Know an inspiring Singaporean? Make a nomination for ST Singaporean of the Year 2026

Chen Shiling, founder of Happee Hearts Movement, was winner of the award in 2025.

Published Sep 11, 2026, 12:00 PM

Updated Sep 11, 2026, 12:00 PM

SINGAPORE – Do you know a Singaporean who has gone above and beyond to make a difference to others, or whose achievements have made an impact beyond the country’s shores?

Nominations for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2026 awards open on Sept 11, as the search begins for individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to society.

The annual awards recognise Singaporeans who have put the country on the world stage, gone beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others, or made a difference through acts of courage, compassion and service.

Besides the main Singaporean of the Year award, nominations are also open for the International Impact Award and Young Singaporean of the Year Award.

The International Impact Award honours Singaporeans who have made a positive impact beyond the country’s borders and contributed to Singapore’s global reputation.

Nominees must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside Singapore.

The Young Singaporean of the Year Award recognises a Singaporean under the age of 18 who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness or a spirit of service, and made a positive impact among peers.

ST editor Jaime Ho said: “Each new year, as we consider a fresh batch of nominees, a slight anxiety always surfaces: Can our new nominees keep up with all our past winners? Over time, I’ve come to realise that this is an unnecessary anxiety. We keep getting surprised. We keep getting inspired.

“I am therefore optimistic that this year, we will unearth even more stories that will celebrate the common, yet exceptional goodness that resides within individuals in our community.”

Past recipients of the main award include Singaporeans whose achievements have placed the Republic on the world map, as well as those who have dedicated themselves to helping others in the community.

The 2025 Singaporean of the Year award went to Chen Shiling, who founded Happee Hearts Movement , a charity that runs Singapore’s first community-based dedicated healthcare service for people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers.

In 2024, Dignity Kitchen founder Koh Seng Choon received the award for his work in providing training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities through the social enterprise.

Sakthibalan Balathandautham was the 2021 winner after he donated part of his liver to a one-year-old girl whom he had never met.

The awards are organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore. The main Singaporean of the Year award was launched in 2015.

Young Jin Yee, co-head of UBS global wealth management Asia-Pacific and country head for UBS Singapore, said: “For more than a decade, the award has celebrated individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, exemplifying values of resilience, compassion and courage .

“With the expansion of the award categories last year, we are able to recognise a wider group of individuals, recognising that meaningful impact comes in many forms and that extraordinary acts of leadership, service and compassion can resonate far beyond our shores.”

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is the official airline partner of the awards, while Millennium Hotels and Resorts Group is the global hotel partner.

Lee Wen Fen, SIA’s chief sustainability officer and senior vice-president of corporate planning, said: “These awards are a testament to how Singaporeans step up to support others and strengthen our communities.

“We look forward to hearing the stories of this year’s nominees, and celebrating the difference they make in the lives of those around them.”

Kwek Eik Sheng, executive director of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said: “A strong society is built by individuals who step forward to uplift others and strengthen their communities.

“Through their service, resilience and compassion, these remarkable Singaporeans remind us how one person’s actions can make a meaningful difference. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make on our nation.”

Nominations will open from Sept 11 to Dec 10 at str.sg/soty2026nominate .

Singaporean of the Year Award

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.

The award recipient will receive:

One pair of Singapore Airlines business class tickets for each individual or group, up to three pairs of tickets for the winning group

A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for the winning group

Finalists will receive:

$5,000 in cash for each individual or group

One pair of Singapore Airlines economy class tickets for each individual or group, up to a maximum of three pairs for each group of finalists

A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist

International Impact Award

The award seeks to honour Singaporeans who have made a positive impact beyond Singapore’s borders, contributing to the country’s global reputation.

They must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside Singapore.

Young Singaporean of the Year Award

The award seeks to recognise a Singaporean under 18 who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.

A pair of Singapore Airlines economy class tickets

A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally

The awards are organised by The Straits Times, and presented by UBS Singapore. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines, and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

Go to str.sg/soty2026nominate or scan the QR code below and submit your nomination by Dec 10, 2026

