Malaysia public holidays 2026: Maximise your long weekends
Roaming
December 18, 2025
•
By
Ashwinee Rvan
💡 PSA for all travel-hungry Malaysians
Ah, it’s almost the start of a new year. Time for gym signups, fresh planners... and let’s be honest… a quick Google search for Malaysia’s 2026 public holidays to squeeze every possible drop of cuti. Or maybe your boss just casually dropped a “please plan your 2026 leave” email and now you’re scrambling to figure out when to strategically disappear.
If you’re the type who keeps a mental spreadsheet of AL days and whispers “long weekend” like a prayer, this guide is your new best friend. 2026 is coming in hot with serious leave potential — whether you’re plotting a cheeky Bali escape or a fancy KL staycation with atas hotel vibes.
📅 Malaysia public holidays 2026 (aka Your Travel Triggers)
Here’s the masterlist of federal public holidays — your cuti cheat sheet:
Date
Holiday
State
AL hack
01 Jan, Thur
New Year's Day
National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu
1 AL (Fri, 2 Jan) = 4 days off (Thur-Sun)
01 Feb, Sun
Thaipusam
Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya, Selangor
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
01 Feb, Sun
Federal Territory Day
Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
02 Feb, Mon
Federal Territory Day Holiday
Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
02 Feb, Mon
Thaipusam Holiday
Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya, Selangor
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
17 - 18 Feb, Tues - Wed
Chinese New Year
National
3 AL (16, 19, 20 Feb) = 9 days off (14-22 Feb)
07 Mar, Sat
Nuzul Al-Quran
National except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak
21 - 23 Mar, Sat - Mon
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
National
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
01 May, Fri
Labour Day
National
0 AL = 3 days off (Fri-Sun)
27 May, Wed
Hari Raya Haji
National
2 AL (28 - 29 May) = 5 days off (Wed-Sun)
31 May, Sun
Wesak Day
National
0 AL = 3 days off (Fri-Sun)
01 June, Mon
Wesak Day Holiday
National except Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
01 June, Mon
Agong's Birthday
National
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
17 June, Wed
Awal Muharram
National
2 AL (18 - 19 May) = 5 days off (Wed-Sun)
25 Aug, Tues
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
National
1 AL (Mon, 24 Aug) = 4 days off (Sat-Tue)
31 Aug, Mon
Merdeka Day
National
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
16 Sept, Wed
Malaysia Day
National
2 AL (17 - 18 Sep) = 5 days off (Wed-Sun)
08 Nov, Sun
Deepavali
National except Sarawak
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
09 Nov, Mon
Deepavali
National except Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak, Terengganu
0 AL = 3 days off (Sat-Mon)
25 Dec, Fri
Christmas
National
3 AL (21 - 24 and 28 - 31 Dec) = 16 days off (19 Dec - 3 Jan)
This calendar covers national and Kuala Lumpur-specific public holidays only. If you’re based in another state, keep an eye out for state holidays — they might just unlock extra cuti days.
✨ Long weekend goldmines (and how to ‘apply leave strategically’)
Let’s talk real strategy. Some dates are just screaming for a 3–5 day trip. Here’s where the magic happens:
🧧 February: Gong Xi, go on cuti!
CNY lands on Tues–Wed (Feb 17–18).
Cuti tip: Apply for Mon + Thurs–Fri = 9 days of yee sang-fuelled freedom.
Go where? Chiang Mai lanterns, or a food trip up north to Ipoh + Penang.
☀️ May: Bookend your month with bliss
Labour Day falls on Fri, 1 May — enjoy a natural long weekend, no AL needed.
Wesak Day is on Sun, 31 May, so most of us get Mon, 1 June off as a replacement.
Cuti tip: That’s two separate long weekends in a single month! Without needing any AL!
Go where? Singapore, Hat Yai, or maybe a cheeky Airbnb with a pool in Janda Baik — twice in one month? Yes, please.
🎉 September: Malaysia month madness
Merdeka (Aug 31) is on a Sun (meaning Mon off) and Malaysia Day (Sept 16) is on Wed.
Cuti tip: Take leave Mon–Tues or Thurs–Fri. Instant 9-day break.
Go where? Seoul, Gold Coast, or Kuching for some laksa + lepak.
🛫 December: Christmas + Year End clearance
Christmas falls on Friday, 25 December — and if you play your leave cards right, you can score an epic year-end getaway.
Cuti tip:
Take leave from Mon, 21 Dec to Thurs, 24 Dec
And again from Mon, 28 Dec to Thurs, 31 Dec
That’s only 8 days of annual leave for a solid 16-day holiday from 19 Dec to 1 Jan.
Go where? Euro trip, snowy Japan vacay, or just lying on a beach pretending you’re in a Spotify Wrapped ad.
🎟️ Bonus tip: Plan your leave around MATTA Fair 2026
Your future travel plans deserve future savings. The MATTA Fair 2026 (usually held in March/April and September) is your one-stop shop for cheap flights, hotel deals, and travel inspo. Mark your calendar, bring your travel gang, and go full spreadsheet mode.
Because if you’re gonna take leave — you might as well do it in style and under budget, kan?
🌍 Wanna go far? Spark lets you roam from RM4/day
Sometimes you don’t just want a holiday in Malaysia, you want a whole new country. And with CelcomDigiSpark, globe-trotting has never been this easy (or this affordable). Starting from just RM4/day, it’s the most budget-friendly way to stay connected while living your best travel life.
Roam freely across 82 countries with up to 3GB roaming data, including all your dream destinations — from Seoul to Sydney, London to Lombok — with rich coverage that auto-selects the best local network for you, so your IG uploads and Google Maps never miss a beat. The best part? You can activate it instantly through the Spark app — no SIM swap drama, no airport kiosk queues. Just tap, go, and travel stress-free.
Because let’s be honest — WiFi hunting should never be part of the itinerary.
By submitting this subscription request, I consent to altHR sending me marketing communication via email. I may opt out at any time. View CelcomDigi's Privacy Policy.
