Kandungan
Public holidays in Malaysia are official rest days declared under the Holidays Act 1951 and individual state enactments. There are 13 federal gazetted holidays observed nationwide, plus additional state-level observances declared by each state authority. Government offices, schools, and most banks close on these days; private-sector observance is governed by employment contracts.
Last updated: May 2026
Public holiday Malaysia 2026 (federal calendar)
The 13 federal gazetted public holidays applicable nationwide in 2026:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thu | New Year's Day | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 17 Feb | Tue | Chinese New Year | National (Day 1) |
| 18 Feb | Wed | Chinese New Year Holiday | National (Day 2) |
| 21 Mar | Sat | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (eve, varies) | Subject to moon sighting |
| 1 May | Fri | Labour Day | National |
| 1 Jun | Mon | Agong's Birthday | National (first Monday of June) |
| 27 May | Wed | Hari Raya Haji | Subject to moon sighting |
| 17 Jun | Wed | Awal Muharram | Subject to moon sighting |
| 31 Aug | Mon | National Day (Merdeka) | National |
| 16 Sep | Wed | Malaysia Day | National |
| 26 Aug | Wed | Maulidur Rasul (Prophet's Birthday) | Subject to moon sighting |
| 8 Nov | Sun | Deepavali | National except Sarawak (date varies) |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day | National |
For the full breakdown of gazetted vs non-gazetted classification, see our gazetted public holidays in Malaysia guide.
Public holidays by state (2026)
Each state adds its own observances on top of the federal calendar, most commonly the Sultan's or Yang di-Pertua's birthday, plus state-specific religious or cultural days. Click through for the full calendar of each state:
- Johor, adds Sultan of Johor's Birthday, Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Awal Ramadan
- Kedah, adds Sultan of Kedah's Birthday, Awal Ramadan, Israk and Mikraj
- Kelantan, adds Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday (3 days), Arafat Day, Nuzul Al-Quran
- Kuala Lumpur, adds Federal Territory Day, Thaipusam
- Labuan, adds Federal Territory Day, Harvest Festival
- Melaka, adds Declaration of Melaka as Historical City, Melaka Governor's Birthday, Awal Ramadan
- Negeri Sembilan, adds YDPB Negeri Sembilan's Birthday, Israk and Mikraj, Thaipusam
- Pahang, adds Sultan of Pahang's Birthday, Hari Hol Pahang
- Penang, adds Penang Governor's Birthday, Georgetown World Heritage Day, Thaipusam
- Perak, adds Sultan of Perak's Birthday, Thaipusam
- Perlis, adds Raja Perlis' Birthday, Israk and Mikraj
- Putrajaya, adds Federal Territory Day, Thaipusam
- Sabah, adds Sabah Governor's Birthday, Christmas Eve, Harvest Festival, Good Friday
- Sarawak, adds Hari Gawai, Sarawak Day, Sarawak Governor's Birthday, Good Friday
- Selangor, adds Sultan of Selangor's Birthday, Thaipusam
- Terengganu, adds Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday, Installation of Sultan, Arafat Day
Replacement holidays
When a federal gazetted holiday falls on a Sunday (or Friday in states where Friday is the weekend), the following Monday is observed as a replacement public holiday under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951. This rule applies only to federal holidays, not state-level observances. For the full ruleset, see our replacement holiday in Malaysia guide.
School holidays vs public holidays
School holidays in Malaysia are scheduled term breaks set by the Ministry of Education (KPM) and apply only to schools, they are not public holidays. Public holidays close government offices, banks, and most businesses; school holidays close schools but offices generally remain open. For the school calendar, see Malaysia school holidays 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Malaysia have in 2026?
There are 13 federal gazetted public holidays observed nationwide. Including state-level observances, residents of any given state will see between 14 and 18 public holidays per year depending on location. Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya residents see slightly more due to Federal Territory Day.
Are Hari Raya dates fixed?
No. Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Haji, Awal Muharram, and Maulidur Rasul follow the Islamic lunar calendar and are subject to official moon sighting (rukyah). Dates are confirmed by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal a few days before the event.
What if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
Federal gazetted holidays that fall on a Sunday trigger a replacement holiday on the following Monday. State holidays generally do not get replacement days unless declared so by the respective state authority.
Are private-sector employees entitled to all public holidays?
Under the Employment Act 1955, employees are entitled to at least 11 paid public holidays per year, of which 5 are mandatory (National Day, Malaysia Day, Agong's Birthday, the state ruler's birthday, and Labour Day). Employers may choose which additional days from the gazette to observe.
When is the next public holiday in Malaysia?
Use the date table at the top of this page to find the next upcoming holiday. Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 falls in late March (exact date subject to moon sighting). For the closest holiday to today, see the federal calendar table.
Historical calendars
Past-year public holiday calendars remain archived for record-keeping and HR reference. For the 2025 calendar, refer to our gazetted holidays guide. For 2023 and earlier, see government archives at kabinet.gov.my.