NDP 2026: How Singapore's Biggest-Ever Lighting Show Is Coming Together

Michael Chan, 42, is the man behind the lighting design for NDP 2026. He spent months planning and programming every single lighting cue before the team even stepped inside the National Stadium. The setup includes 54 laser units, 1,654 entertainment lighting fixtures, and 170 special effects units. Convincing the committee to approve such a large setup was not easy. Chan said his team asked for about 50 per cent more equipment than was used when the parade was held at the Padang, because the National Stadium is much bigger.

One of the hardest parts of the show is its fourth act. That section features a mix of TV and theme songs, and the music changes every 30 to 50 seconds. Chan said his team had to come up with a different lighting look for each song, while making sure the changes felt smooth and connected. "We have to find a unique look for every single one, while move seamlessly from one to another, but at the same time making it cohesive as one chapter," he said. Getting that balance right took a great deal of planning and creativity.

The stage itself was also designed with smooth changes in mind. Set designer Randy Chan, 56, who has worked on six previous parades, created an arrow-shaped stage that stretches more than 160 metres. He studied the stadium's size, how audiences see the stage from different angles, and how performers move on and off. The stage has six lifts and eight tunnel entrances and exits, which allow performers to appear and disappear quickly. This makes the choreography more exciting and keeps the show moving at a fast pace.

This year's parade will also include a drone show unlike anything seen at NDP before. Three hundred drones will perform inside the stadium alongside singer Jasmine Sokko and two aerialists. Kwek Qing Wei, a senior programme manager at the Defence Science and Technology Agency, said one of the biggest challenges was getting all 300 drones to fly together in a timed and coordinated way. They also had to match the movements of the performers, the beat of the music, and the lighting cues. Setting up the indoor positioning system so the drones could receive the right signals took almost a full month.

Safety was a top priority for the drone segment. Each drone must stay at least 3 metres away from performers at all times, and they can fly as high as 24 metres. If a drone loses its connection during a performance, backup programming kicks in so the remaining drones can adjust their positions right away. Kwek said these connection problems have happened in fewer than 1 per cent of all flights. An extra 12 drones will also be on standby during the actual parade, just in case they are needed.

Behind all of this is the NDP show management committee, led by Lieutenant Colonel Koh Jun Kiat, 34. His team has spotters placed around and beneath the stage to watch for any problems, such as a prop falling in the wrong place or a float breaking down. After every rehearsal, the committee holds a debrief with more than 2,600 performers to talk through what needs to change. They look at choreography, timing, and how performers enter and exit the stage. Koh said his team's job is to make sure all the creative ideas actually come to life smoothly for the audience, both at the stadium and watching at home.