Fact Sheet: Exercise SG Ready 2026

Exercise Objective. The Total Defence (TD) exercise returns in 2026 with the theme “Are you ready for disruptions?” Exercise SG Ready (ESR) 2026 will focus on readiness for degraded digital connectivity and prolonged power outages and aims to encourage everyone to Plan for disruptions, Prepare to respond, and Play your part to keep Singapore strong. Singaporeans can contribute to our readiness by doing the following:

1. During a major crisis or disruption, Singaporeans should refer to official media channels for accurate information i.e. digital channels and TV broadcasts. If digital channels and TV broadcasts are unavailable, Singaporeans can tune in to FM radio broadcasts. Official information and updates are also available at community nodes such as the community centres, which are equipped to receive FM radio broadcasts. Refer to Para 4-5 for resources on what to do during such scenarios.

2. Look out for others, especially immediate neighbours and stand united as a society during crises.

ESR 2026 will commence on 1 February 2026 and run for two weeks until TD Day on 15 February 2026. About 1,000 organisations, schools and units from the education, community, business, and government sectors will carry out activities across the two-week exercise period to strengthen their continuity plans for digital and power disruptions.

Exercise Scenario. Set against the backdrop of an energy security crisis triggered by geopolitical uncertainties, our households, businesses, and communities are crippled by prolonged power outages, as critical IT systems struggle to maintain operations under the strain. Digital connectivity is progressively disrupted as the prolonged outage worsens. Amidst the disruptions, fake news and phishing attempts from unknown sources spread online, sowing distrust between social groups and eroding public trust. With the nation distracted and divided, the opportunity arises for foreign actors to strike at public areas. Security agencies are put on high alert against threats across our physical, digital, and social fronts. The Exercise SG Ready Scenario Video (Scan Figure 1 below) sets the context for the exercise activities, and members of the public are encouraged to watch it at https://go.gov.sg/sgreadyvideo.

Figure 1: QR Code for ESR Scenario Video

What To Do Resources

Exercise SG Ready Website. Members of the public can visit the ESR website at https://go.gov.sg/exercisesgready (or scan Figure 2) for online resources on what to do during a prolonged power outage and digital disruption. More details on the dates and locations of the exercise activities taking place are also available on the website.

Figure 2: QR Code for Exercise SG Ready Website

EMA has issued a guide in 2025 (scan Figure 3) on tips for households, individuals and organisations on what to do during a power outage. The guide remains relevant on how to prepare, and what to do during a sustained power outage. Members of the public can also refer to the SCDF Civil Defence Emergency Handbook^[1] for items to be packed in the Ready bag for emergencies. In conjunction with Exercise SG Ready, MDDI and IMDA have also developed a guide on “What to Do in a Digital Connectivity Disruption” (scan Figure 4). This guide will provide practical tips and resources on service resilience for public and businesses to be better prepared in the event of Internet disruptions, to minimise impact to their day-to-day activities.

Figure 3: QR Code for “Tips on What to Do During a Power Outage” Guide

Figure 4: QR Code for “What to Do in a Digital Connectivity Disruption” Guide

Key Highlights

Sounding of Public Warning System (PWS) on 1 February 2026. The PWS will sound the “Important Message” signal for a minute on 1 February 2026 at 3pm, instead of 15 February this year. Apart from the PWS, the signal will also sound for 20 seconds on all smartphones downloaded with SCDF’s myResponder App and SGSecure App if prior permission was given. The PWS sounding will be followed by a broadcast of the TD message for 2026 by Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security, on all local radio stations and free-to-air TV channels.

Pilot Testing of Broadcast Alert Message on ERP2.0 On-Board Units (OBU). In conjunction with the sounding of the PWS siren at 3pm, there will be a broadcast alert message pop-up on the ERP 2.0 OBU for cars, with intermittent broadcasts starting from 2.45pm. The broadcast alert message will announce that the PWS “Important Message” signal has been sounded as part of Exercise SG Ready 2026 and members of the public are encouraged to tune in to any local radio station to listen to the TD message.

