Malaysia has an extraordinary number of public holidays — around 13 national ones plus additional state-level holidays that vary by state. When you add in the major festival periods (Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali), you end up with a country that knows how to celebrate. As a British expat, I had no idea what I was signing up for. The first time the city basically shut down for Chinese New Year was a surprise. Now I plan around it — and look forward to every single one. This is your complete guide to the Malaysian festival and public holiday calendar.
How Public Holidays Work in Malaysia
Malaysia has three types of holidays:
National public holidays — observed across the entire country. These include Hari Merdeka (Independence Day), Hari Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday, and major religious festivals including Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Aidilfitri), Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas.
State public holidays — each of Malaysia’s 13 states has its own additional public holidays, typically including the state ruler’s birthday, state-specific religious observances, and historical dates. If you live in KL (a Federal Territory) you observe Federal Territory Day on February 1st, for example.
Optional/restricted holidays — some employers offer a bank of optional holidays employees can take on the religious festival most relevant to them. Common in larger multinationals.
In practice: expect around 15–18 public holidays per year in KL across national and Federal Territory observances.
The Major Malaysian Festivals
Chinese New Year (January/February)
The biggest festival of the year for Malaysia’s Chinese community, and one of the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. The date shifts each year according to the lunar calendar — typically falling in late January or February.
What to expect: two official public holidays (Day 1 and Day 2), though many Chinese businesses close for up to 15 days. KL’s Chinatown (Petaling Street) and Chow Kit transform with decorations, lanterns, and lion dance performances. Shopping malls go all-out with decorations from January onwards. Restaurants offer CNY set menus. The reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve is a major family occasion.
Practical reality: If your regular char kway teow stall or favourite Chinese restaurant is run by Chinese Malaysians, expect them to be closed for 1–2 weeks. Plan accordingly and stock up or find Malay/Indian alternatives. Traffic is dramatically lighter in KL for the first few days as Chinese Malaysians return to their hometowns — the city is unusually quiet.
Open houses: Malaysian Chinese families often hold “open houses” during CNY, welcoming friends of all ethnicities for food and celebration. If you’re invited, go. You’ll eat exceptionally well and experience the warmth of Malaysian hospitality at its finest.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr)
The most important religious celebration for Malaysia’s Muslim majority. Hari Raya marks the end of Ramadan — the month of fasting — and the date shifts earlier by about 11 days each year following the Islamic lunar calendar.
Two official public holidays. In practice, many Malay Malaysians take the full week off to return to their home villages (kampung). KL can feel quieter than usual during Hari Raya week, with many Malay-operated stalls and restaurants closed.
The weeks before Hari Raya are colourful: shopping malls are decorated with green and gold, Bazar Ramadan (night markets selling breaking-fast food) appear across the city during Ramadan, and the atmosphere builds toward the celebration. Malay bakeries sell traditional kuih (cookies and cakes) that only appear at this time of year.
Open houses are a central feature: Malay families open their homes to friends and neighbours of all races and religions. As an expat, receiving an open house invitation from Malay colleagues is a genuine privilege.
Thaipusam
One of the most visually extraordinary festivals in Southeast Asia. The Hindu festival of Thaipusam draws over a million devotees to Batu Caves in KL each year in January/February (Tamil month of Thai, full moon day). Devotees carry kavadi (elaborate metal frameworks) pierced into their bodies as acts of devotion, climbing the 272 steps to the Murugan temple above.
One official public holiday in KL and Selangor. The festival itself is a full night and day event — devotees often begin the procession from Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Chinatown at 3am, walking to Batu Caves. The scene at Batu Caves with tens of thousands of devotees, drummers, and kavadi bearers is unlike anything I’ve experienced. A must-see. Full Thaipusam guide here.
Wesak Day (Vesak)
The Buddhist celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. One of Malaysia’s most serene public holidays. Buddhist temples across KL hold candlelit processions, meditation sessions, and charitable activities. The procession from Buddhist temples in Brickfields (Little India area) through KL is beautiful and peaceful. One public holiday.
Deepavali (Diwali)
The Hindu Festival of Lights, celebrated by Malaysia’s Tamil Indian community in October/November. One public holiday. Little India in Brickfields transforms with lights and decorations. Shops sell traditional Indian sweets and clothing. The festival itself celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
KL’s Tamil community holds open houses during Deepavali — the food is spectacular. Traditional Indian sweets (murukku, ladoo, payasam) and elaborate vegetarian meals are the centrepiece.
Hari Raya Aidiladha
The second major Islamic festival, marking the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. About two months after Hari Raya Aidilfitri. One public holiday. Mosque communities perform the korban (sacrifice) and distribute meat to those in need.
Malaysia Day and Merdeka Day
Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) — August 31: Malaysia’s independence from British rule in 1957. The national day celebration in KL is centred on Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), with a military parade, flag ceremony, and public celebrations. One public holiday.
Malaysia Day — September 16: Marks the formation of Malaysia in 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore (later left) joined the federation. One public holiday, added to the calendar in 2010.
Christmas
Christmas is a public holiday in Malaysia and celebrated extensively by the Christian minority. KL’s malls begin decorating in November with Christmas trees and lights that rival any in the UK. Midnight Mass at St John’s Cathedral and other churches is well-attended. One public holiday (December 25).
The Ramadan Month in KL
While Ramadan itself is not a series of public holidays, the month of fasting transforms daily life in KL in ways that affect everyone:
Bazar Ramadan (breaking-fast bazaars) appear throughout the city from mid-afternoon, selling traditional Malay foods for iftar (breaking the fast at sunset). These markets are some of the best food experiences in KL — try apam balik, murtabak, kuih, and an extraordinary variety of rice dishes. They disappear after Ramadan, so they’re seasonal.
Some Malay restaurants don’t serve during daylight hours for Muslim customers, though many remain open or have separate areas for non-Muslims. This is less restrictive in KL than in smaller Malaysian towns.
Read my full guide to Ramadan in KL as a non-Muslim.
Planning Your Year Around Malaysian Holidays
Key planning considerations as an expat:
Chinese New Year and Hari Raya are the two periods when KL traffic, accommodation prices in destinations, and cross-Malaysia travel are most affected. Book any Malaysian getaway well in advance if it falls near these festivals.
School holidays also dramatically affect KL traffic and destination accommodation. Malaysian schools have four holiday periods — check the annual school calendar and expect traffic to be notably worse in KL during school holiday periods.
The Aidilfitri period sees airfares to Malaysia spike significantly for Malaysians coming home. If you’re planning UK-KL flights, avoid the week of Hari Raya for better prices.
Plan Your Malaysia Stay
Book accommodation across Malaysia in advance of festival periods — prices spike around Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, especially in Penang and popular destinations. Agoda’s free cancellation options are useful if plans shift.
Festival season means shopping, food, and gifts in ringgit. Use your Wise card for all ringgit spending at the real exchange rate — it works at card terminals and ATMs across Malaysia with zero foreign transaction fees.
Make sure you have health cover sorted before you arrive — SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance covers Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia on a flexible monthly subscription with no long-term commitment.
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