Planning your 2026 calendar in Malaysia? This guide explains the most important public holidays in Malaysia 2026, including federal holidays, state holidays, long weekends, and useful planning tips for students.
If you are an international student in Malaysia, public holidays can affect your university schedule, visa-related appointments, bank visits, clinic appointments, accommodation plans, and travel bookings.
Malaysia has both federal public holidays and state-specific holidays. Some holidays are observed nationwide, while others apply only in certain states or federal territories.
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How Public Holidays Work in Malaysia
Malaysia’s public holiday system can be confusing at first because not every holiday applies to every state.
In general, there are two main types of holidays:
- Federal public holidays: These are observed across Malaysia. Examples include Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Labour Day, National Day, Malaysia Day, and Christmas.
- State public holidays: These are only observed in certain states or territories. Examples include Federal Territory Day, Thaipusam, Good Friday, Kaamatan, Gawai Dayak, and state ruler birthdays.
Some holidays also follow the Islamic lunar calendar. Because of this, dates such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Awal Muharram, Maulidur Rasul, and Nuzul Al-Quran may be subject to official confirmation.
Important Weekend Note for 2026
Most states in Malaysia follow a Saturday–Sunday weekend. These include Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Putrajaya, and Labuan.
However, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu generally follow a Friday–Saturday weekend.
This matters because replacement holidays may be different depending on the state. For example, if a holiday falls on a weekly rest day, the replacement holiday may fall on the next working day.
Malaysia Federal Public Holidays 2026
The table below shows the main federal public holidays in Malaysia for 2026.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2026 | Tuesday | Chinese New Year | Federal holiday |
| 18 February 2026 | Wednesday | Chinese New Year Holiday | Second day of Chinese New Year |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | Subject to official confirmation |
| 22 March 2026 | Sunday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday | Second day of Hari Raya |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Federal holiday |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Aidiladha | Also known as Hari Raya Qurban |
| 31 May 2026 | Sunday | Wesak Day | Replacement holiday may apply in some states |
| 1 June 2026 | Monday | Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday | Federal holiday |
| 17 June 2026 | Wednesday | Awal Muharram | Islamic New Year |
| 25 August 2026 | Tuesday | Maulidur Rasul | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday |
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | National Day | Also known as Merdeka Day |
| 16 September 2026 | Wednesday | Malaysia Day | Federal holiday |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Deepavali | Observed nationally except Sarawak |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal holiday |
2026 Public Holidays by Month
Here is a simple month-by-month guide to help students plan ahead.
| Month | Main Holidays | Student Planning Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year’s Day, selected state holidays | Some offices may reopen slowly after the year-end break. |
| February | Federal Territory Day, Thaipusam, Chinese New Year | Expect higher travel prices around Chinese New Year. |
| March | Nuzul Al-Quran, Hari Raya Aidilfitri | University and government offices may close during Raya week. |
| April | Good Friday in Sabah and Sarawak | Applies only in Sabah and Sarawak. |
| May | Labour Day, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Wesak Day, Kaamatan | Good month to plan short breaks, but check replacement holidays. |
| June | Agong’s Birthday, Gawai Dayak, Awal Muharram | Some universities may have mid-year activities or semester breaks. |
| July | Penang and Sarawak state holidays | Useful for students studying in Penang or Sarawak. |
| August | Maulidur Rasul, National Day | National Day falls on Monday, creating a natural long weekend. |
| September | Malaysia Day, Kelantan state holidays | Malaysia Day falls on Wednesday. |
| October | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | State holiday for Sarawak. |
| November | Deepavali, Perak state holiday | Deepavali falls on Sunday; replacement holiday may apply in some states. |
| December | Selangor Sultan’s Birthday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day | Christmas falls on Friday, making it a good travel weekend. |
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State and Territory Public Holidays in Malaysia 2026
Besides federal holidays, each state may have its own holidays. These can include ruler birthdays, harvest festivals, religious holidays, and special state events.
| Date | Holiday | State / Territory |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day | Selected states and federal territories |
| 14 January 2026 | Negeri Sembilan Ruler’s Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
| 17 January 2026 | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 1 February 2026 | Federal Territory Day | Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan |
| 1 February 2026 | Thaipusam | Selected states |
| 7 March 2026 | Nuzul Al-Quran | Selected states and federal territories |
| 23 March 2026 | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday | Johor |
| 30 March 2026 | Sabah Governor’s Birthday | Sabah |
| 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Sabah and Sarawak |
| 26 April 2026 | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday | Terengganu |
| 30–31 May 2026 | Kaamatan Harvest Festival | Sabah and Labuan |
| 1–2 June 2026 | Gawai Dayak | Sarawak |
| 21 June 2026 | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday | Kedah |
| 7 July 2026 | George Town World Heritage City Day | Penang |
| 22 July 2026 | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
| 31 July 2026 | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday | Pahang |
| 24 August 2026 | Melaka Governor’s Birthday | Melaka |
| 29–30 September 2026 | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
| 10 October 2026 | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | Sarawak |
| 6 November 2026 | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday | Perak |
| 11 December 2026 | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday | Selangor |
| 24 December 2026 | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
Best Long Weekends in Malaysia 2026
Some 2026 public holidays fall close to weekends. This makes them useful for short trips, family visits, or rest days.
Here are some good long-weekend opportunities:
- Labour Day: 1 May 2026 falls on Friday.
- National Day: 31 August 2026 falls on Monday.
- Christmas Day: 25 December 2026 falls on Friday.
- Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday: 11 December 2026 falls on Friday for students in Selangor.
- Sultan of Perak’s Birthday: 6 November 2026 falls on Friday for students in Perak.
If you are planning to travel, book flights and buses early. Prices often increase during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, school holidays, and long weekends.
Why Public Holidays Matter for International Students
Public holidays are not only for travel. They can also affect your university and visa plans.
During public holidays, many offices may close. This can include:
- University admission and international offices
- EMGS-related service counters
- Immigration offices
- Banks
- Clinics and medical centres
- Courier and document delivery services
Because of this, students should avoid leaving important tasks until the last minute.
For example, if you need to submit visa documents, complete medical screening, open a bank account, or visit your university office, check the holiday calendar first.
Student Planning Tips for 2026
Here are some simple tips to help you plan your year in Malaysia:
- Check your university calendar: Public holidays may affect class schedules, exam weeks, and orientation dates.
- Plan visa tasks early: Do not wait until a holiday week to submit urgent documents.
- Book travel early: Flights and buses can become expensive around major holidays.
- Check your state calendar: Holidays can be different in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, and other states.
- Be careful with Islamic holiday dates: Some dates may depend on official announcements.
- Confirm office hours: Banks, clinics, and government offices may have different hours before and after major holidays.
Public Holidays and University Intakes
Malaysia has several university intakes throughout the year. Common intake months include January, February, April, June, July, September, and October, depending on the university.
If your intake is close to a major public holiday, prepare early. Admission offices may be busy, and some departments may close for several days.
This is especially important during:
- Chinese New Year
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri
- Hari Raya Aidiladha
- National Day week
- Malaysia Day week
- Christmas and year-end period
If you are applying to study in Malaysia, try to complete your documents before the holiday period. This can help avoid delays in offer letters, visa processing, and arrival planning.
Final Tips
Malaysia has many public holidays, but not all of them apply nationwide. Always check whether the holiday is federal or state-specific.
For international students, the safest approach is to plan early. Before booking travel, submitting visa documents, or visiting an office, check both your university calendar and the official public holiday calendar.
This will help you avoid delays and make better use of your study year in Malaysia.
