The Mooncake Festival 2026 falls on Friday, 25 September. Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, it’s the season when Singapore lights up with lanterns and mooncake gifting begins months in advance.
Many in Singapore associate the Mooncake Festival with giving mooncakes, displaying lanterns and family gatherings.
Yet many of us are also unaware of the history behind it.
Read on and find out all you need to know about the festival also known as Mid-Autumn Festival (MAF).
History Of The Mooncake Festival
With a history of over 3,000 years, there are many variations on the Mid-Autumn Festival’s origins.
Nevertheless, the most well-known version is the one which commemorates Chang’E’s bravery and ascendency to the moon.
It began when Chang’E’s husband was rewarded with an elixir of immortality after he saved the earth.
But Chang’E swallowed it and ascended to the moon to prevent an apprentice from stealing and abusing the elixir.
When her husband discovered the tragedy, he began to offer flowers and fruit to his wife on the Moon.
To commemorate Chang’E for her bravery, many people began to pay tribute and it evolved into a tradition of Moon Goddess Worship on the day of Mid-Autumn Festival.
When Is Mooncake Festival Celebrated
The 2026 Mooncake Festival is on Friday, 25th September.
It traditionally falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Lunar calendar, which is between September and early October.
It marks the end of the Autumn Harvest and the Hungry Ghost Festival.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 September | Friday |
| 2027 | 15 September | Wednesday |
| 2028 | 3 October | Tuesday |
Note that the Mid-Autumn Festival is not a public holiday in Singapore, so shops and offices stay open.
How Do People Celebrate Mooncake Festival In Singapore
Gifting And Eating Mooncakes
While mooncakes were used to worship the moon and celebrate family reunions, they have evolved to represent relationships between loved ones, colleagues and business associates.
Companies gift them in bulk too, often with logo customisation. See our corporate mooncake gifting guide for how that works.
Some even begin their mooncake shopping 3 months before the festival, to reserve their favourite flavours and boxes as the popular ones can sell out fast.
Types Of Mooncake Boxes
Especially with an emphasis on sustainability, it is no longer enough for brands to offer simple boxes which can only double up as storage sets.
Instead, there is now an increased demand for more intricately designed and innovative boxes, such as Mdm Ling Bakery’s keepsake tins and game boxes.
These creative mooncake boxes can double up as board games, which are perfect for bonding moments with your loved ones, and will make great gifts too.
You’ll also play your part to reduce waste since you can use these Game Boxes as board games too.
Past years’ designs included Chinese Chess and Snakes & Ladders game boxes, and a limited edition Monopoly Street Smart Mooncake Game Box created in collaboration with Hasbro.
The first-of-its-kind concept is inspired by the most beautiful streets in the world and the iconic mooncake box can transform into a Monopoly game board set.
Past versions are no slouch either, with the Chinese Chess Box winning in the Sales & Display Product Category at the 2021 Singapore Packaging Star Award.
For Mid-Autumn 2026, the collection centres on keepsake designs made for a second life: The Painted Garden watercolour metal tin and the Blossom Drawer Chest with its working drawer.
Once the mooncakes are gone, the boxes live on. Get inspiration from our repurposing ideas for mooncake boxes.
Mooncake Flavours
From the traditional lotus paste mooncakes with salted egg to the contemporary versions with unique fillings, you can definitely find one that satisfies your taste buds.
Traditional Mooncakes
The traditional Cantonese-style mooncake is the most common.
This classic offers a taste of nostalgia and is the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.
Mdm Ling Bakery’s is made with a low sugar recipe: smooth, mildly sweet white lotus with the crunch of melon seeds and/or salted yolk. The baked range also carries Halal certification from Malaysia; see our halal and vegetarian mooncakes guide.
Contemporary Mooncakes
We used to associate ice cream and snowskin mooncakes as modern, but we’ve since seen even more contemporary versions.
For example, the lava mooncake is one of the latest trends in the market.
With a molten centre flowing with creamy custard, the mooncakes are transformed into unique delicacies that please the young and old.
It’s definitely hard to resist flavours such as Japanese Matcha, Belgian-Italian Chocolate Hazelnut, Hong Kong Salted Egg Yolk Custard and Nanyang Coffee Caramel.
In addition, there are mooncakes inspired by Chinese desserts, such as Orange Peel Red Bean, Longan Dan Feng Tea, Osmanthus Goji Berries and Peanut Sesame Paste, which levels up the nostalgia.
One can also find fusion versions such as the unique kueh lapis mooncakes where multi-layered goodness is wrapped with traditional mooncake skin.
Snowskin remains the most popular modern style. Mdm Ling Bakery’s 2026 snowskin range in the Orchid Reverie Tin features truffle flavours like Pistachio Kunafa and Muscat Grape.
Torn between the two styles? Our snowskin vs baked mooncakes guide breaks down the differences.
Moon Viewing
Loved ones gather to view the full moon, a symbol of family reunion in Chinese culture, as the moon is known to be the brightest and most beautiful on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Even if they are apart from each other, everyone can appreciate the same moon wherever they are.
Displaying Lanterns
Lanterns play a big part in the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Every year, lantern displays illuminate Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay and Chinese Garden, creating a festive atmosphere across Singapore. In 2026, the Chinatown street light-up runs from 18 September to 20 October.
Locals and tourists get together to catch the lantern walks and cultural performances, which only occur during this special season.
How Other Countries Celebrate Mooncake Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated globally, and not just in Singapore.
While mooncakes are enjoyed in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, others have their own traditions.
For example, Koreans celebrate the festival, also known as Chuseok by feasting on traditional food, such as rice cakes (songpyeon) and rice wine.
On the other hand, Japanese celebrate the Tsukimi by displaying traditional ornaments and decorations made from pampas grass and eating Japanese rice dumplings (Tsukimi dango).
Where To Buy Mooncakes In 2026
Mooncakes are usually available for pre-order from July, and you can find them at supermarkets or online retailers such as Mdm Ling Bakery.
Mdm Ling Bakery offers free local delivery for orders above $100, so you can get them delivered conveniently to your doorstep.
You can also order via Grab or Shopee.
You can also visit the flagship store at Jewel Changi Airport (#01-231) to see the collection in person.
Not to forget the annual mooncake fairs. See our guide to mooncake fairs at Takashimaya and more, where you can try samples before purchasing!
Mdm Ling Bakery’s early bird specials are on now, with deliveries from 25 August. Order before your favourites sell out!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Mooncake Festival in 2026?
Friday, 25 September 2026. Festivities start earlier: the Chinatown street light-up runs from 18 September to 20 October.
Is the Mid-Autumn Festival a public holiday in Singapore?
No. It’s widely celebrated, but it isn’t a gazetted public holiday, so work and school carry on as usual.
What do mooncakes symbolise?
The round shape mirrors the full moon and stands for completeness and family reunion. Sharing them expresses gratitude and keeps relationships whole, which is why Singaporeans gift mooncakes to family, friends and business partners.
How do you greet someone during the Mooncake Festival?
Say “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival”, or in Mandarin, zhong qiu jie kuai le (中秋节快乐).
When should I order mooncakes in Singapore?
Pre-orders open around July with early bird prices, and popular gift sets sell out before the festival. Order by early September to be safe; Mdm Ling Bakery’s deliveries start from 25 August.