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| Meta Title | Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 In Singapore: 27 August 2026 | |||||||||||||||
| Meta Description | All you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 in Singapore celebrated on the seventh month in the lunar calendar. | |||||||||||||||
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| Boilerpipe Text | All you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 in Singapore, so you can explain this traditional Chinese festival to kids. Plus what not to do during the 7th month of the lunar calendar, aka Ghost Month!
The seventh month of the Lunar calendar is when the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 takes place โ it officially starts on 13 August 2026, with Ghost Day taking place on 27 August 2026. If youโre seeing lots of incense candles and food offerings in your neighbourhood, itโs likely because people are observing Ghost Month. Letโs take a look at what the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is all about.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie ไธญๅ
่ in Mandarin, Chung-Yuan ไธญๅ
in formal Chinese or Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism) and marks the opening of the Gates of Hell where the ghosts or spirits were able to return to Earth. Often called the Chinese Ghost Festival, itโs celebrated by Buddhist and Taoist devotees to honour the memories of the deceased.
When is the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026:
Start & end date
The first lunar day of the 7th month is on Thursday 13 August 2026. Hungry Ghost Festival aka Chinese Ghost Festival takes place traditionally on the 15th night of the 7th month (Thursday, 27 August 2026) which is sometimes called Chinese Ghost Month. The first lunar day of the 8th lunar month is on 11 September 2026. Therefore, the โfestivitiesโ of Hungry Ghost Festival are a month-long affair during the 7th month/Ghost month 13 August 2026 to 11 September 2026.
Traditionally, Chinese people believed that the 7th lunar month was plagued with disasters so naturally they feared this month. The general belief is that it is unwise to make major decisions during this time. So ideally many donโt initiate a new business or move into a new house during the 7th month.
Key dates: 2026 Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Day
13 August 2026: the first day of the 7th lunar month:
The Hungry Ghost Festival officially starts. It is said that on this day, the gates of hell open, allowing deceased spirits to pass back into our world.
27 August 2026 is the 15th lunar day:
This is Zhong Yuan Jie, also known as โGhost Day,โ when itโs believed that ghosts are most active. It is common for people to burn joss paper and feed the ravenous spirits on this day.
11 September 2026:
The Hungry Ghost Festival ends on the 29th day of the seventh month. The Gate of Hell is closed and the ghosts go back. People offer sacrifices on this day to pray for safety for the rest of the year.
*Do note the lunar calendar may change so always double-check dates.
Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr โ Burning paper effigies during Hungry Ghost Festival
How is the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated?
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Chinese believe that ghosts and spirits, including deceased ancestors, roam the earth on a kind of โvacationโ. During this ghost month and particularly on the 15th day, they wander around searching for food and entertainment or visit the living.
As a form of ancestor worship and to appease these spirits, all sorts of offerings are made during the Hungry Ghost Festival, especially on the three main days: the 1
st
, 15
th
and last day of the 7th month.
Offerings during Ghost Month/ Seventh Month
During Ghost Month (Seventh month) people will burn offerings in special metal cages set up outside housing estates and temples. Items such as paper money, incense candles/joss sticks and elaborate paper effigies of material goods, such as houses, cars, phones and even outfits are burned. This is so the departed can use them in the afterlife. The paper creations are a marvel to see (you can often find them at HDB markets โ there are shops offering them at
Tiong Bahru market
and
Chinatown
).
Another important part of the offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival is food. Those celebrating will leave food on the sidewalk or at temples to satisfy the ghostsโ appetites and appease their deceased family members, and in return bring good luck.
The 7th month is considered an inauspicious month, so there are lots of โdonโtsโ in order to avoid encountering โbad luckโ. A few include:
Donโt move into a new house
Donโt start a new business
Donโt stay out late/go out at night
Donโt disturb the offerings
Donโt swim (and avoid any water activities)
Donโt hang your clothes outside to dry too late
Donโt pick up anything from the ground
Donโt turn your head when someone calls you
Donโt wear clothes with your name on it
Donโt whistle
During the seventh month, some families may get the kids to wear a small red triangular religious pendant to their shirts to protect them during this month. Within the pendant are religious papers from the temple. Some people keep the paper in their wallets and others wear religious bracelets during this time.
