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SINGAPORE \u2013 The Purple Parade has been postponed amid worsening haze conditions,<\/span><\/a> organisers announced on Oct 16.<\/p>\n The event, a ground-up movement that promotes awareness of the special needs community, was set to be held on Oct 24 at Suntec City.<\/p>\n \u201cIn view of the current unpredictable and unhealthy haze situation, The Purple Parade 2026 will be postponed to the first half of 2027,\u201d organisers said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n \u201cThe safety and well-being of our participants, especially persons with disabilities and their caregivers, remain our top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n A new event date will be shared once confirmed, added organisers.<\/p>\n Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Oct 16 that he had been looking forward to the event, noting that the organisers, performers, volunteers and partners were \u201craring to go\u201d after having put so much into preparations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is disappointing, but the health and well-being of our people must come first,\u201d he wrote in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Purple Parade movement is more than just a physical event so your efforts will not go to waste. Let\u2019s keep supporting inclusion and celebrating abilities and I look forward to joining everyone in 2027,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The Purple Parade chairman Rachel Ong said it was a \u201cdifficult decision\u201d to postpone the event because of the haze and thanked the organising committee and volunteers in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n She wrote: \u201cI plan my month around The Purple Parade, & the week leading up to the parade at Suntec is always blocked out. This year, that week will look a little different. The parade was meant to be next Saturday, 24th October.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful to our organising team and volunteers. They started planning right after last year\u2019s parade, & they\u2019ve given months of heart & hard work to get us ready. None of that effort is lost. It simply carries us forward to an even stronger celebration of inclusion next year.\u201d<\/p>\n In a separate document with frequently asked questions for the event\u2019s various stakeholders, organisers said they had considered options such as moving the event indoors.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, given the scale and complexity of the event, as well as venue availability and logistical requirements, an indoor arrangement that would allow us to deliver the event safely and meaningfully could not be confirmed in a short period of time,\u201d said organisers.<\/p>\n The document added that carnival coupons purchased for The Purple Parade 2026 will remain valid for use at the next edition in 2027.<\/p>\n Those unable to attend the next Purple Parade may request a refund for unused coupons by contacting AXS directly via email at cs@axs.com.sg<\/span><\/a>, or calling 6560-2727.<\/p>\n Refund requests for e-coupons will be processed by AXS until Dec 31. However, refunds are not available for merchandise purchased for The Purple Parade.<\/p>\n The first Purple Parade was held in 2013 and October\u2019s event was slated to be its 14th edition.<\/p>\n In 2025, over 15,000 people turned up<\/span><\/a> for the biggest edition of the annual parade that featured over 60 live performances, 60 carnival booths and more than 130 contingents marching together.<\/p>\n A slew of other events and facilities have also been affected by the haze situation.<\/p>\n On Oct 16, Beyond the Label, a nationwide movement to address the stigma faced by persons with mental health conditions, announced the cancellation of its in-person Beyond The Label Fest 2026 that was set to be held at Bayfront Event Space from Oct 23 to 25.<\/p>\n The event will move online, said the movement on Facebook, adding that the new dates and timings will be announced on its official social media channels.<\/p>\n At 12pm on Oct 16, national sports agency Sport Singapore closed all its outdoor and non-air-conditioned ActiveSG facilities across the island. Those that are indoor and are air-conditioned remain open.<\/p>\n All activities at The Kallang\u2019s outdoor venues \u2013 OCBC Aquatic Centre, Water Sports Centre, Kallang Football Hub, Kallang Tennis Hub\u2019s outdoor courts and all community facilities \u2013 have also been suspended, the precinct said at 10am.<\/p>\n Science Centre Singapore closed its observatory on Oct 16, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force\u2019s weekly Fire Station Open House and the Singapore Botanic Gardens\u2019 free tours slated for Oct 17 have also been cancelled.<\/p>\n Singapore has been experiencing its longest continuous stretch of poor air quality<\/span><\/a> since the 2015 haze crisis.<\/p>\n Hazy conditions across the island worsened on Oct 16 with the east, west and central regions recording \u201cvery unhealthy\u201d Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) levels alongside \u201chigh\u201d PM2.5 readings.<\/p>\nOther events and facilities affected<\/h2>\n