friendly activities. This Istana Open House, dedicated to Hari Raya in Singapore and Labour Day, ensured a vast selection of outstanding performances, art programmes, hands-on workshops, and fun for all members of every family.

A Traditional Malay Music Performance, a Ukulele Performance, an Indian Dance Performance, and many other amazing performances with beautiful music, songs, dance, and culture in every detail took place at the Main Tent.

Guests could join various activities, including batik painting, portrait art, as well as mobile photography and ukulele workshops. Families took part in a scavenger hunt and fun challenges, enjoyed fascinating storytelling, visited activity booths by social services agencies for good deeds, and more.

Istana Open House: Singapore National Day

This Istana Open House was filled with sincere happiness and boundless pride as it was dedicated to last year’s most significant milestone in our nation’s life, Singapore’s 60th Anniversary. All Singaporeans and city guests got an incredible opportunity to dive into exciting family-friendly festivities and explore one of the most magnificent buildings in the city last August. Traditionally, the event was free of charge for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents!

What did the National Day-dedicated Istana Open House prepare for its friends? As usual, visitors could join an inspiring tour of the Istana highlights and get acquainted with its fascinating history, admire its amazing grounds, and uncover unexpected secrets. However, this is just a preview of an exciting, fun-filled day that delighted all visitors to the Istana last August. Bright live performances, engaging art workshops, and inspiring sports try-outs designed for athletes of all levels of training and abilities, including boccia, seated volleyball, and virtual archery – that is what the residence’s guests experienced during the IOH dedicated to Singapore’s most significant celebration of the entire year 2025. Besides, visitors had an opportunity to get a National Day goodie bag with pleasant surprises.

Food stalls, drink booths, and merchandise booths provided all visitors with delicious treats, refreshing drinks, and nice souvenirs to take home as a memory of this inspiring visit.

It was an eventful and fun-filled day, and an exciting way to celebrate Singapore! By the way, all guests were encouraged to put on their favourite red outfits! So, you can imagine what a heartwarming and lively atmosphere prevailed at the event.

Autumn Istana Open House

The official residence and office of the President of Singapore hosted the last IOH last year in November. And it was as exciting, educational, and meaningful at the same time as all the previous ones.

That IOH brought a real burst of charming colours, good vibes, and all-encompassing happiness. Traditionally, the National Heritage Board’s Preservation of Sites and Monuments division organised and provided fascinating guided tours of the charming grounds. Lots of history and incredible stories that cannot but inspire and make you feel grateful and proud awaited all history and nature lovers, as well as curious minds of all ages, at the IOH last November. By the way, if you have already attended the IOH heritage tour, it is absolutely not a reason to skip the next one! You may be sure that there’s always something new and unexpected, so every next tour of Istana will definitely ensure an exciting and meaningful time with your kids.

Of course, there was a thrilling line-up of bright performances, cultural shows, and family-friendly things to do, as well as a range of food and beverage booths and stalls with merchandise, a true haven for souvenir hunters.

Traditionally, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents entered for free.

We already can’t wait to see all the information about the upcoming IOHs this year. In the meantime, let’s check the general visitors’ information – to make sure that you are totally ready for the visit!

Istana Open House: Visitors’ Information

You can enter the Istana via the Main Gate on Orchard Road (the nearest MRT station – Dhoby Ghaut). Typically, the Open House lasts from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents enter for free. Other guests can join the IOH at $20 for an adult and $10 for a child (from 4 to 12 years old).

To enter The Istana Villa, Singaporeans and PRs have to pay $2, while other visitors have to pay $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Istana Heritage Tour fees for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are $8 for adults and $4 for children (for kids below 4 years old – free). Besides, you can take advantage of a Family Package that will cost $22 for 2 adults and 2 children. Standard tour fees are $30 for adults and $12 for children. All proceeds from entry tickets, tours, booths, etc. will be sent to charity organisations supported by the President’s Challenge.

We highly recommend booking timeslots for heritage tours in advance, as the slots tend to be filled very quickly. Usually, pre-registration and all the details are announced a month before the next IOH. You can book the timeslot on the IOH official webpage.

Please note that only cashless payments are accepted at the IOH.

The Istana Open House is a unique opportunity for all Singaporeans and city guests to learn even more about the history and heritage of The Little Red Dot – and understand it even better. It is an absolutely must-visit event for all families.

Where: The Istana, Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Orchard Road, Singapore 238823
When:
- Chinese New Year: 22 February:
  - 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Hari Raya Puasa: TBA
- Labour Day: TBA
- Singapore National Day: TBA
- Deepavali: TBA
Age: For all ages
Admission Price:
- Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents: Free
- Other Visitors:
  - Adult: $20
  - Child: $10
More Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Istana open to the public in 2026?

Traditionally, the official residence and office of the President of Singapore is open to the public several times in 2026 for the open houses: during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day, National Day, and Deepavali celebrations.

How often is the Istana open to the public?

The official residence and office of the President of Singapore is open to the public up to five times a year during certain public holiday celebrations.

How do you get to the open house in the Istana?

The only entry to the grounds during open houses is via the Main Gate at Orchard Road. Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is within a five-minute walk.

How much is the entry fee for the Istana Open House?

Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents enter the grounds for free. Other visitors must pay an admission fee of $10 per child (4-12 years old) and $20 per adult. All children under the age of four enter for free.

Additional fees apply for entry to The Istana Villa, heritage tour, and other guided tours.

The Istana Villa Entrance:

Singaporeans and Permanent Residents: $2
Standard Admission:
- Adult: $10
- Child: $5

Istana Heritage Tour:

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents:
- Adult: $8
- Child: $4
- Family Package: $22 for 2 adults and 2 children
Standard Tour Fees:
- Adult: $30
- Child: $12

Is the Istana Open House family-friendly?

The IOH is absolutely family-friendly. It is a one-of-a-kind chance for all Singaporeans and city guests to dive even deeper into our country’s history and learn more about its culture, architecture, and people who figured prominently in the development of Singapore that we know and love today.

Besides, each IOH offers a whole lot of exciting kid-friendly activities in Singapore. Live performances, engaging workshops, bright cultural shows, and various activity booths – each IOH is a thrilling celebration of family, community, and Singapore. A mouthwatering selection of refreshments and great shopping opportunities are guaranteed as well.