Image credit: Crystal via Flickr โ Getai Performances at Hungry Ghost Festival: Chinese Opera
Singapore Hungry Ghost Festival performances & e-Getai
One of the highlights of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is the colourful performances of Chinese operas and live drama โ
getaiโ
performances.
Getaiย
used to be a stage for traditional opera and puppet performances, with a majority of songs performed in dialects such as Hokkien. In Singapore, performances for the Hungry Ghost Festival have evolved to include modern pop songs in Chinese and even Korean.
Large tents are set up near housing estates with these performances as well as
e-Getai
โ live-streamed performances online. If you do see any physical shows, visitors are welcome but always ensure you leave the front row of seats empty โ those are for the honoured ghosts themselves!
Read more:
Kid-Friendly Guide To Chinatown
Lead image: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr. Article originally written by Beate Baldry in 2024. Last updated by the Sassy Mama team in December 2025. | |||||||||||||||
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# Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 Explained & What Not To Do During The 7th Month
Posted on 01 January, 2026 \| By Sassy Mama
[Post Category - What's OnWhat's On](https://www.sassymamasg.com/category/whats-on/)
[Post Category - What's OnWhat's On](https://www.sassymamasg.com/category/whats-on/)
## All you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 in Singapore, so you can explain this traditional Chinese festival to kids. Plus what not to do during the 7th month of the lunar calendar, aka Ghost Month\!
The seventh month of the Lunar calendar is when the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 takes place โ it officially starts on 13 August 2026, with Ghost Day taking place on 27 August 2026. If youโre seeing lots of incense candles and food offerings in your neighbourhood, itโs likely because people are observing Ghost Month. Letโs take a look at what the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is all about.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie ไธญๅ
่ in Mandarin, Chung-Yuan ไธญๅ
in formal Chinese or Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism) and marks the opening of the Gates of Hell where the ghosts or spirits were able to return to Earth. Often called the Chinese Ghost Festival, itโs celebrated by Buddhist and Taoist devotees to honour the memories of the deceased.
## When is the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026: Start & end date
The first lunar day of the 7th month is on Thursday 13 August 2026. Hungry Ghost Festival aka Chinese Ghost Festival takes place traditionally on the 15th night of the 7th month (Thursday, 27 August 2026) which is sometimes called Chinese Ghost Month. The first lunar day of the 8th lunar month is on 11 September 2026. Therefore, the โfestivitiesโ of Hungry Ghost Festival are a month-long affair during the 7th month/Ghost month 13 August 2026 to 11 September 2026.
Traditionally, Chinese people believed that the 7th lunar month was plagued with disasters so naturally they feared this month. The general belief is that it is unwise to make major decisions during this time. So ideally many donโt initiate a new business or move into a new house during the 7th month.
## Key dates: 2026 Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Day
**13 August 2026: the first day of the 7th lunar month:** The Hungry Ghost Festival officially starts. It is said that on this day, the gates of hell open, allowing deceased spirits to pass back into our world.
**27 August 2026 is the 15th lunar day:** This is Zhong Yuan Jie, also known as โGhost Day,โ when itโs believed that ghosts are most active. It is common for people to burn joss paper and feed the ravenous spirits on this day. **11 September 2026:** The Hungry Ghost Festival ends on the 29th day of the seventh month. The Gate of Hell is closed and the ghosts go back. People offer sacrifices on this day to pray for safety for the rest of the year.
*\*Do note the lunar calendar may change so always double-check dates.*
Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr โ Burning paper effigies during Hungry Ghost Festival
## How is the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated?
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Chinese believe that ghosts and spirits, including deceased ancestors, roam the earth on a kind of โvacationโ. During this ghost month and particularly on the 15th day, they wander around searching for food and entertainment or visit the living.
As a form of ancestor worship and to appease these spirits, all sorts of offerings are made during the Hungry Ghost Festival, especially on the three main days: the 1st, 15th and last day of the 7th month.
