Malaysia Public & National Holidays (2026)

Public holidays in Malaysia can either be national level holidays or state-level holidays. National holidays in Malaysia are observed by both public and private organizations.

Malaysia ranks amongst those countries with the most public holidays in the world. Festivals observed by other religious or ethnic groups are not considered official public holidays, but main religions’ holy days are considered public holidays.

When are holidays in Malaysia?

What are the public holidays in Malaysia?

Birthday of the Sultan of Negeri Sembilan
The holiday remembers Sultan Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday. It is an official public holiday and all businesses and companies are closed during this day. Yamtuan is the royal title of the Negeri Sembilan’s ruler.

Thaipusam
Also called Thaipoosam, Thaipusam festival is celebrated by the Tamil community. Hindus in Malaysia celebrate this religious holiday which marks the full moon day in the month of Thai, where they offer celebrations to the deity Lord Murugan.

Federal Territory Day
This holiday marks the initial establishment of Kuala Lumpur as a federal territory. The seat of the Malaysian government used to be in Putrajaya until February 1, 2001.

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is also celebrated in Malaysia, where a quarter of the population are Chinese people.

Anniversary of Installation of the Sultan of Terengganu
One of the public holidays in Terengganu, Malaysia, is the anniversary of the installation of the Sultan of Terengganu.

Birthday of the Sultan of Johor
This holiday remembers the birthday of Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, the 25th Sultan of Johor and the 5th Sultan of modern Johor.

Isra and Miraj
The Isra al Miraj is an Islamic holiday that is celebrated on the 27th day of the month of Rajab. It marks the night Allah took Prophet Mohammed on a journey from Mecca to Jerusalem.

Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City
This holiday remembers the declaration of the historic city of Melaka as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008.

Birthday of the Sultan of Terengganu
The Sultan of Terengganu is the head of state and head of the Islamic religion. The current Sultan of Terengganu, Mizan Zainal Abidin, the sitting Sultan of Terengganu was born on April 26, 1962. The holiday is observed to mark this occasion.

The Sultan of Pahang Birthday
The Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday is an official public holiday in Malaysia celebrated every 30th of October. Pahang is one of the largest states in Malaysia.

Wesak Day
This Buddhist holiday marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.

Harvest Festival
Commonly known as Pesta Ka’amatan, the Harvest Festival is celebrated in Sabah and Labuan on the 30th and 31st of May every year to mark the end of the rice planting cycle, and the beginning of harvest season.

Nuzul Quran
An Islamic holiday, Nuzul Al-Quran is celebrated during the holy month of Ramadan which is believed to be the revelation of the time when the Quran (Holy Book in Islam) was revealed to Prophet Mohammed.

Georgetown Heritage Day
This occasion marks the day George Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage List of Cities and Sites on July 7, 2008. The province of Penang celebrates this declaration of the World Heritage Site to honor the culture of Penang, buildings, heritage, and history.

Sarawak Day
Sarawak Day is celebrated on July 22 every year in Sarawak, Malaysia. It commemorates the establishment of self-government in Sarawak in 1963.

Hari Raya Haji
The local Malaysian name for the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is Hari Raya Haji or Hari Raya Korban.

National Day
Hari Merdeka is the day Malaysia gained independence from the British empire in August 31, 1957.

Birthday of SPB Yang di Pertuan Agong
The holiday falls on June 2 in observance of the birthday of SPB Yang di Pertuan Agong.

Birthday of the Governor of Sarawak
The holiday falls on October in observance of the birthday of the Governor of Sarawak.

Awal Muharram
This is the local name for the Islamic New Year or the Hijri New Year.

Malaysia Day
Held every 16th of September, Malaysia Day is a day that honors the establishment of the Malaysian federation in 1963. On this day, the territories of Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak formed Malaysia.

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