Kandungan
Part of our Malaysia public holidays guide, see the federal calendar and all 16 state observances.
Melaka observes 13 federal gazetted holidays plus three state-specific days: Declaration of Melaka as Historical City (15 April), Melaka Governor's (TYT) Birthday (4 October), and Awal Ramadan. Melaka does not have a Sultan because it is a non-royal state governed by a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor / TYT), with the post rotating between appointees by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Public holiday Melaka 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thu | New Year's Day | Federal |
| 17 Feb | Tue | Chinese New Year | Federal |
| 18 Feb | Wed | Chinese New Year (Day 2) | Federal |
| 20 Feb | Fri | Awal Ramadan | Melaka state |
| 21 Mar | Sat | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (subject to moon sighting) | Federal |
| 15 Apr | Wed | Declaration of Melaka as Historical City | Melaka state |
| 1 May | Fri | Labour Day | Federal |
| 27 May | Wed | Hari Raya Haji | Federal |
| 1 Jun | Mon | Agong's Birthday | Federal |
| 17 Jun | Wed | Awal Muharram | Federal |
| 26 Aug | Wed | Maulidur Rasul | Federal |
| 31 Aug | Mon | National Day (Merdeka) | Federal |
| 16 Sep | Wed | Malaysia Day | Federal |
| 4 Oct | Sun | Melaka Governor's (TYT) Birthday | Melaka state (5 Oct Mon replacement) |
| 8 Nov | Sun | Deepavali | Federal (9 Nov Mon replacement) |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day | Federal |
Source: melaka.gov.my. Islamic dates subject to moon sighting.
Melaka state-specific holidays
- Declaration of Melaka as Historical City (15 April 2026): commemorates the 15 April 1989 gazette declaring Melaka as Malaysia's Historical City (Bandaraya Bersejarah). Unique to Melaka among all Malaysian states.
- Melaka Governor's (TYT) Birthday (4 October 2026, Sun with 5 Oct Mon replacement): honours the reigning Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka. Date is the second Saturday of October in recent practice.
- Awal Ramadan (20 February 2026): first day of Ramadan, observed by Melaka along with Johor, Kedah, and Negeri Sembilan.
Why Melaka's Historical City status matters
Melaka was declared a Historical City on 15 April 1989 to formalise protection of its Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial heritage architecture. The city was later UNESCO-listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2008 (together with Georgetown, Penang). The state holiday on 15 April commemorates the original Malaysian declaration, not the UNESCO recognition.
Replacement holiday rule in Melaka
Standard Section 8 replacement applies for federal gazetted holidays falling on Sundays. Melaka also extends Monday replacement to the Governor's (TYT) Birthday when it falls on a weekend. In 2026:
- TYT Birthday (4 Oct Sun): replacement on 5 Oct Mon
- Deepavali (8 Nov Sun): replacement on 9 Nov Mon
Planning around Melaka holidays
Jonker Street (Jonker Walk) in Melaka's UNESCO core gets dramatically more crowded during the long weekends of the Governor's Birthday (early October) and Historical City Day (mid-April). Book heritage hotels along Heeren Street, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, and Jonker at least 4 weeks ahead. The night market on Friday and Saturday evenings extends into Sunday during long weekends. Neighbouring state calendars: Negeri Sembilan, Johor.
FAQ: Melaka public holidays 2026
When is the Melaka Governor's (TYT) Birthday 2026?
4 October 2026 (Sunday) with replacement on 5 October Monday. Date follows the second Saturday of October convention with weekend-replacement applied.
Is Melaka Historical City Day the same as UNESCO World Heritage Day?
No. Historical City Day (15 April) commemorates Malaysia's 1989 declaration of Melaka as Historical City. UNESCO World Heritage inscription was on 7 July 2008. Penang celebrates 7 July as Georgetown World Heritage Day; Melaka does not have a separate holiday for the UNESCO inscription.
Does Melaka have a Sultan?
No. Melaka is governed by a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (TYT / Governor) appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, not a hereditary Sultan. Melaka is one of four non-royal states (with Penang, Sabah, Sarawak).
What's open in Jonker Street during public holidays?
Most heritage shops, kopitiams, and museums remain open during public holidays. The Friday and Saturday Jonker Night Market often extends to Sunday during long weekends. Some Chinese clan houses close on Chinese New Year days.
Summary: Melaka public holidays 2026
Melaka residents in 2026 observe 13 federal holidays plus 3 state-specific holidays: Declaration of Melaka as Historical City (15 April), TYT Birthday (4 October Sun with 5 Oct replacement), and Awal Ramadan (20 February). Melaka's heritage tourism peaks around the April and October long weekends. For the full Malaysia public holiday picture, see the federal calendar.