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How to Attend the 2025 Singapore FinTech Festival - November 12 - 14 2025

Our comprehensive guide to attending the Singapore FinTech Festival covers event highlights, travel tips, accommodation, key stages, and expert insights to make the most of your experience.
Updated 9 November 2024
Summary
  • This guide, the first of its kind for New Zealanders, is aimed at anyone considering attending the Singapore FinTech Festival and consists of research undertaken in November 2024. If you plan to attend the festival, it usually takes place in November, with the dates set at least 12 months in advance.

Our guide covers the following:​
Our Top Tips:
  • Dress comfortably for long days - light clothes (with a light second layer if you get cold from the aircon), suitable walking shoes and a bag if you want to pick things up from the different expo stands.
  • Have a fully charged phone - the festival's app is useful, but without it (or accessing the festival's website) it's hard to know what events are going on. Also, you'll likely meet people who want to see you later, so being contactable is helpful. 
  • Drink lots of water - plenty of free tea, coffee and water are available, and many trade hall stands offer free barista coffee as a perk which helps keep you going.
  • With the long hours and potentially extensive back-to-back events, talks, and expo hall exploration, you must be prepared and comfortable enough to enjoy the festival fully.
MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh explains his experience from 2024:
"The Singapore FinTech Festival is highly valuable to anyone working in the fintech space looking for ideas and is unlike anything else held in the world. There is a lot packed into three days - hundreds of talks, some 700+ exhibitors, 30+ international pavilions and 100+ talks. There are also side events and new tech demos. 

When it comes to the exhibitors, what's on offer varies. Some of what you see will impress, some of it is a work-in-progress, some of it is bizarre, and some of it will be irrelevant in a year (or less). However, what's important is that you get out and try the demos, talk to the stands, learn from asking questions and see into the future. Even KYC, which as a concept is arguably as boring as it gets, will have companies doing innovative things in this space that makes it interesting. 

What I liked most was the professionalism of it all; the talks, for the most part, run on time, and the people you see on stage are highly relevant to fintech. This is not a grifter or spruiker event event - what you see, hear and experience is high quality. If you have business to do in Singapore, then you can work it all in during the week you're there. Some New Zealand-based fintech companies that attended in 2024 met with NZTE at the New Zealand High Commission, furthering their growth potential - you can contact NZTE in advance if this is of interest to you.

There's a lot to like about the Singapore FinTech Festival and it's an event I will return to every year given its high quality".
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder

Singapore FinTech Festival Events in a Nutshell

The Singapore FinTech Festival is one of the world's leading events for financial technology, attracting over 30,000 attendees annually. Held at the Singapore Expo, the festival showcases cutting-edge fintech innovations through hundreds of talks, over 700 exhibitors, and dozens of international pavilions.

Attendees include industry professionals, investors, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts. The event is highly regarded for its structured schedule, insightful sessions, and unique networking and educational opportunities.

New Zealanders rarely attend the festival, but by publishing this guide, we hope to change that. In 2024, the festival significantly benefited MoneyHub by helping create new guides covering essential personal finance topics, looking at what industry peers are doing, and learning from their successes and pivots.

Monday & Tuesday (Pre-Festival Insights and Side Events)
  • Arriving in Singapore on Monday or Tuesday provides time to acclimatise and prepare for the full festival experience.
  • We suggest pre-registering for side events, which will be demos of the latest tech at offices in downtown Singapore. These can be fascinating or a waste of time, depending on what you select and how relevant it is to you.
  • The festival's website lists the side events, but you must register well in advance. It's best to review and email/register at least a week before you arrive.
  • Many international delegates also take advantage of these days to attend side events and networking meetups in downtown Singapore.

Wednesday to Friday (Main Festival Activities)
The main events kick off on Wednesday and run through Friday, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and various workshops. There are many stages, located within the six halls, all of which are easy to walk to. Attendees simply scan, enter and find a seat.
  1. Festival Stage: This main stage hosts the event's marquee presentations and keynote addresses, featuring high-profile industry leaders, government officials, and innovators discussing big-picture trends and the future of fintech globally.
  2. FutureMatters Stage: A forward-thinking platform focused on emerging trends, disruptive innovations, and the long-term impact of new technologies on the financial sector. Topics often include AI, blockchain advancements, and the future of digital finance.
  3. ESG Stage: Dedicated to discussions on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives within the fintech space. Sessions cover sustainability, responsible finance, green fintech solutions, and how technology can support social and environmental goals.
  4. Founders Stage: A dynamic space where startup founders and entrepreneurs share their stories, challenges, and insights. Attendees can expect pitches, success stories, and advice from those navigating the fintech startup ecosystem.
  5. Regulation Stage: Focused on policy, compliance, and regulatory issues impacting fintech. This stage features experts and policymakers providing insights on global and local regulations, data protection, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
  6. Talent Stage: Centred on workforce development and the skills needed in fintech. Discussions often include building a strong talent pipeline, upskilling, diversity in tech, and future job trends in the industry.
  7. Technology Stage: A deep dive into the latest tech driving fintech innovation, including workshops and demos on cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics, and more. It's a hub for those interested in the technical backbone of the fintech world.

Exhibitors display their latest technologies in expansive halls, and attendees have opportunities to interact with global industry leaders. The festival wraps up daily around 6 pm, but evening activities, including post-event receptions and meetups, are common. The festival's app helps attendees stay organised, ensuring they don't miss essential networking talks or opportunities.

