Malaysia’s 2026 public holidays are looking exciting! It’s never too early to plan your 2026 getaways. From balik kampung moments to tempting long weekends, the upcoming breaks are the perfect reason to relax. With plenty of chances to stretch your time off, start mapping out your year and lock in those great travel deals early.

In 2026, you’ll enjoy several long weekends and well-placed public holidays. From extending your annual leave to catching mid-week breaks or planning your next festive escape, there’s plenty to look forward to. With many holidays sitting close to weekends, it’s the perfect time to enjoy extra lepak moments, explore Malaysia’s hidden gems, or take a quick regional trip.

Ready to dive into the ultimate 2026 holiday guide? Let’s go!

Malaysia has 4 types of public holidays: national, non-national, long weekends, and school holidays. National holidays are officially announced by the government and celebrated throughout the country, while non-national holidays are specific to certain states only. Long weekends are the days-off extension of national holidays; and school holidays are when the students are off at the end of each school term and during major holidays. Below are the lists including the exact dates:

National public holidays in Malaysia are generally established by law and acknowledged by the citizens of the whole country. Here are national holidays in Malaysia:

*New Year’s Day is a national holiday except in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Perlis.

As the term implies, non-national holidays in Malaysia are only observed by certain states only, they are:

Get excited, Malaysians! 2026 is packed with opportunities to turn public holidays into epic long weekends. With a little strategic planning, you can stretch those breaks into mini-vacations, perfect for relaxing, exploring, or spending time with loved ones. Here’s the ultimate guide to maximising your leave days:

New Year’s Day (1 Jan, Wed) Malaysia begins 2026 with a mid-week break, giving everyone a refreshing start to the new year.

Chinese New Year (29–30 Jan, Wed–Thu) Celebrations fall mid-week, bringing two lively days of reunions, festive meals, and cultural traditions nationwide.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (31 Mar–1 Apr, Mon–Tue) Hari Raya Aidilfitri arrives with two consecutive holidays, offering a perfect opportunity for meaningful celebrations and balik kampung gatherings.

Labour Day (1 May, Thu) Labour Day comes on a Thursday, creating a potential long weekend with just one extra day of leave.

Wesak Day (12 May, Mon) Wesak Day falls on a Monday, giving Malaysians a ready-made long weekend for reflection, prayer, or a short getaway.

Agong’s Birthday (2 Jun, Mon) Another Monday holiday brings another effortless long weekend to relax or plan a short trip.

Hari Raya Haji (7 Jun, Sun) Hari Raya Haji falls on a Sunday, giving the weekend a festive and reflective atmosphere for Muslims nationwide.

Awal Muharram (27 Jun, Fri) Awal Muharram falls on a Friday, providing a convenient long weekend to unwind or spend quality time with family.

Merdeka Day (31 Aug, Mon) Merdeka Day lands on a Monday, offering a patriotic long weekend filled with nationwide celebrations.

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (5 Sep, Sat) This holiday falls on a Saturday, enriching the weekend with meaningful religious observances.

Malaysia Day (16 Sep, Tue) Malaysia Day arrives on a Tuesday, offering a mid-week break and a good chance to plan a short getaway with minimal leave.

Christmas Day (25 Dec, Thu) Christmas Day rounds off the year on a Thursday, setting up a festive long weekend to end 2026 on a joyful note.

School Terms:

School Terms:

Festive Breaks Allocated by the Ministry of Education (MoE):

School holiday breaks are ideal times to create memories and strengthen bonds with your family and loved ones. Some activities and places are recommended for family excursions. Keep reading, we’ve got you!

There are so many activities you can do during the trips on public holidays–so you don’t have to worry about running out of ideas on what to do. Some activities to consider are:

Thanks to the abundance of stunning landscapes in Malaysia! Nature exploration can be included as one of the activities to do during Malaysia’s public holidays. Visit Taman Negara or Cameron Highlands to go hiking, or relax at the beaches of Langkawi.

Besides natural landscapes, Malaysia is blessed with rich culture. This is why you have to consider historical sites, temples, or mosques for your next destinations. A Famosa, Petronas Twin Towers, Chinatown, Cheng Hoon Teng are the country’s several top historical landmarks that will tell you diverse historical stories.

Your trips during the public holidays are not yet complete without Malaysia’s culinary adventures! Visit local markets, food stalls, street hawkers, or restaurants to sample local dishes, like nasi lemak, laksa, and roti canai.

Malaysia is a host of a variety of cultural festivals throughout the year. Hence, make sure to attend some of them to explore the diversity of the country. Attend Thaipusam in Batu Caves where the devotees perform elaborate rituals or experience colorful Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown.

A call for shop addicts! Providing a wide range of shopping centers, Malaysia is the right destination for retail therapy. Whether you want to visit bustling markets, like Central Market, or browse luxury boutiques in shopping malls, such as Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, spending time in Malaysia’s shopping centers will always be a one-of-a-kind purchasing expedition!

Public holidays are the time for you to unwind and relax after tiresome working periods. Book a spa in the country's well-known resorts, then soak yourself in pools.

You can also visit Perak, Selangor, Melaka, or Kedah to take some rejuvenating sessions in hot spring pools.

Public holidays are popular times for family excursions. Aforementioned activities, such as nature exploration, cultural sites visits, shopping, and relaxation, are also suitable for family vacations.

However, your kids would be more thrilled if you take them to several top family amusement parks in Malaysia, like Legoland, Sunway Lagoon, Skytropolis, Berjaya Time Square, Genting Skyworld, and many more.

This last option may be popular among local tourists in seeking for short getaways during public holidays. A plentiful accommodations, starting from the most ordinary to luxury ones, are scattered throughout multiple regions in Malaysia. You only have to find ones you fancy.

Staycation is an ideal activity for cost-effective, time-saving, and less stressful trips. You can also support local businesses and reduce environmental impacts while creating quality times with your loved ones at the same time.

You may find some problems while traveling during holidays because holidays are considered peak seasons. However, some tips below are listed for you to consider during holiday travels:

You’ve finished reading the article and been well-informed about Malaysia’s public holidays in 2026. Now, plan your trips thoroughly, make itineraries, and open Traveloka to reserve your flights, accommodations, and activities.

Wondering why you should book with Traveloka? It’s one place for all your needs, with flexible booking options–you don’t have to worry if you face a sudden change of plan; you’ll get hassle-free reschedules/refunds. It also offers secure and convenient payment with currency that suits you better, so don’t wait, secure your tickets now!

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