Public Holidays in Malaysia 2026
- Erik & Aya
- Oct 28
- 4 min read
Image for illustration purposes only
Get ahead and plan your holidays for 2026 in Malaysia!
Below is a list of the 2026 Public Holidays in Malaysia. Public holidays for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are highlighted in bold. "National" indicates holidays observed nationwide, except for certain states.
※ Public holidays are subject to changes based on the religious calendar or government decisions. Thu, Jan 1 New Year's Day （National ／except Johor,Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis,
Terengganu）
Wed, Jan 14 YDPB Negeri Sembilan's Birthday （Negeri Sembilan）
Sat, Jan 17 Israk and Mikraj （Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu）
Sun, Jan 18 Israk and Mikraj Holiday （Terengganu）
Sun, Feb 1 Thaipusam （Johor, Kuala Lumpur,Negeri Sembilan, Penang,Perak,
Putrajaya, Selangor）
Sun, Feb 1 Federal Territory Day （Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya）
Mon, Feb 2 Federal Territory Day Holiday （Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya）
Mon, Feb 2 Thaipusam Holiday （Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak,
Putrajaya, Selangor）
Tue, Feb 17 Chinese New Year （National）
Wed, Feb 18 Chinese New Year Holiday （National）
Thu, Feb 19 Awal Ramadan（Johor & Kedah）
Fri, Feb 20 Independence Declaration Day （Melaka）
Wed, Mar 4 Installation of Sultan Terengganu （Terengganu）
Sat, Mar 7 Nuzul Al-Quran （National／except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri
Sembilan, Sabah,Sarawak）
Sun, Mar 8 Nuzul Al-Quran Holiday （Kelantan & Terengganu）
Sat, Mar 21 Hari Raya Aidilfitri （National）
Sun, Mar 22 Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday （National）
Mon, Mar 23 Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday （National／except Kedah）
Mon, Mar 23 Sultan of Johor's Birthday （Johor）
Tue, Mar 24 Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday （Melaka）
Mon, Mar 30 Sabah Governor's Birthday （Sabah）
Fri, Apr 3 Good Friday （Sabah & Sarawak）
Sun, Apr 26 Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday （Terengganu）
Fri, May 1 Labour Day （National）
Sun, May 3 Labour Day Holiday （Kedah）
Sun, May 17 Raja Perlis' Birthday （Perlis）
Mon, May 18 Raja Perlis' Birthday Holiday （Perlis）
Fri, May 22 Hari Hol Pahang （Pahang）
Tue, May 26 Arafat Day （Kelantan & Terengganu）
Wed, May 27 Hari Raya Haji （National）
Thu, May 28 Hari Raya Haji Holiday （Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu）
Sat, May 30 Harvest Festival （Labuan & Sabah）
Sun, May 31 Wesak Day （National）
Sun, May 31 Harvest Festival Holiday （Labuan & Sabah）
Mon, Jun 1 Hari Gawai （Sarawak）
Mon, Jun 1 Agong's Birthday （National）
Mon, Jun 1 Wesak Day Holiday （National／except Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu）
Tue, Jun 2 Hari Gawai Holiday （Sarawak）
Wed, Jun 17 Awal Muharram （National）
Sun, Jun 21 Sultan of Kedah's Birthday （Kedah）
Tue, Jul 7 Georgetown World Heritage City Day （Penang）
Sat, Jul 11 Penang Governor's Birthday （Penang）
Tue, Jul 21 Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar （Johor）
Wed, Jul 22 Sarawak Day （Sarawak）
Fri, Jul 31 Sultan of Pahang's Birthday （Pahang）
Mon, Aug 24 Melaka Governor's Birthday （Melaka）
Tue, Aug 25 Prophet Muhammad's Birthday （National）
Mon, Aug 31 Merdeka Day （National）
Wed, Sep 16 Malaysia Day （National）
Tue, Sep 29 Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday （Kelantan）
Wed, Sep 30 Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday Holiday （Kelantan）
Sat, Oct 10 Sarawak Governor's Birthday （Sarawak）
Fri, Nov 6 Sultan of Perak's Birthday （Perak）
Sun, Nov 8 Deepavali （National／except Sarawak）
Mon, Nov 9 Deepavali Holiday（National／except Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak,
Terengganu）
Fri, Dec 11 Sultan of Selangor's Birthday （Selangor）
Thu, Dec 24 Christmas Eve （Sabah）
Fri, Dec 25 Christmas Day （National）
Sun, Dec 27 Christmas Holiday （Kedah）
※ Public holidays are subject to changes based on the religious calendar or government decisions.
In Malaysia, while some holidays like Independence Day are fixed, many public holidays move each year. One thing I personally find interesting is how Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri (the festival marking the end of Ramadan) are gradually approaching each other. In years when they almost coincide, what will happen? From 2029 to 2031, these two holidays are expected to fall on the same day or just one day apart! For both the Chinese and Muslim communities, the celebration timing will be nearly the same (which is festive, but it might reduce the number of consecutive days off!).
The holidays that move each year are mainly religious holidays. Because Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, each community follows its own religious or cultural calendar, which makes the scheduling quite complex. Let’s take a closer look below.
🕌 Islamic Calendar (Hijri / Lunar Calendar)
All Islamic events are based on the Hijri calendar (about 354 days). As a result, they move approximately 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Nuzul Al-Quran — 17th of Ramadan (commemorates the day the Quran was revealed during the fasting month)
Hari Raya Aidilfitri — 1st of Shawwal (marks the end of Ramadan, the day after the fasting month ends)
Hari Raya Haji — 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah (peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, Festival of Sacrifice)
Awal Muharram — 1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year)
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday — 12th of Rabi' al-awwal (birth of Prophet Muhammad)
🧧 Chinese Calendar (Lunisolar Calendar)
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The second new moon after the winter solstice marks the Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year — 1st day of the 1st lunar month
Chinese New Year Holiday — 2nd day of the 1st lunar month
🪔 Hindu Calendar (Lunisolar Calendar) and Tamil Calendar (Lunisolar Calendar)
Religious holidays in India are based on different lunisolar calendars. Deepavali follows the Hindu calendar, widely used in mainland India (Sanskrit-based lunisolar calendar). Thaipusam follows the Tamil calendar, used in Tamil Nadu in southern India (also a lunisolar calendar).
Thaipusam — Full moon day of the Thai month (festival of Lord Murugan)
Deepavali — New moon day of the Kartika month (Festival of Lights)
🪷 Buddhist Calendar (Lunisolar Calendar of Indian Origin)
Buddhist holidays are based on a lunisolar calendar of Indian origin, observed on the full moon of the Vaisakha month. This calendar is different from the Chinese, Hindu, and Tamil calendars.
Wesak Day — Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Buddha, observed on the full moon of Vaisakha
Malaysia has its own unique public holidays — you can enjoy the festive atmosphere locally or take advantage of the long weekend for a short trip. Either way, it’s a great time to have fun. Sometimes, new holidays are even announced suddenly — that’s Malaysia for you! What kind of year will 2026 be?
👉 At Tabiniko, we provide comprehensive support for your life in Malaysia — from real estate investment to relocation, educational migration, and MM2H assistance. Feel free to contact us!
📚 Sources
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS GLOBAL https://publicholidays.com.my/#2025-public-holidays