## Offerings during Ghost Month/ Seventh Month
During Ghost Month (Seventh month) people will burn offerings in special metal cages set up outside housing estates and temples. Items such as paper money, incense candles/joss sticks and elaborate paper effigies of material goods, such as houses, cars, phones and even outfits are burned. This is so the departed can use them in the afterlife. The paper creations are a marvel to see (you can often find them at HDB markets โ there are shops offering them at [Tiong Bahru market](https://www.sassymamasg.com/guides-tiong-bahru-neighbourhood-hipster-restaurants-cafes-shops/) and [Chinatown](https://www.sassymamasg.com/chinatown-singapore-guide-kid-friendly-activities-food-shopping/)).
Another important part of the offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival is food. Those celebrating will leave food on the sidewalk or at temples to satisfy the ghostsโ appetites and appease their deceased family members, and in return bring good luck.
## What not to do during the 7th month & Hungry Ghost Festival
The 7th month is considered an inauspicious month, so there are lots of โdonโtsโ in order to avoid encountering โbad luckโ. A few include:
- Donโt move into a new house
- Donโt start a new business
- Donโt stay out late/go out at night
- Donโt disturb the offerings
- Donโt swim (and avoid any water activities)
- Donโt hang your clothes outside to dry too late
- Donโt pick up anything from the ground
- Donโt turn your head when someone calls you
- Donโt wear clothes with your name on it
- Donโt whistle
During the seventh month, some families may get the kids to wear a small red triangular religious pendant to their shirts to protect them during this month. Within the pendant are religious papers from the temple. Some people keep the paper in their wallets and others wear religious bracelets during this time.
Image credit: Crystal via Flickr โ Getai Performances at Hungry Ghost Festival: Chinese Opera
## Singapore Hungry Ghost Festival performances & e-Getai
One of the highlights of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is the colourful performances of Chinese operas and live drama โ*getaiโ* performances. *Getai* used to be a stage for traditional opera and puppet performances, with a majority of songs performed in dialects such as Hokkien. In Singapore, performances for the Hungry Ghost Festival have evolved to include modern pop songs in Chinese and even Korean.
Large tents are set up near housing estates with these performances as well as [e-Getai](https://www.facebook.com/sggetaisupporter/) โ live-streamed performances online. If you do see any physical shows, visitors are welcome but always ensure you leave the front row of seats empty โ those are for the honoured ghosts themselves\!
*Read more: [Kid-Friendly Guide To Chinatown](https://www.sassymamasg.com/chinatown-singapore-guide-kid-friendly-activities-food-shopping/)*
*Lead image: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr. Article originally written by Beate Baldry in 2024. Last updated by the Sassy Mama team in December 2025.*
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| Readable Markdown | ## All you need to know about the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 in Singapore, so you can explain this traditional Chinese festival to kids. Plus what not to do during the 7th month of the lunar calendar, aka Ghost Month\!
The seventh month of the Lunar calendar is when the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026 takes place โ it officially starts on 13 August 2026, with Ghost Day taking place on 27 August 2026. If youโre seeing lots of incense candles and food offerings in your neighbourhood, itโs likely because people are observing Ghost Month. Letโs take a look at what the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is all about.
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie ไธญๅ
่ in Mandarin, Chung-Yuan ไธญๅ
in formal Chinese or Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism) and marks the opening of the Gates of Hell where the ghosts or spirits were able to return to Earth. Often called the Chinese Ghost Festival, itโs celebrated by Buddhist and Taoist devotees to honour the memories of the deceased.
## When is the Hungry Ghost Festival 2026: Start & end date
The first lunar day of the 7th month is on Thursday 13 August 2026. Hungry Ghost Festival aka Chinese Ghost Festival takes place traditionally on the 15th night of the 7th month (Thursday, 27 August 2026) which is sometimes called Chinese Ghost Month. The first lunar day of the 8th lunar month is on 11 September 2026. Therefore, the โfestivitiesโ of Hungry Ghost Festival are a month-long affair during the 7th month/Ghost month 13 August 2026 to 11 September 2026.