For more info on SOTY, go to https://www.straitstimes.com/site-soty-2026

Singaporean of the Year

“幸福之心运动”创始人陈世玲荣获2025年该奖项。

发布于2026年9月11日下午12:00

更新于2026年9月11日中午12:00

新加坡——您是否认识一位竭尽全力帮助他人，或者其成就影响到新加坡以外地区的的新加坡人？

《海峡时报》2026年度新加坡人奖的提名将于9月11日开始，届时将寻找对社会做出重大贡献的个人和团体。

该年度奖项旨在表彰那些让新加坡在世界舞台上崭露头角、超越职责范围无私地改善他人生活或通过勇气、同情心和服务行为做出贡献的新加坡人。

除了主要的“新加坡年度人物奖”之外，国际影响力奖和“新加坡年度青年人物奖”的提名也已开放。

国际影响力奖旨在表彰对新加坡境外产生积极影响并为新加坡的全球声誉做出贡献的新加坡人。

被提名者必须完成一项对新加坡以外的社区或国家有益的项目、计划或作品。

新加坡年度青年奖旨在表彰18岁以下展现出勇气、同情心、同理心、善良或服务精神，并在同龄人中产生积极影响的新加坡青年。

《海峡时报》编辑何杰明表示：“每年当我们考虑新一批提名人选时，总会有些许担忧：新提名人选能否与历届获奖者比肩？随着时间的推移，我逐渐意识到这种担忧是多余的。我们不断获得惊喜，不断受到启发。”

“因此，我乐观地认为，今年我们将挖掘出更多故事，歌颂我们社区中每个人身上所蕴藏的平凡而又非凡的善良品质。”

该奖项的往届获得者包括那些为新加坡共和国赢得世界声誉的杰出人士，以及那些致力于帮助社区其他成员的人士。

2025 年新加坡年度人物奖颁给了陈诗玲，她创立了 Happee Hearts Movement，这是一个慈善机构，运营着新加坡第一个专门为智力障碍人士及其护理人员提供的社区医疗保健服务。

2024 年，尊严厨房创始人许成春因其通过社会企业为残疾人提供培训和就业机会而获得该奖项。

萨克蒂巴兰·巴拉坦达乌塔姆 (Sakthibalan Balathandautham) 因将自己的一部分肝脏捐献给一位素未谋面的一岁女童而荣获 2021 年的奖项。

这些奖项由《海峡时报》主办，瑞银新加坡分行颁发。其中，年度新加坡人奖于2015年设立。

瑞银全球财富管理亚太区联席主管兼瑞银新加坡区主管杨金仪表示：“十多年来，该奖项旨在表彰那些超越职责范围、展现韧性、同情心和勇气等价值观的个人。

“随着去年奖项类别的扩大，我们能够表彰更广泛的个人，这体现了有意义的影响可以以多种形式出现，而非凡的领导力、服务和同情心的行为可以远远超出我们的国界产生影响。”

新加坡航空公司（SIA）是该奖项的官方航空公司合作伙伴，而千禧酒店及度假村集团是全球酒店合作伙伴。

新加坡航空公司首席可持续发展官兼企业规划高级副总裁李文芬表示：“这些奖项证明了新加坡人如何挺身而出支持他人，加强我们的社区。”

“我们期待聆听今年提名者的故事，并庆祝他们为周围的人的生活带来的改变。”

千禧酒店集团执行董事郭益生表示：“一个强大的社会是由那些挺身而出帮助他人、增强社区凝聚力的个人所建立的。”

“这些杰出的新加坡人通过他们的奉献、坚韧和同情心，提醒我们一个人的行动可以产生多么深远的影响。我们为他们的成就以及他们持续为我们的国家带来的积极影响感到自豪。”

提名将于9月11日至12月10日在str.sg/soty2026nominate开放。

新加坡年度人物奖

《海峡时报》新加坡年度人物奖旨在表彰对社会做出杰出贡献的新加坡公民或公民团体。这些贡献包括使新加坡在世界舞台上崭露头角的成就，以及超越职责范围、无私奉献地改善社区其他成员生活等。

获奖者将获得：

每人或每组获奖者可获得两张新加坡航空商务舱机票，获奖组最多可获得三张机票。

获奖团队可在全球任何一家千禧酒店及度假村享受五晚住宿，最多可获得三套住宿。

入围决赛者将获得：

每人或每组 5,000 美元现金

每位入围决赛的个人或团体可获得两张新加坡航空经济舱机票，每组决赛入围者最多可获得三张。

每位决赛入围者可在全球千禧酒店及度假村旗下酒店享受三晚住宿，最多可获得三套住宿。

国际影响力奖

该奖项旨在表彰对新加坡境外产生积极影响、为提升新加坡国际声誉做出贡献的新加坡人。

他们必须完成过对新加坡以外的社区或国家有益的项目、计划或工作成果。

新加坡年度青年奖

该奖项旨在表彰18岁以下的新加坡青年，他们展现出勇气、同情心、同理心、善良或服务精神，并在同龄人中产生了积极影响。

两张新加坡航空经济舱机票

在全球千禧酒店及度假村旗下酒店享受三晚住宿。

这些奖项由《海峡时报》主办，瑞银新加坡分行颁发。官方航空合作伙伴是新加坡航空公司，全球酒店合作伙伴是千禧酒店集团。

请前往 str.sg/soty2026nominate 或扫描下方二维码，于 2026 年 12 月 10 日前提交您的提名。

有关年度学生奖的更多信息，请访问 https://www.straitstimes.com/site-soty-2026

新加坡年度人物