What to expect for Budget 2026

[SINGAPORE] The year 2025 may be remembered as solidifying Singapore’s transition to its fourth-generation (4G) leadership.

This year should bring a clearer sense of the 4G team’s priorities, with its economic strategy review to be completed by mid-year. Some observers dubbed Budget 2025 an “election Budget”, characterised by largesse in a year that was also Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

With another election unlikely for four to five years, Budget 2026 could focus on long-term issues such as climate change and ageing – themes also present in past years, said Denise Cheok, head of South-east Asia economics at Moody’s Analytics.With the election over, the focus may be on long-term issues such as climate change and the ageing population.

Singapore Budget 2026 wishlist

Here’s what some sectors are hoping will be announced on February 12, when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivers the Budget speech in Parliament.

• Easing the tax squeeze on sandwiched working mums with Budget 2026
• Property players call for lower ABSD on foreign buyers, review of EC income and loan caps
• F&B association calls for rental caps, foreign worker levy removal in Budget 2026 wish list
• Retailers warn of being outpaced by foreign rivals as they lay out Budget 2026 proposals

We’ll be livestreaming the speech on our website, as well as live blogging all the announcements in real time.

For all our Budget 2026 coverage, go to bt.sg/budget26