Traditionally, Chinese people believed that the 7th lunar month was plagued with disasters so naturally they feared this month. The general belief is that it is unwise to make major decisions during this time. So ideally many donโt initiate a new business or move into a new house during the 7th month.
## Key dates: 2026 Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Day
**13 August 2026: the first day of the 7th lunar month:** The Hungry Ghost Festival officially starts. It is said that on this day, the gates of hell open, allowing deceased spirits to pass back into our world.
**27 August 2026 is the 15th lunar day:** This is Zhong Yuan Jie, also known as โGhost Day,โ when itโs believed that ghosts are most active. It is common for people to burn joss paper and feed the ravenous spirits on this day. **11 September 2026:** The Hungry Ghost Festival ends on the 29th day of the seventh month. The Gate of Hell is closed and the ghosts go back. People offer sacrifices on this day to pray for safety for the rest of the year.
*\*Do note the lunar calendar may change so always double-check dates.*
Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr โ Burning paper effigies during Hungry Ghost Festival
## How is the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated?
During the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Chinese believe that ghosts and spirits, including deceased ancestors, roam the earth on a kind of โvacationโ. During this ghost month and particularly on the 15th day, they wander around searching for food and entertainment or visit the living.
As a form of ancestor worship and to appease these spirits, all sorts of offerings are made during the Hungry Ghost Festival, especially on the three main days: the 1st, 15th and last day of the 7th month.
## Offerings during Ghost Month/ Seventh Month
During Ghost Month (Seventh month) people will burn offerings in special metal cages set up outside housing estates and temples. Items such as paper money, incense candles/joss sticks and elaborate paper effigies of material goods, such as houses, cars, phones and even outfits are burned. This is so the departed can use them in the afterlife. The paper creations are a marvel to see (you can often find them at HDB markets โ there are shops offering them at [Tiong Bahru market](https://www.sassymamasg.com/guides-tiong-bahru-neighbourhood-hipster-restaurants-cafes-shops/) and [Chinatown](https://www.sassymamasg.com/chinatown-singapore-guide-kid-friendly-activities-food-shopping/)).
Another important part of the offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival is food. Those celebrating will leave food on the sidewalk or at temples to satisfy the ghostsโ appetites and appease their deceased family members, and in return bring good luck.
The 7th month is considered an inauspicious month, so there are lots of โdonโtsโ in order to avoid encountering โbad luckโ. A few include:
- Donโt move into a new house
- Donโt start a new business
- Donโt stay out late/go out at night
- Donโt disturb the offerings
- Donโt swim (and avoid any water activities)
- Donโt hang your clothes outside to dry too late
- Donโt pick up anything from the ground
- Donโt turn your head when someone calls you
- Donโt wear clothes with your name on it
- Donโt whistle
During the seventh month, some families may get the kids to wear a small red triangular religious pendant to their shirts to protect them during this month. Within the pendant are religious papers from the temple. Some people keep the paper in their wallets and others wear religious bracelets during this time.
Image credit: Crystal via Flickr โ Getai Performances at Hungry Ghost Festival: Chinese Opera
## Singapore Hungry Ghost Festival performances & e-Getai
One of the highlights of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore is the colourful performances of Chinese operas and live drama โ*getaiโ* performances. *Getai* used to be a stage for traditional opera and puppet performances, with a majority of songs performed in dialects such as Hokkien. In Singapore, performances for the Hungry Ghost Festival have evolved to include modern pop songs in Chinese and even Korean.
Large tents are set up near housing estates with these performances as well as [e-Getai](https://www.facebook.com/sggetaisupporter/) โ live-streamed performances online. If you do see any physical shows, visitors are welcome but always ensure you leave the front row of seats empty โ those are for the honoured ghosts themselves\!
*Read more: [Kid-Friendly Guide To Chinatown](https://www.sassymamasg.com/chinatown-singapore-guide-kid-friendly-activities-food-shopping/)*
*Lead image: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr. Article originally written by Beate Baldry in 2024. Last updated by the Sassy Mama team in December 2025.* | |||||||||||||||
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