Simulated Disruption of E-Services. Several participating organisations^[2] will also simulate a disruption of e-services by putting non-emergency apps on maintenance mode for one hour on 1 February at 1500hrs. These partners will also carry messages to remind users of the need to be ready for such disruptions, with a link to MDDI and IMDA’s “What to Do in a Digital Connectivity Disruption” guide. During this time, the community and business organisations will take the opportunity to strengthen their business continuity plans for such situations.

Partner-led SG Ready 2026 Activities

Table-Top Exercises for Business and Community Organisations. On 2 February 2026, large companies including Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and Mapletree will organise a TD tabletop exercise (TTX) for participating businesses to strengthen their preparedness for potential operational disruptions. On the same day, Quantedge Capital and Amova Asset Management will also jointly organise a sector-focused TTX, bringing together senior leadership from established fund companies with operations in Singapore to discuss responses to prolonged power disruptions and disrupted digital connectivity. The TTX will be facilitated by RSM Stone Forest IT (RSM) and will include a sharing on best practices by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Exchange as well as The Alternative Investment Management Association. RSM will also share proven contingency strategies to help companies reduce downtime, safeguard critical data, and stay resilient when expected incidents occur.

Phishing Exercises for Businesses. For the second year, MINDEF is partnering SBF to conduct a phishing exercise for small and medium enterprises and large companies from industry sectors including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and construction. This exercise encourages businesses to strengthen their cyber resilience and review their business continuity plans in the face of potential cyberattacks and other disruptions.

Total Defence Commemoration in MOE Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning. As part of Total Defence Day commemoration, schools at the primary, secondary and pre-university levels have been invited to participate in Exercise SG Ready by simulating power and/or digital connectivity disruptions on their premises, in line with this year’s exercise scenario. Schools may conduct the activities from 2 to 13 Feb and tap on resources developed by MOE to engage students in discussing their role in Total Defence and the importance of resilience when facing such disruptions. For instance, Jurong Pioneer Junior College will conduct a student-led TD role-play experience on 13 February 2026. Student clubs at the Singapore University of Social Sciences will hold a dialogue session on geopolitics and disruption on 26 January 2026, followed by a TD TTX on 30 January 2026 and an exercise to test their response plans on 1 February 2026.

SG Ready 2026 Activities the Public can Sign Up For

SAFRA Total Defence 2026. Simulated disruption activities and programmes to commemorate Total Defence will be held from 31 January to 15 February 2026 at various SAFRA clubhouses for NSmen and their families to learn about readiness for power outages and disrupted digital connectivity. Key highlights during the period include: (i) full evacuation drills; and (ii) Total Defence contests with attractive prizes to test participants’ knowledge about preparedness for emergencies. For more information, please refer to the SAFRA website.

Singapore Red Cross Society Psychological First Aid. The Singapore Red Cross Society offers Psychological First Aid (PFA) courses that strengthen Singapore's psychological defence by training ordinary citizens to provide immediate psychological support during crises and emergencies. These courses equip Singaporeans with essential skills in recognising distress, offering appropriate comfort, and connecting affected individuals to professional resources. The Singapore Red Cross Society is running PFA courses on 4 to 5 February, as well as 25 to 26 February 2026 in support of Exercise SG Ready 2026. Members of the public who are interested can visit the Singapore Red Cross website for more information on the cost and availability.

About Exercise SG Ready 2026

Exercise SG Ready 2026 is co-led by MINDEF and our key partners, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Energy Market Authority (EMA), the People’s Association (PA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The aim of Exercise SG Ready 2026 is to encourage individuals, communities and businesses to reflect on the question: "Are you ready for disruptions?” and put Total Defence into action through contingency plans. More information on the exercise can be found on the Exercise SG Ready website (https://go.gov.sg/exercisesgready).

^[1] SCDF Civil Defence Emergency Handbook, Chapter 3, p. 45

^[2] The apps and websites that will be placed on maintenance mode for 1 hour are BudgetMealsGoWhere, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants App and Website, OneNS app, Singapore Institute of Directors Website, and Workpal.