Brunei festivals 2027: National Day, Hari Raya, the jubilee

The 2027 dates at a glance

Brunei's national and royal days fall on fixed dates. The Islamic dates below come from Singapore's official 2027 list, which gave the same Hari Raya dates as Brunei in 2026, or from the Hijri calendar where Singapore has no such holiday. The events come from Brunei Tourism's Visit Brunei 2027 programme, which gives months rather than days. Public holidays are marked; when one lands on a Friday or a Sunday, the next working day is usually given as a holiday instead, as it was in 2026.

Brunei Tourism's programme groups the rest of the year into themes: Islamic heritage from January to March, food from February to April, nature from April to June, culture and community from July to September, and sport from October to December in its online calendar.

National Day, 23 February

National Day, held every year on 23 February, commemorates Brunei's independence; 2027 is the 43rd celebration. Its main ceremony is usually held at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien in the centre of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), the ground where independence was declared in 1984 and Brunei Tourism's named venue for the National Day celebrations. Brunei Tourism describes a day of parades, cultural performances and fireworks that brings citizens and visitors together.

The day is a public holiday, and 23 February 2027 is a Tuesday. Government offices close, but a parade morning in BSB is an easy add-on to a city day. Ramadan runs from about 9 February to 9 March 2027, so National Day falls in Ramadan: daytime eating and drinking in public are off for everyone.

Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Ramadan is the Muslim fasting month, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri ends it. In 2027 Ramadan runs from about 9 February to 9 March, with Hari Raya from about 10 March. Brunei Tourism's food programme from February to April includes a Ramadan bazaar and the Taste of Ramadan events.

For visitors, the fast changes the daytime. Eating, drinking and smoking in public during fasting hours are against the law, also for non-Muslims, and restaurants serve takeaway or delivery only while the fast lasts, typically from about 4-5 am to 6-7 pm, Brunei Tourism says. Eat in your hotel room. The afternoons and evenings are the time to go out: Ramadan bazaars typically open at 2 pm, at Gadong night market, the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium and the Royal Regalia Museum car park among others, selling nasi katok, satay, pais daging (marinated beef) and air gelagah, sugarcane juice, to take home for the evening meal. Go early, as popular dishes sell out. After sunset, families break the fast, and restaurants such as Soto Pabo serve set menus for the evening meal.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the end of Ramadan, is Brunei's biggest holiday. Most shops and restaurants close for the first three days, so stock up beforehand and expect hotel restaurants to be your main choice. Brunei Tourism describes the tradition that makes these days special for visitors: Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's palace, opens to the public, and after a long queue men greet the Sultan and male members of the royal family, and women the Queen and female members. Dress modestly, with arms covered, closed shoes and, for women, a headscarf. Brunei Tourism places the open house in those first three days. In 2025 the palace opened on the second and third days of Hari Raya, with sessions from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00, Borneo Bulletin reported; crowds were at the main gates from 7am, men were received in Baitur Rahmah Hall and women by the Queen in an adjoining hall.

The Sultan's birthday and the Diamond Jubilee

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was born on 15 July 1946, and his birthday is a national holiday with celebrations that the 2027 programme spreads over July and August, including royal get-together ceremonies. Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien is the venue for the birthday ceremonies as well as National Day, and the city adds festive stalls: in 2025 they ran from 14 to 30 July, with shopping, food and entertainment for the 79th birthday. In 2027, 15 July is a Thursday.

He was proclaimed Sultan on 5 October 1967, after his father's abdication, so October 2027 marks 60 years on the throne. The Diamond Jubilee is the main event of Visit Brunei Year: the programme runs from October to December 2027, with a Diamond Jubilee gala night (Malam Gemilang Jubli Intan) and royal get-together ceremonies in October. Brunei Tourism has not yet dated the individual events, so book a flexible room for October if you want to be there for the jubilee.

Yellow is the royal colour: avoid wearing it, especially at royal events, and keep criticism of the royal family to yourself, as it may lead to legal action. Our first-trip guide has the dress code and the law in full.

Other events in the 2027 programme

Around the big days, the Visit Brunei 2027 calendar lists events by theme. A few suit a short trip:

• Food (February to April): Ramadan bazaars, Taste of Ramadan and Sahur Social, plus the Brunei International Food Festival from July to December and district food festivals in October. Our Brunei food guide covers the everyday dishes.
• Nature (April to June): a fireflies night experience, river and rainforest discovery events and a bird-watching festival, several still marked to be confirmed.
• Brunei December Festival (December): culture, food and family entertainment to close the year, with Noor Brunei, a festival of lights.

Fridays, prayer times and holidays

Every Friday, banks, shops, restaurants and places of interest close from 12 noon to 2 pm for Friday prayers. The Royal Regalia and Malay Technology museums are closed all day on Fridays, and the Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque does not open to visitors that day, so put a city day between Sunday and Wednesday.

On public holidays, government offices close, and the first three days of Hari Raya close most of the city. Outside those days, a holiday changes little for a visitor. Our Bandar Seri Begawan guide plans the city day around the closures, and the Brunei trip cost guide prices a stay with a Temburong day.

Chinese New Year, on Saturday 6 February 2027, is a public holiday, and Brunei Tourism points visitors to Teng Yun Temple in Bandar Seri Begawan for it. Christmas Day, 25 December, is a public holiday too.

Month by month: weather and events

Brunei is hot and humid all year, and a shower is never far away. Brunei Tourism names October to January and May to July as the wettest months. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991-2020 normals for Brunei Airport, near the capital, show monthly mean temperatures from 27.1 to 28.2°C, with the most rain in December (398.1 mm) and the least in March (161.0 mm) and February (194.5 mm). These airport figures describe the capital, not rainforest conditions in Temburong.

For the driest weather and National Day together, February is the month, as long as you are ready for Ramadan's daytime rules. For the most to see, come in October for the jubilee.