The Singapore Tourism Board says scaffolding will cover the main Merlion statue at Merlion Park for cleaning and repair works from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 November 2026.

The main Merlion statue at Merlion Park will not be available for photos from 24 to 26 November 2026. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the government agency that promotes tourism, issued the notice on 27 October. The nearby Merlion cub statue stays open for photos.

TL;DR

  • Cleaning and repair works on the main Merlion statue run from 24 to 26 November 2026, which is Tuesday to Thursday.
  • The statue will be enclosed in scaffolding and cannot be photographed during the works, and barricades may cause some inconvenience.
  • The Merlion cub statue nearby remains open for photos.

When exactly will the Merlion statue be unavailable?

STB's notice, published on 27 October 2026, gives the works dates as 24 to 26 November 2026. Merlion Park is at One Fullerton, beside Marina Bay. AsiaOne reported the same dates and said the statue last had minor maintenance on 8 September.

Can visitors still take a Merlion photo at Merlion Park?

Partly. STB says members of the public can still take photos with the Merlion cub statue, which AsiaOne describes as about 2 metres tall. The larger main statue will be behind scaffolding and is not available for photo-taking during the works.

Why is the Merlion being cleaned and repaired?

STB describes the works only as cleaning and repair works and asks the public for understanding. The notice does not say what repairs are needed or how extensive they are.

Why does it matter for your Singapore plans?

If a tour, staycation or layover includes a Merlion photo stop, check the dates first. Visitors in town from 24 to 26 November can plan around the cub statue or move the stop to the days either side. For other things on the calendar, see our guides to the Singapore Writers Festival from 13 to 22 November, the Singapore Media Festival at Marina Bay Sands from 1 to 5 December, and BTS THE CITY ARIRANG across the city in December.

What is not confirmed?

The notice does not list daily working hours, say whether any other part of the park will be barricaded beyond the statue, or give a reopening time. Dates can change, so check the STB media centre before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merlion Park closed from 24 to 26 November 2026?

STB's notice says the main statue is unavailable for photos and that barricades may cause inconvenience. It does not say the park is closed, and the cub statue remains open for photos.

What can I photograph instead of the main Merlion?

STB says the public can still take photos with the Merlion cub statue at Merlion Park during the works.

When can I photograph the main Merlion statue again?

The notice covers works from 24 to 26 November 2026 and gives no separate reopening time, so check STB for updates close to your visit.

Sources and Method

Original rewrite based on the Singapore Tourism Board media release of 27 October 2026 on cleaning and repair works for the main Merlion statue, and AsiaOne (Sean Ler, 27 October 2026). The year of the 8 September maintenance is not stated by AsiaOne and is presumed to be 2026. This is not travel or safety advice.