List of Malaysia Public Holidays in 2026
Malaysia is a multicultural nation with three main ethnic groups – Malay, Chinese, and Indian. This rich diversity means Malaysians celebrate a wide variety of festivals throughout the year, resulting in numerous public holidays.
Planning ahead with the 2026 public holiday calendar helps you organise your vacations, business activities, and family time more efficiently. Whether you’re looking to maximise long weekends or plan around major festivals, this guide covers all the federal and state holidays you need to know.
Overview of Malaysia’s Public Holiday System
Malaysia has two main types of holidays: Federal and State holidays.
Federal holidays: Holidays for nationwide. This ensures the country observes certain holidays, such as Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day.
State holidays: Depends on each state. For example, the Sultan of Johor’s Birthday will only be celebrated in Johor, while Sarawak celebrates Gawai Dayak.
Public National Holidays and State Holidays in Malaysia for 2026
| Date | Day | Festival | Federal/State Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st January | Thursday | New Year | Excluding Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 14th January | Wednesday | YDPB Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
| 17th January | Saturday | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 1st February | Sunday | Thaipusam | Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor |
| 1st February | Sunday | Federal Territory Day | Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya |
| 17th February | Tuesday | Chinese New Year | National |
| 18th February | Wednesday | Chinese New Year (2nd Day) | National |
| 19th February | Thursday | Awal Ramadan | Johor & Kedah |
| 20th February | Friday | Independence Declaration Day | Melaka |
| 4th March | Wednesday | Installation of Sultan Terengganu | Terengganu |
| 7th March | Saturday | Nuzul Al-Quran | Excluding Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah & Sarawak |
| 21st March | Saturday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri* | National |
| 22nd March | Sunday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (2nd Day)* | National |
| 23rd March | Monday | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday | Johor |
| 23rd March | Monday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (3rd Day) | Melaka |
| 30th March | Monday | Sabah Governor’s Birthday | Sabah |
| 3rd April | Friday | Good Friday | Sabah & Sarawak |
| 26th April | Sunday | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday | Terengganu |
| 1st May | Friday | Labour Day | National |
| 17th May | Sunday | Raja Perlis’ Birthday | Perlis |
| 22nd May | Friday | Hari Hol Pahang | Pahang |
| 26th May | Tuesday | Arafat Day | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 27th May | Wednesday | Hari Raya Haji* | National |
| 28th May | Thursday | Hari Raya Haji (2nd Day)* | Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 30th May | Saturday | Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) | Labuan & Sabah |
| 31st May | Sunday | Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) | Labuan & Sabah |
| 31st May | Sunday | Wesak Day | National |
| 1st June | Monday | Agong’s Birthday | National |
| 1st June | Monday | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
| 2nd June | Tuesday | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
| 17th June | Wednesday | Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) | National |
| 21st June | Sunday | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday | Kedah |
| 7th July | Tuesday | Georgetown World Heritage City Day | Penang |
| 11th July | Saturday | Penang Governor’s Birthday | Penang |
| 21st July | Tuesday | Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar | Johor |
| 22nd July | Wednesday | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
| 31st July | Friday | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday | Pahang |
| 24th August | Monday | Melaka Governor’s Birthday | Melaka |
| 25th August | Tuesday | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Maulidur Rasul) | National |
| 31st August | Monday | Merdeka Day | National |
| 16th September | Wednesday | Malaysia Day | National |
| 29th September | Tuesday | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
| 30th September | Wednesday | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
| 10th October | Saturday | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | Sarawak |
| 6th November | Friday | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday | Perak |
| 8th November | Sunday | Deepavali* | Excluding Sarawak |
| 11th December | Friday | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday | Selangor |
| 24th December | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
| 25th December | Friday | Christmas | National |
Note:
- (P) = Federal Public Holiday (Hari Kelepasan Am Persekutuan)
- (N) = State Public Holiday (Hari Kelepasan Am Negeri)
- * = Subject to change based on moon sighting
MAJOR FESTIVALS AND OBSERVANCES IN 2026
Chinese New Year 2026: Chinese New Year will be on 17th February 2026 (Tuesday).
Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026: Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected on 21st March 2026 (Saturday). Subject to moon sighting.
Hari Raya Haji 2026: Hari Raya Haji is expected on 27th May 2026 (Wednesday). Subject to moon sighting.
Deepavali 2026: Deepavali will be on 8th November 2026 (Sunday).
Wesak Day 2026: Wesak Day will be on 31st May 2026 (Sunday).
Long Weekends and Extended Break Opportunities
| Holiday | Dates | Days Off | Leave Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | 17-18 Feb (Tue-Wed) | 4 days | 2 days (Thu-Fri) |
| Hari Raya Aidilfitri | 21-22 Mar (Sat-Sun) | 4 days | 2 days (Mon-Tue) |
| Labour Day | 1 May (Fri) | 3 days | None |
| Hari Raya Haji | 27-28 May (Wed-Thu) | 4 days | 1 day (Fri) |
| Wesak + Agong’s Birthday | 31 May – 1 Jun (Sun-Mon) | 2 days | None |
| Merdeka Day | 31 Aug (Mon) | 3 days | None |
| Christmas | 25 Dec (Fri) | 3 days | None |
It is great to have a long weekend once in a while. You can take a short trip, such as traveling to Langkawi, Malacca or nearby places.
Public holidays such as Vesak Day and Merdeka Day are continuous holidays throughout the weekend. For Labour Day or Malaysia Day, consider taking a day off to enjoy a long weekend. Spend time with your friends and family after working hard throughout the year.
Conclusion
With numerous public holidays and long weekend opportunities in 2026, there’s plenty of time to take a well-deserved break. Consider exploring local destinations like Langkawi, Penang, or Sabah, or plan a trip to nearby countries like Singapore, Thailand, or Indonesia.
If you’re planning to travel overseas, make sure to check your passport’s expiry date and renew it if necessary. Use this list to plan your leave early and make the most of 2026.