A gazetted public holiday in Malaysia is a day published by the Prime Minister in the Government Gazette under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951. Some gazetted holidays apply nationwide (federal), others are gazetted at state level. Separately, the Employment Act 1955 (Section 60D) mandates a minimum of 11 paid public holidays per year for private-sector employees: 5 compulsory plus 6 elective. The three frameworks (federal gazette, state gazette, Employment Act minimum) overlap but are not identical, which is the source of most public confusion about how many gazetted holidays exist.
For the full state-by-state calendar with weekly observance and long-weekend planning, see our Malaysia public holiday pillar. For the substitute-day rule when a holiday lands on a weekly rest day, see our guide to replacement holidays in Malaysia.
Federal gazetted public holidays in Malaysia 2026
The table below lists holidays gazetted at federal level for 2026, including the 5 compulsory holidays under Employment Act 1955 Section 60D and the dates verified against the Prime Minister's gazette declarations published in The Star, New Straits Times and the Labour Department circular.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Compulsory? | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | No | All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 17-18 February 2026 | Tuesday-Wednesday | Chinese New Year | No | Federal (all states) |
| 21-22 March 2026 | Saturday-Sunday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (replacement Mon 23 Mar) | No | Federal (all states) |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Yes | Federal (all states) |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Aidiladha | No | Federal (all states) |
| 31 May 2026 | Sunday | Wesak Day (replacement Tue 2 Jun where Mon is rest day) | No | Federal (all states) |
| 1 June 2026 | Monday | Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday | Yes | Federal (all states) |
| 17 June 2026 | Wednesday | Awal Muharram / Maal Hijrah | No | Federal (all states) |
| 25 August 2026 | Tuesday | Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday) | No | Federal (all states) |
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | Hari Merdeka (National Day) | Yes | Federal (all states) |
| 16 September 2026 | Wednesday | Malaysia Day | Yes | Federal (all states) |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Deepavali (replacement Mon 9 Nov likely) | No | All states except Sarawak |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | No | Federal (all states) |
Important note on Islamic-calendar dates: Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Awal Muharram and Maulidur Rasul dates are tentative until confirmed by the Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja (Keeper of the Rulers' Seal). The dates above match the latest gazette and may be revised by a day either way based on moon-sighting (rukyah) the night before each holiday.
The 5 compulsory public holidays under Employment Act 1955
Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955 requires every private-sector employer to grant employees a minimum of 11 paid public holidays per year. Of these, 5 are fixed by name and cannot be substituted:
- National Day (Hari Merdeka): 31 August each year. Marks Malaysia's independence from British colonial rule in 1957.
- Malaysia Day: 16 September each year. Marks the 1963 formation of Malaysia through the union of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and (until 1965) Singapore.
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday: first Monday of June since 2025 (previously first Saturday). In 2026, this falls on Monday 1 June 2026.
- Labour Day (Workers' Day): 1 May each year. International Workers' Day.
- Birthday of the Sultan or Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of the relevant state: varies by state. For the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan), the equivalent compulsory holiday is Federal Territory Day on 1 February.
The remaining 6 elective public holidays are chosen by the employer from the gazetted list. Most employers select from the high-observance days such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri (2 days), Chinese New Year (2 days), Deepavali, Wesak Day, Christmas Day, Awal Muharram and Maulidur Rasul to reflect Malaysia's multi-religious workforce.
State-by-state gazetted holidays in 2026
Each Malaysian state gazettes its own Sultan's or Governor's birthday plus state-specific cultural and historical observances. The table below summarises the major state-only holidays in 2026:
| State | State-only Holiday(s) | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|
| Johor | Sultan of Johor's Birthday + Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar | 23 March + 22 September |
| Kedah | Sultan of Kedah's Birthday | Third Sunday of June (21 June 2026) |
| Kelantan | Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday | 11 November + 12 November |
| Melaka | Declaration of Melaka as Historical City + Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday | 15 April + 24 August |
| Negeri Sembilan | Yang di-Pertuan Besar's Birthday | 14 January |
| Pahang | Hari Hol Sultan + Sultan of Pahang's Birthday | 7 May + 30 July |
| Penang | Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday + George Town Heritage Day | Second Saturday July + 7 July |
| Perak | Sultan of Perak's Birthday | First Friday of November (6 November 2026) |
| Perlis | Raja of Perlis's Birthday | 17 May |
| Sabah | Good Friday + Pesta Kaamatan + Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday | 3 April + 30-31 May + first Saturday October |
| Sarawak | Good Friday + Gawai Dayak + Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday + Sarawak Day | 3 April + 1-2 June + second Saturday September + 22 July |
| Selangor | Sultan of Selangor's Birthday | 11 December |
| Terengganu | Anniversary of Installation + Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday | 4 March + 26 April |
| Federal Territories (KL, Putrajaya, Labuan) | Federal Territory Day | 1 February |
| Most states except Sarawak | Thaipusam | 2 February |
| Most states except Sarawak, Penang, Federal Territories | Nuzul Al-Quran | 7 March |
Sarawak observes Good Friday and Gawai Dayak as paid state holidays but does not observe Thaipusam, Nuzul Al-Quran or Deepavali at state level. Johor's weekly rest days are Friday and Saturday, which shifts substitute-day logic for that state.
