Qing Ming Festival 2026

Qing Ming Festival falls on 5th April 2026, a Sunday this year. Qing Ming Festival, also known as tomb-sweeping festival is an annual festival where people will pay homage to their ancestors. Prayers are being arranged with food and paper offerings as we remember those who have left before us and pay respects to them.

Although the official date is on the 5th April, a lot of times, throngs of people come by the columbaria to pray two weeks before and after the official date. 

This is also the first time ever that the government-owned columbaria are open for 24 hours during this period of time!

Perhaps from previous years, the crowds have been difficult to manage during the peak periods which is why these places are kept open even in the night to allow people to visit the niches of their loved ones at any time of the day so as to prevent people from crowding around at the same time.

From the period of 21st March 2026 to 19th April 2026, 11 days are deemed to be peak days as they fall over the weekends between those two dates and Good Friday, 3 April 2026. Don’t forget that Hari Raya Pause is also a public holiday that falls on a Saturday between those two dates.

For 11 of these peak days, there will be traffic wardens stationed at the main gates of Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium, Mandai North Crematorium and Choa Chu Kang Columbarium to check entry of visitors to these facilities. Take note that the two inland ash scattering gardens (IAS) – Garden of Peace (at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery) and Garden of Serenity will be closed to visitors on these days. For those who do have to visit these gardens for scattering of the ashes during this period, they are required to show proof of their approved permit for inland ash scattering to the traffic wardens before they are allowed to enter the premises.

For those who are heading to the crematoria to attend a cremation service, there will be a jam so do allocate more time to buffer for any potential jam. The best is to follow the bus departing from the wake venue towards the crematorium for cremation as they have special entry lanes into the crematorium that allows the buses to bypass the crowd and queue. For those entering the premises for the collection of ashes, get ready the “collection of cremated remains” document to pass to the traffic wardens to be allowed entry into the ash collection centre.

Visitors who plan to park in Choa Chu Kang and Mandai Columbaria are also required to make an e-appointment on these 11 days.