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MalaysiaMalaysia is a multicultural country where Muslim, Chinese, Indian, and public holidays are widely celebrated. Travelers need to know the schedule of these events, as during holidays hotels fill up, transport prices rise, and some institutions are closed. This calendar for 2026 will help you plan your trip to either catch vibrant festivals or avoid peak loads.
For a comfortable rest, we recommend booking flight tickets and hotels in advance, especially during major holidays. You can book tickets and book hotels on our website.
School Holidays in Malaysia for the 2026 Academic Year
During school holidays, popular resorts (Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor, etc.) can be more crowded, especially on weekends.
School holiday dates vary by state. In Malaysia, states are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B.
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Group A (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu)
- Start of the academic year: January 11, 2026 (Sunday)
- Holidays after 1st term: March 20 – 28, 2026 (Friday – Saturday)
- Mid-year holidays: May 22 – June 6, 2026 (Friday – Saturday)
- Holidays after 2nd term: August 28 – September 5, 2026 (Friday – Saturday)
- Year-end holidays: December 4 – 31, 2026 (Friday – Thursday)
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Group B (Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor)
- Start of the academic year: January 12, 2026 (Monday)
- Holidays after 1st term: March 21 – 29, 2026 (Saturday – Sunday)
- Mid-year holidays: May 23 – June 7, 2026 (Saturday – Sunday)
- Holidays after 2nd term: August 29 – September 6, 2026 (Saturday – Sunday)
- Year-end holidays: December 5 – 31, 2026 (Saturday – Thursday)
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Holidays for National Celebrations (2026)
- Chinese New Year (Group A): February 15 – 19, 2026 (Sunday – Thursday)
- Chinese New Year (Group B): February 16 – 20, 2026 (Monday – Friday)
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri (both groups): March 19 – 22, 2026 (Thursday – Sunday)
- Deepavali (Group A): November 8 – 9, 2026 (Sunday – Monday)
- Deepavali (Group B, except Sarawak): November 8 – 10, 2026 (Sunday – Tuesday)
- Deepavali (Sarawak): November 9, 2026 (Monday)
Weekly Days Off in Different States
Malaysia does not have unified days off for all states:
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States where weekly days off are Saturday and Sunday:
City of Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Labuan (LBN), Penang (PNG), Perak (PRK), Perlis (PLS), Selangor (SGR), Negeri Sembilan (NSN), Malacca (MLK), Johor (JHR), Pahang (PHG), Sarawak and Sabah (SWK, SBH).
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States where weekly days off are Friday and Saturday:
Kedah (KDH), Kelantan (KTN) and Terengganu (TRG). In these states, Friday is a holy day for Muslims.
Public Holidays and State Holidays in Malaysia
In the table below, dates in red highlight major federal holidays observed nationwide. * — dates based on the lunar calendar may be adjusted slightly.
