Malaysia Public Holiday 2026: Complete National & State Holiday Guide

Key Takeaways:

• Malaysia’s 2026 public holidays require strategic planning as they consist of both Federal (National) and State-specific holidays.
• Employers must grant a minimum of 11 paid public holidays, including five compulsory ones, and must choose the remaining six from the gazetted list.
• Public holidays falling on a Sunday are typically shifted to the following Monday, though specific weekend rules vary in states with a Friday-Saturday structure (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu).
• Employees working on a paid public holiday are entitled to either another day off or double pay, and overtime work on a holiday must be compensated at a rate of three times the regular hourly pay.

Malaysia Public Holidays 2026 (Federal & State Holidays)

Keeping track of which holidays apply nationwide versus those unique to a specific state or Federal Territory is vital for accurate leave and payroll management.

2026 National and State Public Holidays

The table below separates the primary national and state holidays for the 2026 public holiday Malaysia schedule.

Malaysia's minimum entitlement is 11 paid public holidays. Five are compulsory including Merdeka Day, Agong’s Birthday, Federal Territory Day, Labour Day, and Malaysia Day).

Employers must choose the remaining six from the gazetted list and inform employees at the start of the year.

State Public Holidays in Malaysia (2026 Complete List)

Malaysia Long Weekends 2026 (How to Maximise Your Leave)

Strategically planning annual leave around Malaysia 2026 public holiday dates is a valuable benefit for employees and allows HR to manage peak leave periods proactively.

Key Festivals in Malaysia 2026

Malaysia’s 2026 public holidays calendar is a beautiful mosaic of major cultural and religious festivals. Understanding these not only aids planning but fosters cultural awareness in the workplace.

• Chinese New Year (Feb 17-18): Observed nationwide, this is a time for family reunion dinners, giving ang pow (red packets), and lion dances. The national holiday is generally two days, but most businesses experience a lull for the full week.
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Mar 21-22): Marking the end of Ramadan, this is one of the most significant celebrations. It’s characterised by 'balik kampung' (returning to hometowns), open houses, and delicious traditional food.
• Deepavali (Nov 8): The Festival of Lights is celebrated with prayers and the lighting of kuthu vilakku (oil lamps). The main day is a national holiday (except Sarawak).

Public Holiday Rules in Malaysia (Labour Law Insights)

Public holidays in Malaysia are governed by a combination of state and federal legislation, primarily the Holidays Act 1951 (Act 369), the Sarawak Holidays Ordinance, and the State of Sabah Holidays Ordinance.

What if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

In states and territories with Saturday-Sunday weekends, public holidays landing on Sundays are shifted to Mondays. If Monday's also a holiday, the substitute falls on the next workday.

In Johor and Kedah, when a public holiday falls on Friday, the official observance is moved to Sunday or the next working day, while in Kelantan and Terengganu, a public holiday that falls on Saturday is shifted to Sunday or the next working day.

Do employees get paid for working on public holidays?

If an employee works on a paid holiday, they can choose to receive either another day off or double pay, in addition to their regular holiday pay.

Employees who work overtime on a paid holiday shall be compensated at a rate equivalent to three times their regular hourly rate of pay. In the case of piece-rated employees, three times their ordinary rate per piece.

Simplify Your Malaysia Public Holiday and Leave Management

Managing the nuances of public holiday dates, reviewing leave requests, tracking leave balances, and calculating overtime pay across multiple states can be overwhelming.

QuickHR provides streamlined and fully compliant leave management system for all Malaysia-based companies:

• Auto-Sync Federal + State Holidays: Automatically updates with the latest Malaysia public holiday 2026 schedule, ensuring immediate compliance.
• Automated PH Pay Calculation: Seamlessly integrates with the payroll system to ensure accurate compensation for work done on holidays and for overtime, adhering to the triple-rate requirement.
• Real-Time Leave Planner: With QuickHR Mobile App, employees can submit leave requests on-the-go and managers can approve/deny instantly while tracking real-time leave balances and avoiding scheduling conflicts.
• Supports All Leave Types: Configures accrual and usage rules for annual leave, sick leave, and specific local requirements like maternity leave and paternity leave based on the latest Malaysian labour regulations.

If you want to know more about how to simplify your HR compliance and planning for the 2026 public holiday calendar, start your 14-day FREE trial today with absolutely no terms and conditions!

References:

https://publicholidays.com.my/

https://www.bateriku.com/news/long-weekend-malaysia-public-holidays-2025-2026