The replacement holiday rule (cuti ganti)
When a federal or state gazetted holiday falls on a weekly rest day, the immediately following workday is gazetted as a substitute public holiday. This rule is codified in Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 and reinforced in Section 60D(2) of the Employment Act 1955.
Two examples from 2026 illustrate the rule:
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls on Saturday 21 March + Sunday 22 March 2026. For most states (weekly rest day = Sunday), Monday 23 March becomes the substitute holiday for the Sunday portion. Saturday 21 March is observed in states where Saturday is not a rest day.
- Wesak Day falls on Sunday 31 May 2026. Monday 1 June 2026 is already the Agong's Birthday (compulsory holiday), so the Wesak substitute slides to Tuesday 2 June 2026 in states observing the substitute-day rule from the weekly rest day.
The substitute-day rule does not apply if the gazetted holiday is a state-specific holiday falling on the weekly rest day of that same state; only federal holidays automatically generate a substitute.
Legal framework: Holidays Act 1951 and Employment Act 1955
Two parallel statutes govern public holidays in Malaysia:
- Holidays Act 1951 (Act 369). Section 8 empowers the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (advised by the Prime Minister) to declare any day as a public holiday by gazette notification. This is the constitutional mechanism behind every "gazetted" holiday, federal or state. State Rulers may make corresponding declarations for state-only holidays through state-level gazettes.
- Employment Act 1955 (Section 60D). This sets the floor for private-sector employees: a minimum of 11 paid public holidays per year (5 named compulsory + 6 elective chosen by the employer from the gazetted list). Section 60D also governs how holiday pay is calculated, including the substitute-day rule when a holiday falls on a weekly rest day.
Government employees, while covered by separate civil service circulars, observe substantially the same gazetted holidays as the private sector. Banking institutions follow Bank Negara Malaysia circulars that mirror the federal gazette but may close on additional state holidays at branch level.
2026 long-weekend planner
Strategic leave-taking opportunities in 2026 (federal scope, two days of leave or fewer required for a four-day weekend):
- Late March: Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Sat 21 + Sun 22 + replacement Mon 23 March), a natural three-day weekend, with Thursday 19 + Friday 20 March leave converting it into a 7-day stretch.
- Late May / Early June: Hari Raya Aidiladha Wed 27 May, Wesak Day Sun 31 May, Wesak replacement Tue 2 June, Agong's Birthday Mon 1 June. Taking leave on Thursday 28 + Friday 29 May yields a continuous Wed 27 May to Tue 2 June stretch.
- Late August: Maulidur Rasul Tue 25 August + Merdeka Day Mon 31 August. Taking leave Wed 26 + Thu 27 + Fri 28 yields a 9-day stretch (Sat 22 Aug to Mon 31 Aug + Sunday).
- Mid-September: Malaysia Day Wed 16 September. Leave Mon 14 + Tue 15 + Thu 17 + Fri 18 yields a 9-day stretch.
- Early November (most states): Deepavali Sun 8 + substitute Mon 9 November. Tuesday 10 + Wednesday 11 leave extends to a 5-day window.
Frequently asked questions
How many gazetted public holidays does Malaysia have in 2026?
Around 16 federal-level gazetted days for 2026 (counting Hari Raya Aidilfitri as 2 days and Chinese New Year as 2 days). State-level gazettes add a further 3-5 days depending on the state. The Employment Act minimum that private employers must pay is 11 (5 compulsory + 6 elective).
What is the difference between gazetted and compulsory holidays?
Gazetted holidays are days the government has officially declared as public holidays through gazette publication. Compulsory holidays are the 5 specific days the Employment Act 1955 forces every private employer to pay, regardless of which other days they choose. All compulsory holidays are gazetted, but not all gazetted days are compulsory.
Is Wesak Day a compulsory holiday in Malaysia?
No. Wesak Day is gazetted federally but not in the compulsory five under Section 60D. Most employers nevertheless grant it as one of their six elective holidays because of its religious significance to the Buddhist community.
When is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday in 2026?
Monday 1 June 2026. Since 2025 the gazette has been the first Monday of June, replacing the earlier first-Saturday convention used between 2017 and 2024.
Does Sarawak observe Deepavali?
No. Sarawak does not gazette Deepavali as a state holiday. Sarawak's distinctive observances include Good Friday, Gawai Dayak (1-2 June), Sarawak Day (22 July), and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday.
If a holiday falls on Sunday, do I get Monday off automatically?
Only if the holiday is a federally gazetted one and Sunday is your weekly rest day. The substitute kicks in by operation of Holidays Act 1951 Section 8 and Employment Act 1955 Section 60D(2). For state-only holidays falling on a rest day of that same state, the substitute does not automatically apply.