Durian Season Singapore 2026: 6 Must-Try Types, When the Season Ends + Where to Buy & How to Save

Singapore's main durian season typically runs from around June to August, with the broadest range of varieties and the most competitive prices during the peak. Exact timing and supply depend on the harvests in Malaysia (Pahang, Johor) and weather, so it can shift a few weeks year to year and even have a smaller second wave later in the year. As of 31 July 2026 we're still in season, but it's the tail end: the Johor harvest has finished and Pahang is now the main source of supply — so stalls are carrying less and prices have firmed up from the June glut.

A few practical tips: (1) Buy from a stall with high turnover — fresher stock. (2) Ask for the price per kg AND watch it weighed before it's husked, so you know the cost upfront. (3) A good durian usually has a strong aroma and a stem that looks fresh, not dried out. (4) Most reputable stalls will let you 'see flesh' or open it on the spot and will replace a bad one — confirm their policy first. (5) Prices move daily with supply, so a rate that looks high one week can drop the next. When in doubt, start with a cheaper variety like D24 or D13 before splurging on Mao Shan Wang or Black Thorn.

Rates move daily, so treat these as ballpark only. Through the June 2026 glut, a bumper Malaysian crop pushed Mao Shan Wang down to roughly S$20/kg, with a handful of stalls going far lower on smaller or lower-grade fruit. By mid-July, as the Johor harvest wound down, sellers reported MSW firming to about S$22–24/kg — Durian 36 moved from S$18–19/kg to S$22/kg, and 99 Old Trees from S$20–21/kg to S$23–24/kg on its premium grades. As of 31 July, standard Mao Shan Wang sits at roughly S$22–28/kg, with old-tree and Black Gold grades listed around S$30–32/kg. Other varieties generally sit below MSW: D24 is usually the cheapest of the named grades, with Red Prawn and Golden Phoenix in the middle and Black Thorn at or above MSW when it's available. Always ask the stall for the day's per-kg rate and watch it weighed before husking — that number, not the signboard, is what you'll pay.

Unlikely — and sellers are saying so plainly. As Johor's harvest tapered off in July, Singapore sellers told the press that prices could rise further, with the blunt advice that if you've been waiting for another big price drop, you may already have missed the sweetest moment. Supply, not price, is now the binding constraint: stalls and delivery services are running thin on fresh Mao Shan Wang, and 99 Old Trees has already closed its season pending the next harvest. If you're price-sensitive, buy when you see a good rate rather than waiting for a dip that probably isn't coming, and stick to D24, D13 or kampung durians for everyday cravings — those stay the best value right to the end of the season.

Yes, August is still durian season — but it's the tail, not the peak. Singapore's main mid-year season runs roughly June to August 2026, and by the end of July it is clearly winding down: Johor's harvest has finished, Pahang is carrying what's left, and specialist seller 99 Old Trees has posted that its season has ended with the next harvest due in late August. Practically, that means through August you'll find fewer stalls open, a narrower range of varieties, smaller fruit and firmer prices than you saw in June — Mao Shan Wang in particular sells out fast. After the main season closes, supply doesn't vanish entirely: frozen and chilled durian stays available year-round, a few sellers source out of season, and Malaysia usually produces a smaller second wave around November to December (timing varies with weather). If you want fresh durian at its best this year, early August is realistically your last comfortable window.

They're both premium, but they're after different things. Mao Shan Wang is the more intense fruit: thick golden flesh, a complex bittersweet, almost boozy finish, and a long lingering aftertaste — it's the benchmark most Singaporeans judge durian by. Black Thorn (Ochee) trades some of that bitterness for texture: it's exceptionally smooth and creamy, sweeter and rounder on the palate, with a notably small seed and a high flesh-to-husk ratio. Price-wise Black Thorn matches or beats MSW when it's available, and it's harder to find — it has a shorter, narrower harvest window. Pick MSW if you want the full bittersweet punch and reliable availability; pick Black Thorn if you prize a silky, rich texture and don't mind paying for scarcity. If you're choosing for a group that includes durian newcomers, Black Thorn is the easier sell.