📚 School Holidays Malaysia 2026

Malaysia School Holidays 2026 — KPM Calendar

Malaysia's school holiday calendar is set by the Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM), also known as the Ministry of Education Malaysia. The national school year is divided into four penggal (terms), each separated by a scheduled holiday break. The structure consists of two short mid-term breaks of nine days each — Cuti Pertengahan Penggal 1 in March and Cuti Pertengahan Penggal 2 in August — along with a two-week mid-year break (Cuti Pertengahan Tahun) in June and the longest break of the year, Cuti Akhir Tahun, which runs from late November through early January.

The 2026 takwim persekolahan (school calendar) follows this established national pattern. National schools (Sekolah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan), Chinese national-type schools (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina), and Tamil national-type schools (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil) broadly follow the same national holiday schedule, with some variations at the school level for internal events and examinations.

Important disclaimer: The dates below are estimates based on KPM historical scheduling patterns. Always verify the official 2026 takwim persekolahan at moe.gov.my before making travel bookings or non-refundable arrangements. Dates may also vary slightly by state — see the section on state differences below.

The Cuti Akhir Tahun — Malaysia's year-end school holiday — is the longest break in the school calendar at approximately six weeks. Running from late November through to the first week of January, it overlaps with Christmas (for non-Muslim families), New Year, and in some years the Thaipusam festival period. This makes it the prime season for domestic and international family travel, and the most in-demand period for flights, theme parks, and hotel accommodation across Malaysia.

The Cuti Pertengahan Tahun in June, while shorter at two weeks compared to Singapore's four-week June holiday, is still a popular window for family travel. Falling around the same time as the Wesak Day public holiday, it gives families in Malaysia about two weeks of continuous school-free time to plan shorter regional trips or domestic holidays within Malaysia.

Public Holidays During School Holidays 2026

Several Malaysian public holidays fall within or adjacent to the 2026 school holiday windows, extending effective break periods and adding cultural significance to certain holiday windows. Here are the key overlaps to note for 2026:

• Hari Raya Puasa — 20–21 March 2026 (during Cuti Pertengahan Penggal 1): Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls squarely within the March mid-term break in 2026. This is the most significant overlap of the year for Muslim families in Malaysia. The Hari Raya celebration period — which in practice extends for several days of family visits and open houses (rumah terbuka) — aligns perfectly with the nine-day school holiday. Travel back to kampung (home villages) peaks during this window, making inter-city road travel and domestic flights very congested. Book early if travelling during this period.
• Wesak Day — 31 May 2026 (start of mid-year break): Wesak Day falls on Sunday 31 May, immediately at the start of the Cuti Pertengahan Tahun. The substitute public holiday on Monday 1 June effectively adds a bonus public holiday day to the start of the mid-year break. Buddhist families in Malaysia mark Wesak with temple visits and merit-making activities, adding a religious dimension to the start of the mid-year school holiday.
• National Day (Hari Kebangsaan) — 31 August 2026 (during Term 4): Malaysia's National Day falls on 31 August and commemorates the country's independence in 1957. In 2026, it falls during School Term 4 rather than a school holiday. All students and schools observe the national day as a public holiday, and schools typically hold flag-raising ceremonies and patriotic programmes around this date.
• Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia) — 16 September 2026 (during Term 4): Malaysia Day, marking the formation of Malaysia in 1963, falls on 16 September 2026, also within Term 4. Together with National Day on 31 August, this creates two patriotic public holidays within Term 4 that give students mid-term days off without extending the school holiday windows.
• Christmas — 25 December 2026 (during year-end break): Christmas falls within the Cuti Akhir Tahun year-end break. For Christian communities in Sabah, Sarawak, and among the Chinese Malaysian community, Christmas is a major festive occasion. The alignment of Christmas with the year-end school holiday makes late December a peak period for domestic resort travel in Malaysia, particularly to East Malaysia destinations like Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Miri.

State School Holiday Differences

Malaysia's school holiday calendar is a national framework, but there are important state-level differences that parents in certain states need to be aware of. The key distinction relates to the official weekend structure by state, which affects when school terms begin and end.

Malaysia is divided into two categories of states based on their official weekend days:

• Peninsular Malaysia (Monday–Friday states): The majority of West Malaysian states observe a Monday-to-Friday school week with Saturday and Sunday as the weekend. These states include Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor (for Sekolah Kebangsaan), Penang, and Sabah and Sarawak. For these states, the national KPM calendar above applies directly.
• Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu (Friday–Saturday states): These states observe Friday and Saturday as the official weekend and have Sunday as a working day. As a result, their school terms are shifted slightly to accommodate the Friday–Saturday weekend. In practice, term start and end dates in these states may differ by one to two days from the national calendar published by KPM. Parents in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, and Johor should verify school holiday dates with their specific state education department (Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri) or directly with their child's school.
• Sabah and Sarawak: East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak follow the Monday-to-Friday school week structure. However, they may observe additional state-level public holidays — such as Sabah's Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) and Sarawak Day — which are specific to those states and can affect school closures on those particular dates, even if they do not change the main school holiday calendar.

The practical implication is that if you live in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, or Johor, the dates in the national KPM calendar may be off by a day or two at the start and end of each term. Always confirm with your child's school or the state education department for the most accurate dates in your state.

