If you work in banking, payments, AI or startups, you may have heard colleagues talking about "SFF". For everyone else, here is a plain-English guide to the Singapore FinTech Festival, which takes over Singapore EXPO from 18 to 20 November 2026.

What is the Singapore FinTech Festival?

It is an annual conference and exhibition on finance and technology. The 2026 edition is organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), in collaboration with The Association of Banks in Singapore. GFTN is a not-for-profit entity that MAS set up in 2024.

The Business Times reported that last year's edition drew about 70,000 visitors from 142 countries, and that organisers are expecting similar numbers this year.

Key dates and venue

Main festival: Wed 18 to Fri 20 Nov 2026 at Singapore EXPO, Halls 1 to 6
Festival Week events begin from 16 Nov, including the Insights2040 Annual Meetings at Sands Expo and Convention Centre

What is on?

According to the organisers' programme and Singapore Business Review, this year's discussions are organised around five themes: Technology, Geoeconomics, Capital, Talent and Policy. Highlights include:

  • A multi-hall exhibition and international pavilions across Singapore EXPO
  • Seven stages for talks, including the Festival Stage, Founders Stage, Policy Stage and FutureMatters Stage
  • Founders Peak, a TED-inspired speaker series, plus Investor Hours and a Capital Meets Policy Dialogue
  • The Global FinTech Hackcelerator, which spotlights early-stage startups with mentorship, investor access and a Demo Day prize pool
  • SFF MeetUp, a networking programme

Can the public go?

Here is where we want to be upfront. SFF is a professional event, not a free public fair. The official site lists paid passes, for example a Delegate Pass at S$1,500, a Startup Pass at S$650 and a MeetUp Pass at S$380, with group and executive options too. Some complimentary passes are offered to specific groups. The organisers' site mentions central banks, regulators and government institutions, and MAS's media release for the 2025 edition and Singapore Business Review list governments, policymakers, academics, students, multilateral agencies, non-profits and foundations. We could not find a general free-entry ticket for the public, so please check eligibility and register only through the official registration page.

Getting there

Singapore EXPO says it is located at Expo MRT station (CG1/DT35), which connects to both the East-West Line and the Downtown Line.

Planning tips

  1. Register and buy only on the official festival website. Be careful of resellers or unofficial links.
  2. Check the day's agenda before you go. Sessions and stages are spread across several halls.
  3. Expect crowds around Expo on weekdays. Allow extra travel time.
  4. If you cannot attend, look out for news coverage and the organisers' updates during the event.

Why it matters to everyday Singapore

Many of the topics, from digital payments to AI in banking, eventually show up in the apps and services we use. If you are curious, it is a good week to follow the headlines.

Dates, passes and programme can change, so please check the official site before making plans.