About Malaysia Public Holidays
Malaysia observes 17+ public holidays per year at the federal level, governed by the Holidays Act 1951 and Employment Act 1955. As one of Southeast Asia's most multicultural nations, Malaysia's holiday calendar celebrates Malay-Islamic, Chinese, Indian, and Christian traditions — making it one of the most diverse and generous holiday systems in the region.
Malaysia's holiday structure is two-tier. Federal (nationwide) holidays apply across all 13 states and 3 federal territories. State-specific holidays — such as the Sultan's Birthday, State Founder's Day, and Thaipusam — apply only in designated states. A worker in Kuala Lumpur and a worker in Johor may enjoy different holidays on any given day. Most states have 18–20 total public holidays per year when state holidays are counted.
2026 highlights: Key long weekends include Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Fri 20 Mar), Labour Day (Fri 1 May), Wesak Day (31 May Sun → Mon off-in-lieu), and Christmas (Fri 25 Dec). Merdeka Day falls on Monday 31 Aug — a natural long weekend if you take the preceding Friday off. Malaysia Day on 16 Sep (Wed) offers a good mid-week break.
Islamic holidays including Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha are subject to moon sighting confirmation by JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia). Malaysia's dates may occasionally differ by one day from Singapore or Indonesia due to different moon sighting practices and time zones.
2026 Federal Public Holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 17 Feb 2026 | Tuesday | Chinese New Year | — |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Wednesday | Chinese New Year (Day 2) | — |
| 2 Feb 2026 | Monday | Federal Territory Day | KL, Putrajaya, Labuan only |
| 20 Mar 2026 | Friday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | Long Weekend |
| 21 Mar 2026 | Saturday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Day 2) | — |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Long Weekend |
| 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | Hari Raya Aidiladha | — |
| 31 May 2026 | Sunday | Wesak Day | Monday off-in-lieu Long Weekend |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Monday | Agong's Birthday | — |
| 16 Jun 2026 | Tuesday | Awal Muharram | — |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Monday | National Day (Hari Merdeka) | — |
| 25 Aug 2026 | Tuesday | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | — |
| 16 Sep 2026 | Wednesday | Malaysia Day | — |
| 9 Nov 2026 | Monday | Deepavali | — |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Long Weekend |
2027 Federal Public Holidays
⚠️ Tentative — 2027 dates are estimated. Islamic holiday dates (Hari Raya) subject to moon sighting ±1 day. Official gazette expected late 2026.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | New Year's Day | Except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 1 Feb 2027 | Monday | Federal Territory Day | KL, Putrajaya, Labuan only |
| 8 Feb 2027 | Monday | Chinese New Year | Sub holiday (CNY falls Sat 6 Feb) |
| 9 Feb 2027 | Tuesday | Chinese New Year (Day 2) | Sub holiday (CNY Day 2 falls Sun) |
| ~9 Mar 2027 | Tuesday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | Tentative ±1 day |
| ~10 Mar 2027 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Day 2) | Tentative ±1 day |
| 26 Mar 2027 | Friday | Good Friday | Sabah & Sarawak only Long Weekend |
| 3 May 2027 | Monday | Labour Day (Hari Pekerja) | Sub holiday (1 May falls Saturday) |
| ~16 May 2027 | Sunday | Hari Raya Aidiladha | Tentative; Monday off-in-lieu Long Weekend |
| ~20 May 2027 | Thursday | Wesak Day (Hari Wesak) | Tentative |
| 7 Jun 2027 | Monday | Agong's Birthday (Hari Keputeraan YDP Agong) | — |
| ~6 Jun 2027 | Sunday | Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) | Tentative; Monday off-in-lieu |
| 31 Aug 2027 | Tuesday | National Day (Hari Merdeka) | — |
| ~15 Aug 2027 | Sunday | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Maulidur Rasul) | Tentative; Monday off-in-lieu |
| 16 Sep 2027 | Thursday | Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia) | — |
| ~29 Oct 2027 | Friday | Deepavali (Hari Deepavali) | Tentative Long Weekend |
| 25 Dec 2027 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Monday off-in-lieu Long Weekend |
🗺 State-Specific Holidays
Each Malaysian state observes additional state-level public holidays, typically including:
- Sultan's / Ruler's Birthday — date varies per state
- State Founder's Day — varies
- Thaipusam — Selangor, KL, Perak, Penang
- Nuzul Al-Quran — Most states
- Israk Mikraj — Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis
Source: Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (MOHR)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Malaysia have in 2026?
Malaysia has 16 federal public holidays in 2026 (including Federal Territory Day for KL, Putrajaya, and Labuan). When you add state-specific holidays, most workers enjoy 18–20 public holidays per year, making Malaysia one of the most generous holiday calendars in Southeast Asia.
What is the difference between federal and state holidays in Malaysia?
Federal holidays apply nationwide across all 13 states and 3 federal territories. State holidays are declared by individual state governments — typically celebrating the state ruler's birthday or a state founding day. For example, workers in Selangor observe Thaipusam as an additional holiday that workers in Sabah do not receive.
When is Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 in Malaysia?
Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 in Malaysia falls on Friday 20 March (Day 1) and Saturday 21 March (Day 2). Hari Raya Aidiladha falls on Tuesday 26 May 2026. Note: Malaysia's Hari Raya date may occasionally differ by one day from Singapore due to different moon sighting authorities (JAKIM vs MUIS).
Does Malaysia observe New Year's Day as a public holiday?
Yes, 1 January is a federal public holiday in Malaysia — with an important exception. The states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu do not observe New Year's Day, as Friday and the Islamic working week take precedence in those states.
What is Merdeka Day and how is it different from Malaysia Day?
Merdeka Day (31 Aug) commemorates Malaysia's independence from British rule in 1957. Malaysia Day (16 Sep) celebrates the formation of the Malaysian federation — including Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore (which later separated) — in 1963. Both are national public holidays. In 2026, Merdeka Day falls on Monday 31 Aug, creating a natural long weekend.