Public Holidays in Malaysia
Statutory public holidays in Malaysia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Malaysia at a glance
Malaysia’s public holidays reflect its three main communities, with Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali all national holidays in many states. Federal and state calendars differ, so dates vary by location.
Each major festival produces an open house tradition where families receive visitors, and the balik kampung journey home creates heavy traffic before every long break.
Malaysia public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Malaysia’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Besar | Jan 14Wed | 2026 |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Jan 16Fri | 2026 |
| Federal Territory Day | Feb 1Sun | 2026 |
| Federal Territory Day observed | Feb 2Mon | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year's Day | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Second Day of Lunar New Year | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year Holiday | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| First Day of Ramadan | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Anniversary of the Coronation of the Sultan of Terengganu | Mar 4Wed | 2026 |
| Nuzul Al-Quran | Mar 6Fri | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 55 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Malaysia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur
A capital of colonial mosques, street markets and the Petronas Towers.
George Town
A Penang city of clan jetties, shophouse murals and celebrated street food.
Johor Bahru
The city on the causeway to Singapore, with theme parks and malls.
Kuching
A riverside Sarawak city of colonial buildings, markets and cat statues.
Kota Kinabalu
A Sabah coastal city facing island parks and Mount Kinabalu inland.
Malacca City
A historic port with Dutch, Portuguese and Peranakan quarters.
Top attractions in Malaysia
The places that draw most visitors to Malaysia.
Petronas Towers
Twin 452-metre towers linked by a skybridge above the city.
Mount Kinabalu
The highest peak in Borneo, climbed on a two-day trek from the park.
Gunung Mulu National Park
A cave system with the world's largest natural chamber and limestone pinnacles.
Langkawi
A duty-free archipelago of beaches, mangroves and a cable car above the rainforest.
Batu Caves
A limestone hill of cave shrines reached by a giant golden staircase.
Malacca Strait Mosque
A mosque on stilts that appears to float at high tide.
Festivals, food and getting around Malaysia
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Besar
Falls on Jan 14
-
🎉
Isra and Mi'raj
Falls on Jan 16
-
🎉
Federal Territory Day
Falls on Feb 1
-
🎉
Federal Territory Day observed
Falls on Feb 2
-
🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses and trains serve the peninsula well; flying is the practical way between the peninsula and Sabah or Sarawak.
Travelling around Malaysia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Malaysia tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Malaysia's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Malaysia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Malaysia have?
Malaysia has 55 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Malaysia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Malaysia's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Malaysia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Malaysia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Malaysia?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.