Public holidays
Malaysia: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 16 in 2027 (16 days off), with 247 working days in 2026 and 251 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Chinese New Year | Yes |
| Wednesday 18 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Chinese New Year (Second Day) | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr (additional holiday) | Yes |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Sunday 22 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr (Second Day) | Yes |
| Monday 23 March 2026 | 2026-W13 | Eid al-Fitr (Second Day) | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Sunday 31 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Vesak Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Birthday of HM Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Yes |
| Tuesday 2 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Vesak Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | 2026-W36 | National Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 16 September 2026 | 2026-W38 | Malaysia Day | Yes |
| Sunday 8 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Diwali | Yes |
| Monday 9 November 2026 | 2026-W46 | Diwali | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 6 February 2027 | 2027-W05 | Chinese New Year | Yes |
| Sunday 7 February 2027 | 2027-W05 | Chinese New Year (Second Day) | Yes |
| Monday 8 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | Chinese New Year (Second Day) | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Thursday 11 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr (Second Day) | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Thursday 20 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Vesak Day | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Monday 7 June 2027 | 2027-W23 | Birthday of HM Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Yes |
| Tuesday 31 August 2027 | 2027-W35 | National Day | Yes |
| Thursday 16 September 2027 | 2027-W37 | Malaysia Day | Yes |
| Thursday 28 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | Diwali | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | Tuesday 17 February 2026 | Saturday 6 February 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Fitr | Saturday 21 March 2026 | Wednesday 10 March 2027 | −11 days |
| Islamic New Year | Wednesday 17 June 2026 | Sunday 6 June 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −10 days |
| Birthday of HM Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Monday 1 June 2026 | Monday 7 June 2027 | +6 days |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| February | 18 | 19 | +1 |
| March | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| June | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| November | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| December | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 60 | 61 | +1 |
| Q2 | 60 | 62 | +2 |
| Q3 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Q4 | 64 | 65 | +1 |
| Year | 247 | 251 | +4 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The start of the year in the traditional lunisolar calendar, also called the Spring Festival, celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Customs include red envelopes, firecrackers, lion and dragon dances and red lanterns. Korea celebrates its own lunar New Year as Seollal and Vietnam as Tết.
At work: Very welcome to mention. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, so plan deadlines and shipments around it.
The start of the year in the traditional lunisolar calendar, also called the Spring Festival, celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Customs include red envelopes, firecrackers, lion and dragon dances and red lanterns. Korea celebrates its own lunar New Year as Seollal and Vietnam as Tết.
At work: Very welcome to mention. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, so plan deadlines and shipments around it.
An extra day off declared around Hari Raya Puasa. The Prime Minister can declare any day a public holiday under the Holidays Act 1951.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri), at the end of Ramadan, is a two-day federal holiday in Malaysia. This is the second day.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
Eid al-Adha, the "festival of the sacrifice", is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son at God's command. The Eid prayer is held in the morning, followed by the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal, and celebrations carry on for the three following days.
At work: Very welcome to mention. As with Eid al-Fitr, the date follows the lunar calendar, so keep plans flexible.
Buddhists mark the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the full moon of the month of Vaisakha. In Indonesia (Waisak) thousands of monks circle the Borobudur temple.
At work: Respectful to mention. A day off. Buddhist colleagues may spend the day at a temple.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday is a federal holiday observed nationwide in Malaysia.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
The Islamic (Hijri) New Year marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. It is observed by most Muslims on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic era begins with the Hijrah, the emigration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is observed as a public holiday by 24 countries.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in the countries that observe it.
Mawlid is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It was first publicly celebrated by Gökböri, a deputy of Saladin, and the Ottomans declared it an official holiday. Celebrants recite religious poetry in praise of Muhammad.
At work: Respectful to mention. Not every colleague marks it in the same way.
Hari Merdeka, 31 August, commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence in 1957, when the Federation of Malaya became independent from the United Kingdom. Malaysia Day on 16 September is a separate holiday for the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
16 September, a public holiday observed nationwide each year since 2010, marks the signing of the Malaysia Agreement, which came into effect on that date in 1963. It brought together Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore into one federation.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated by Jains and Sikhs. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrants light their homes, temples and workplaces with oil lamps, candles and lanterns, and the festival is marked with fireworks. It is connected to Rama's return to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana, and to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
At work: Very welcome to mention, especially among Hindus. The celebrations generally last five or six days, so some colleagues may be away.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
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