Date |
Holiday |
Applicable in States |
| January 1, Thu | New Year's Day | All states except: Johor (JHR), Kedah (KDH), Kelantan (KTN), Perlis (PLS), Terengganu (TRG) |
| January 14, Wed | Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar | Negeri Sembilan (NSN) |
| January 17, Fri | Isra and Mi'raj * | Kedah (KDH), Negeri Sembilan (NSN), Perlis (PLS), Terengganu (TRG) |
| February 1, Sun | Federal Territory Day | Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Labuan (LBN), Putrajaya (PJY) |
| February 1, Sun | Thaipusam | Johor (JHR), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Negeri Sembilan (NSN), Putrajaya (PJY), Penang (PNG), Perak (PRK), Selangor (SGR) |
| February 2, Mon | Day off for Thaipusam | Johor (JHR), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Negeri Sembilan (NSN), Putrajaya (PJY), Penang (PNG), Perak (PRK), Selangor (SGR) |
| February 17-18, Tue-Wed | Chinese New Year | Federal holiday. The second day (Feb 18) is not observed in Kelantan (KTN) and Terengganu (TRG). |
| February 19, Thu | First Day of Ramadan * | Johor (JHR), Kedah (KDH), Malacca (MLK) |
| February 20, Fri | Independence Day Declaration Day | Malacca (MLK) |
| March 4, Wed | Anniversary of the Coronation of the Sultan of Terengganu | Terengganu (TRG) |
| March 7, Sat | Nuzul Al-Quran | Kelantan (KTN), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Labuan (LBN), Pahang (PHG), Putrajaya (PJY), Perlis (PLS), Penang (PNG), Perak (PRK), Selangor (SGR), Terengganu (TRG) |
| March 20-21, Fri-Sat * | Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al-Fitr) | Federal holiday (two days) |
| March 23, Mon | Birthday of the Sultan of Johor | Johor (JHR) |
| April 3, Fri | Good Friday | Sabah (SBH), Sarawak (SWK) |
| April 26, Sun | Birthday of the Sultan of Terengganu | Terengganu (TRG) |
| May 1, Fri | Labour Day | Federal holiday |
| May 17, Sun | Birthday of the Raja of Perlis | Perlis (PLS) |
| May 22, Fri | Pahang State Holiday | Pahang (PHG) |
| May 26, Tue | Day of Arafat * | Kelantan (KTN), Terengganu (TRG) |
| May 27-28, Wed-Thu * | Hari Raya Haji (Eid al-Adha) | Federal holiday. May 28 is an additional day off in Kedah (KDH) and Perlis (PLS). |
| May 30-31 – June 1, Sat-Mon | Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan) | Labuan (LBN), Sabah (SBH) |
| May 31, Sun | Wesak Day | Federal holiday |
| June 1-2, Mon-Tue | Gawai Dayak | Sarawak (SWK) |
| June 1, Mon | The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday | Federal holiday |
| June 17, Wed * | Muharram (Islamic New Year) | Federal holiday |
| June 21, Sun | Sultan of Kedah's Birthday | Kedah (KDH) |
| July 7, Tue | George Town World Heritage City Day | Penang (PNG) |
| July 11, Sat | Penang Governor's Birthday | Penang (PNG) |
| July 21, Tue | Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Hol Day | Johor (JHR) |
| July 22, Wed | Sarawak Independence Day | Sarawak (SWK) |
| July 31, Fri | Birthday of the Sultan of Pahang | Pahang (PHG) |
| August 24, Mon | Birthday of the Governor of Malacca | Malacca (MLK) |
| August 25, Tue * | The Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Federal holiday |
| August 31, Mon | Malaysia's National Day | Federal holiday |
| September 16, Wed | Malaysia Day | Federal holiday |
| September 29-30, Tue-Wed | Birthday of the Sultan of Kelantan | Kelantan (KTN) |
| October 10, Sat | Birthday of the Governor of Sarawak | Sarawak (SWK) |
| November 6, Fri | Birthday of the Sultan of Perak | Perak (PRK) |
| November 8, Sun | Diwali (Festival of Lights) | Federal holiday (except the state of Sarawak (SWK)) |
| December 11, Fri | Birthday of the Sultan of Selangor | Selangor (SGR) |
| December 24, Thu | Christmas Eve | Sabah (SBH) |
| December 25, Fri | Christmas Day | Federal holiday |
* Dates may change based on the lunar calendar.
Tips for Travelers for 2026
- Peak periods: The busiest and most expensive periods are Chinese New Year (February 17-18), Hari Raya Puasa (end of March) and year-end (December holidays). Book everything at least 3-4 months in advance.
- Short holidays: Holidays falling on Tuesday or Thursday often turn into "long weekends" when locals travel. For example, August 25 (Tue) or November 6 (Fri).
- State holidays: If you are traveling to a specific state (for example, to Langkawi in Kedah), check its local holidays – local attractions may be closed on these days.
- Ramadan time (starts ~Feb 19): Many cafes may be closed during the day, but in the evening after sunset (iftar) there is a lively atmosphere. Respect traditions.