Getting to Singapore, When to Arrive and Where to Stay

Singapore isn't that big, but it's worth investing a few nights to make the most of it. We suggest arriving on Monday or Tuesday, even though the festival doesn't start until Wednesday morning. This allows you time to settle in. If you're booking Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines, there are direct flights every day from Auckland and Christchurch. If you book Qantas, you'll likely be routed via Melbourne or Sydney.

MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh suggests his favourite time to get to Singapore:
"Arriving on Monday or Tuesday late afternoon works well - you can explore Singapore but avoid staying up too late and missing out on sleep that will get you through the festival. There are also almost always side-events on Monday and Tuesday evening, which are well worth reserving in advance (lists will be on the festival's website closer to the time)".

Staying in Singapore

  • Singapore ​hotels can get expensive, but if you book in advance, you can get some good deals. We don't suggest booking AirBnB - hotels are easier in Singapore unless you're travelling with a large group and want to be in one place.
  • We suggest booking at least six months in advance.
  • Sites like Booking.com offer the most selection. 

Estimated Costs

  1. Hotels: S$100 to $200+/night for a standard Mercure-type hotel. You'll likely need a 4 or 5-night stay.
  2. Food and Drinks: The festival gives every attendee (other than those on free passes, such as university students) free food. There are three areas; western food, Asian food and Indian food, with three serving times - mid-morning, lunch and afternoon tea. This is convenient and avoids you needing to use the (paid) food hall. Your badge will be scanned for every serving, and the food is very high quality. Outside of the festival, eating in Singapore can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. Hawker centres, located all over Singapore, offer decent food for S$5 to S$10. If you go high-end, expect to pay a lot more. Alcohol is expensive - outside of 'happy hours', expect to pay around S$15 to S$20 for a beer and S$60+ for an entry-level bottle of wine.
  3. Taxis: Cheap around town, and the bus and metro welcome debit and credit cards where you tap in and tap out. 
  4. Flights from New Zealand: Around NZ$1,500 return direct for economy, or cheaper if you go with Qantas.

When to Leave Singapore

​Everything finishes around 6pm on the Friday, although there will be at least one after-event downtown which may be of interest. We suggest flying out late Friday evening or anytime on Saturday (which will be more relaxed). ​

MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh suggests staying until Saturday afternoon and explains why:
"There's no reason to rush out of Singapore on the Friday; there are lots of events, and you will get a chance to see more of Singapore the longer you stay. My favourite time to leave is around 6pm on the Saturday, when flights to Auckland and Christchurch leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

​What's the best time to arrive at the venue to secure good seats?

For most events, there is no need - there is plenty of space, and in the worst case, you will stand. Events are, for most people, a drop-in and listen affair, so nothing is ticketed, and the access is a simple badge scan.​

Where should I stay?

The Singapore Fintech Festival takes place at Expo, which is right beside Singapore Changi Airport. Our view is simple - stay downtown and take public transport to and from the Expo for the three days you'll attend. Almost all of the pre-events (Monday and Tuesday) and after-events (Wednesday to Friday) are downtown, and you'll want to be as close to your bed as when those wrap up. Singapore has lots of hotels - anywhere near Telok Ayer and downtown (there are several), which makes it an easy direct connection (around 45 minutes) to the Expo halls.

How should I prepare for weather and other conditions?

Bring cool clothing, but have a light layer as some stages/venues within the Expo are arguably far too cooled. You may want to bring an umbrella given the climate.

What are the key parts of the event I shouldn't miss?

Make sure to read every page of the Singapore FinTech Festival website, as it will list side events, pre-events and after-events, alongside the official program. There is a lot to read over, so do that well in advance of every day and use the festival's app to calander invite you to the events. There is too much on offer to be specific about anything, as every attendee will have specific interests.

What unique experiences can attendees participate in during the event?

Visit the exhibit halls - there are a lot of companies working in payment tech, but beyond that, there is everything from wealth management and insurance to credit checks, ID and KYC, and other interesting businesses. There is also a section that houses many government exhibits. The halls take some time to walk around, but they are worth at least a couple of hours every day. 

What are the best transportation options to and from the Expo?

We suggest you take the train - it's quick, cheap and gets you there. Taxis can be faster or slower depending on rain or traffic, and if you're staying around Marine Parade, there are local buses.

How early should I book my accommodation, and what should I expect to pay?

Book your hotel at least six months in advance, especially since hotel rates can be significantly higher during the event. Expect to pay around S$150 per night. Given the size of Singapore, and even though 30,000+ people attend the festival, there is no surge pricing on hotels during the week it runs.

What should I expect in terms of security checks at the entrance?

It's very limited - your badge is scanned and you are let in. Security staff do work at the event but no one we saw was scanned.

Are the sessions recorded or livestreamed for later viewing?

No - the festival is a closed event, and what you hear won't be screened later. This is why it's important to pre-read the events and make sure you attend those that are valuable to you.

Are there any invite-only or special access events during the Singapore Fintech Festival?

Yes, certain events may require special invitations or have restricted access. This includes the official Monday and Tuesday events, which are branded as the Insights Forum. These include private events, with a focus on government policy, regulation, trade and other areas. If you're from a government or regulatory organisation, it's likely you will be able to attend, but this guide focuses on the general Wednesday to Friday events, talks and trade hall exhibitors.
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