Marriage and parenthood, Singapore’s evolving social contract set to lead Rally agenda: Analysts

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SINGAPORE – Marriage and parenthood are expected to feature significantly in the 2026 National Day Rally, analysts said, as family formation becomes an increasingly important issue for Singapore’s long-term social and economic sustainability amid a very low fertility rate.

Rather than persuade people to have more children, the Rally is likely to focus on how starting families can become more compatible with people’s aspirations, they added.

In his National Day Message, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said a major review was under way on how families here are supported across various life stages – not only at the point of marriage and parenthood, but also throughout life’s journey.

He said that more details on plans to help parents with the costs of raising children will be provided in his Rally speech on Aug 23.

Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Kalpana Vignehsa said PM Wong’s reference to a “major review” suggests that he could announce a broader reconsideration of how families are supported across the life course, rather than a further fertility incentive.

This could mean looking at the costs of caring for children more as social infrastructure rather than a private family obligation, she said, noting that childcare is not a one-off expense.

“Rather, it is an ongoing infrastructure that determines whether parents can participate in the labour market and how much of the caregiving burden falls on families themselves,” she said.

Singapore Management University associate professor of law Eugene Tan said Singapore’s persistently low total fertility rate has been a longstanding existential challenge for the country. The Republic’s resident total fertility rate fell to a low of 0.87 in 2025.

Focusing on the issue at the Rally, the biggest political speech of the year, underscores that the Government is not giving up on building the Singapore core, even as the country will have to rely on immigration to make up the shortfall in resident births, said Tan.

Analysts said the Rally’s emphasis on family policy should be seen within the broader question of how Singapore can stay resilient and cohesive in a more uncertain world.

Kalpana said there was a common thread connecting the issues that PM Wong has been talking about, from families under pressure to workers being disrupted by technological change and an ageing population.

For instance, topics such as artificial intelligence, immigration, and creating a more family-friendly environment were also discussed during a June dialogue that PM Wong had with the Singapore Press Club.

Underlying these topics is how Singapore can adapt without losing social cohesion, and how the social contract should evolve to provide greater security while maintaining a sense of individual and collective responsibility, she added.

With geopolitics a mainstay of past Rally speeches, PM Wong is also expected to address how Singapore is responding to external developments.

Tan said the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and its impact on Singapore’s energy security is likely to come up, as is the city-state’s role in continuing to uphold a fraying rules-based order to protect its independence and sovereignty.

PM Wong may also discuss Singapore’s upcoming ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, and highlight the importance of the regional grouping to the neighbourhood.

How to follow the National Day Rally

PM Wong’s Rally speech on Aug 23 will begin at 6.45pm, with him speaking first in Malay, followed by Mandarin. He will then deliver his speech in English at 8pm.

The event, which will be held at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio, will be broadcast on local TV channels and radio stations, and streamed live on PM Wong’s and the Prime Minister’s Office’s YouTube channels.

The Rally is a platform for the prime minister to address the nation, give a report card on the progress it has made, share important policy matters and highlight Singapore’s future challenges.

The Straits Times will cover the 2026 event live. Catch the speech on the ST website and ST’s YouTube page.

Track the key announcements on ST’s live blog.

Download the ST app and turn on notifications to get news alerts. Get all the top stories and analyses on the National Day Rally in the ST Special Edition newsletter, delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.

What topics stood out at the Rally? Join the conversation on ST’s social media channels and watch key moments in videos.

Live updates in Chinese can be found on Lianhe Zaobao’s live blog at www.zaobao.com.sg/specials/liveblog/national-day-rally-2026

Those who miss the live broadcast can also watch the speech on www.youtube.com/pmosingapore or www.pmo.gov.sg from Aug 24.