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
Malaysia has 16 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Chinese New Year (Second Day) | Feb 18Wed | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (additional holiday) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (Second Day) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (Second Day) (observed) | Mar 23Mon | Substitute |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | National |
| Vesak Day | May 31Sun | National |
| Birthday of HM Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Jun 1Mon | National |
| Vesak Day (observed) | Jun 2Tue | Substitute |
| Islamic New Year | Jun 17Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays 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
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New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Besar
Falls on Jan 14
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Isra and Mi'raj
Falls on Jan 16
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Federal Territory Day
Falls on Feb 1
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Federal Territory Day observed
Falls on Feb 2
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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 16 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
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.
School holidays in Malaysia
School term dates in Malaysia
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.