Behind the scenes at NDP 2026: Meet the unsung heroes who made the parade possible

While 42,000 spectators filled the National Stadium to celebrate Singapore's 61st birthday on Sunday (Aug 9), 21-year-old Zevita Ng was among the many volunteers working behind the scenes to ensure the National Day Parade (NDP) ran smoothly. 

For Zevita, the assignment felt like a full-circle moment.

The last time she attended an NDP at the National Stadium was 10 years ago as a Primary 5 student.

This year, she returned on the other side of the experience as an NDP volunteer, greeting spectators and helping to set the mood before they entered the stadium.

"It was like a full-circle moment to come back here for my first NDP as a volunteer," she told AsiaOne at one of the stadium entrances.

Giving back on National Day

Behind the performances, fireworks and celebrations is a small army of volunteers and national servicemen carrying out duties across the parade grounds. 

Some helped to ensure safety and security, while others welcomed spectators, guided student performers and kept facilities clean throughout the event.

An event volunteer with Heartware Network, Zevita is in her first year with the organisation and was deployed for all five NDP shows, including the National Education (NE) shows.

During the NE shows, volunteers accompanied Primary 5 students throughout the event and ensured they returned safely after the celebrations.

As she prepared for the final NDP deployment of the year, Zevita said she was excited to see her fellow volunteers again but was also looking forward to a break after five to six consecutive Saturdays of volunteering.

"Today is the last time we can see all my volunteer group friends, so I'm very excited, but also excited for this to end because it's been very tiring for the past five, six Saturdays," said Zevita, who is currently working part-time as a chef while waiting to start university.

Having once attended NDP as a student herself, she now found herself helping create that same experience for a new generation of young Singaporeans.

NSF trio take on show support duties for their first NDP

Three more Gen Z Singaporeans, Ang Di Jin, 22, Nicholas Lee, 23, and Isaac Tan, 21, were also experiencing their first NDP, albeit in a different capacity.

Unlike Zevita, the trio did not sign up as volunteers. 

As full-time national servicemen, they were deployed as show support staff, helping to usher Ministry of Education student performers around the stage and ensuring they were in position ahead of their performances.

Although it was their first NDP, they had been involved throughout the rehearsals and preview shows.

Tan said he was initially apprehensive because they did not know what to expect from the deployment.

"At the start, I was a bit hesitant because we didn't really know what to expect or what to do," he said.

However, as the weeks progressed, they became more familiar with the procedures and grew to enjoy the experience.

"It just became more fun and more fun," he said.

With the actual NDP finally here, Tan described being part of the show as a "very surreal" experience.

Keeping the venue clean

Away from the spotlight, another group of volunteers was working to ensure that the National Stadium remained welcoming for the thousands of spectators in attendance.

The Public Hygiene Council (PHC) deployed 24 volunteers from its RISE Champions Network as Cleanliness Champions for NDP 2026.

The volunteers conducted regular checks of toilet facilities, encouraged patrons to dispose of their litter responsibly and reported cleanliness issues to the NDP operations team for follow-up.

PHC chairman Andrew Khng and executive director Christina Liew were also on-site to observe the ground operations.

The initiative supports the wider Keep Singapore Clean message through signage and hygiene reminders across the NDP venue.

This year’s NDP theme is 'Majulah Singapura, Go Beyond!'

The theme calls on Singaporeans to do better for the nation and for one another, a spirit reflected in the efforts of the many individuals working behind the scenes to make the event possible.

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