Best Times to Travel with Family in Malaysia

Malaysia is blessed with diverse domestic travel destinations — from the highlands of Genting and Cameron Highlands to the beaches of Langkawi, Perhentian, and Redang, and the cultural cities of Penang, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. Matching travel to the right school holiday window is the key to a well-planned family holiday.

• Year-end break (6 weeks, Nov–Jan) — Longest break, most popular for domestic travel: The Cuti Akhir Tahun is Malaysia's longest school holiday and the single busiest domestic travel season. Families with children travel to beach resorts in Langkawi, Redang, and Tioman, to East Malaysia for Kota Kinabalu and Kuching sightseeing, or internationally to Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and Australia. Domestic AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines flights to popular destinations fill up quickly. Book at least two to three months ahead for year-end 2026 travel, particularly for East Malaysia routes.
• Mid-year break (2 weeks, Jun) — Coincides with Wesak, good for short domestic trips: At two weeks, the Cuti Pertengahan Tahun is shorter than Singapore's equivalent June holiday but still provides sufficient time for a meaningful domestic holiday or a short international trip. The Wesak Day public holiday at the start of the break adds an extra day. Popular mid-year domestic destinations include Genting Highlands (especially popular with families for the theme parks), Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands, and short trips across the border to Singapore or Thailand.
• March break (9 days, Cuti Pertengahan Penggal 1) — Hari Raya period, kampung travel: The March mid-term break in 2026 coincides with Hari Raya Puasa, making it the most culturally significant school holiday window for Muslim families. The dominant travel pattern during this window is balik kampung — returning to home towns for extended family celebrations. For non-Muslim families, the March break offers nine days for a short domestic trip or a regional getaway to Thailand, Indonesia (Bali, Batam, Bintan), or Singapore. Be aware that flight prices and hotel rates are elevated around Hari Raya due to high domestic demand.
• August break (9 days, Cuti Pertengahan Penggal 2) — National Day period, stays local: The August mid-term break overlaps with Malaysia's National Day preparation period on 31 August. While the school holiday itself runs from 22 to 30 August, the proximity to National Day means many families stay local and participate in national celebration events. This is one of the quieter travel windows in terms of outbound travel. Beach destinations in Peninsular Malaysia such as Port Dickson, Cherating, and Desaru are popular for short domestic trips.

Tips for Parents

Planning around the Malaysian school holiday calendar requires both advance preparation and awareness of Malaysia's unique multi-cultural holiday landscape. Here are practical tips for Malaysian parents navigating school holidays in 2026:

• Book domestic flights early, especially for Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and KL to Kuching: East Malaysia routes are among the most in-demand during school holidays. Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) and Kuala Lumpur to Kuching (Sarawak) are perennial favourites for West Malaysian families and book out months in advance during peak school holiday windows — especially the year-end break. AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both serve these routes; booking two to three months ahead is strongly recommended for year-end 2026 travel.
• Genting Highlands, LEGOLAND Johor Bahru, and Sunway Lagoon are very crowded during school holidays: Malaysia's most popular family theme parks and attractions see enormous visitor spikes during every school holiday window. If you are planning a visit to Genting Highlands SkyWorld, LEGOLAND Malaysia in Johor Bahru, Sunway Lagoon in Selangor, or Berjaya Times Square Theme Park, expect peak-season queues, higher admission prices (some venues apply school holiday surcharges), and fully booked hotels nearby. Plan accommodations weeks in advance.
• Visit theme parks on weekdays during school holidays — it's less crowded than weekends: Even during school holidays, weekday visits to major attractions are noticeably less crowded than weekend visits. If you have flexibility in your schedule, plan theme park days for Tuesday to Thursday rather than Friday to Sunday. Saturday in Malaysia is a half-day school day for some schools in certain states, but nationally, weekends remain the busiest days at attractions.
• Check if your state has different term dates from the national KPM calendar: Parents in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, and Johor (for some school categories) should verify term dates with their state education department or child's school rather than relying solely on the national KPM calendar. The Friday-Saturday weekend structure in these states means term start and end dates differ from the majority of states.
• For overseas trips, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia are the most popular with Malaysian families: Short-haul international destinations are perennially popular with Malaysian family travellers. Singapore is an easy drive or bus ride from Johor Bahru, making it a practical option for short school holiday trips. Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai) is accessible by road from northern Malaysia or by short-haul flight. Bali, Indonesia remains one of the most popular international beach destinations for Malaysian families, reachable in about two hours by air from Kuala Lumpur.
• Plan Hari Raya travel well ahead — roads and flights are extremely busy: The March 2026 school holiday coincides with Hari Raya Puasa. The balik kampung exodus creates some of the heaviest road traffic and highest flight demand of the entire year. If you are driving long-distance for Hari Raya — from Klang Valley back to Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, or Johor — plan to depart several days before Hari Raya eve to avoid the worst of the gridlock on the North-South Expressway and East Coast Expressway.
• Always verify dates at moe.gov.my: The dates in this article are estimates based on KPM historical patterns. The official 2026 takwim persekolahan Malaysia is published by the Ministry of Education at moe.gov.my. Always verify before making non-refundable bookings or arrangements.