🇸🇬🇲🇾 Singapore & Malaysia Shared Public Holidays

Which Holidays Are Shared?

Singapore and Malaysia share a deep historical and cultural connection — the two countries were once united under the same federation before Singapore's independence in 1965. This shared heritage is still visible today in their overlapping holiday calendars. Both countries observe public holidays for the same major religious and civic occasions, though the exact dates can occasionally differ by a day or two for Islamic lunar calendar festivals such as Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.

For residents crossing the Johor–Singapore Causeway or the Second Link for work, family visits, or leisure, knowing which days both countries are simultaneously off is critically important. When both sides of the border are on holiday, expect significantly heavier traffic at all checkpoints — plan departures early or consider alternative travel windows.

The principal shared holidays fall into three categories: universal civic holidays (New Year's Day, Labour Day), Chinese cultural observances (Chinese New Year — both days), and Islamic religious observances (Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji). Christmas is also observed by both countries as a gazetted holiday, though its significance and manner of celebration differs. Wesak Day / Vesak Day is observed in both countries too, though the spelling and sometimes the date may differ by a day due to different calculation methods.

2025 Shared Holiday Dates

The table below lists all public holidays in 2025 that are gazetted in both Singapore and Malaysia on the same date (or within a one-day variance for Islamic festivals). Note that Malaysia's public holiday system is partly federal and partly state-based — some holidays are federal (observed nationwide) while others apply only in certain states. The shared holidays listed here are all federal Malaysian public holidays unless otherwise stated.

2026 Shared Holiday Dates

Planning ahead into 2026, the shared holiday pattern continues. Note that Islamic calendar holidays shift approximately 10–11 days earlier each Gregorian year, so both Hari Raya holidays fall noticeably earlier in 2026 compared to 2025. Dates for Islamic festivals are approximate pending official moon sighting announcements from the relevant religious authorities in each country.

Travel Tips for Cross-Border Trips

Crossing between Singapore and Malaysia is one of the world's busiest land border crossings under normal conditions. On shared public holidays, congestion at the Woodlands Checkpoint, Tuas Second Link, and their Malaysian counterparts (Johor Bahru CIQ and Tuas) reaches extreme levels. Here is how to navigate it smoothly.

Travel early or late: The worst queues on shared holiday days tend to peak between 9 am and 2 pm, and again from 5 pm to 8 pm. Crossing before 7:30 am or after 9 pm significantly reduces waiting time at both immigration halls.

Use the Second Link (Tuas): Most travellers default to the Woodlands Causeway, leaving the Second Link at Tuas comparatively less congested. If you are driving or taking a bus, routing via Tuas can save 30–60 minutes on peak days. Note that not all bus operators run via Tuas — check before boarding.

Consider flying instead: On major shared holiday windows like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa, flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KLIA or Subang) can sometimes be faster door-to-door than road crossing, particularly if you factor in checkpoint queues. Budget airlines like AirAsia and Scoot offer competitive fares on this route.

Avoid driving on Hari Raya weekends: Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji see particularly high cross-border movement as Singaporean families visit relatives in Johor and beyond. If you must drive, ensure your Malaysian car insurance is current and that your vehicle has sufficient fuel — petrol stations immediately after the border can be very busy.

Check passport validity: Both countries require passports valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Renew early — Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Malaysian National Registration Department (JPN) offices both experience high demand in the weeks surrounding major public holidays.

Holidays Only in Singapore

Several Singapore gazetted public holidays have no direct equivalent in Malaysia's national calendar. These are important to note for Singaporean businesses with Malaysian partners, and for Malaysia-based workers who commute into Singapore — they will be working a normal day in Malaysia while their Singapore counterparts are off.

• Good Friday (18 April 2025): Gazetted as a public holiday in Singapore but not a federal public holiday in Malaysia. Some private companies in Malaysia observe it informally, but there is no government mandate.
• National Day (9 August 2025): Singapore's Independence Day is naturally unique to Singapore. There is no corresponding Malaysian national holiday on this date.
• Deepavali (20 October 2025): Deepavali is a gazetted public holiday in Singapore. In Malaysia, Deepavali is gazetted only in certain states (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak among them) — it is not a nationwide federal holiday in Malaysia.

Holidays Only in Malaysia

Malaysia has a larger total number of public holidays than Singapore, partly because its system combines federal holidays with state-level observances. Key Malaysian holidays with no Singapore equivalent include:

• Merdeka Day (31 August): Malaysia's National Day marking independence from British rule in 1957. No equivalent in Singapore on this date.
• Malaysia Day (16 September): Marks the formation of the Malaysian federation in 1963. A federal public holiday observed nationally.
• Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday (first Monday of June): The birthday of Malaysia's King, a federal public holiday with no Singapore equivalent.
• Thaipusam (state-level): Observed in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Penang, and Johor but not a federal holiday. Thaipusam is not a gazetted Singapore public holiday, though it is observed culturally by the Tamil Hindu community.
• State holidays: Each of Malaysia's 13 states and 3 federal territories has its own additional public holidays — the Sultan's or Governor's birthday, local state days, and more. These bring total annual holidays to 14–22 days depending on the state, compared to Singapore's fixed 11.

中文简介 — 新马共同公共假期