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Malaysia festivals and events 2027: month-by-month calendar

Malaysia celebrates the festivals of all its communities, so its calendar is unusually full: Chinese New Year, two Hari Rayas, Deepavali, Thaipusam, Wesak and Christmas, plus the harvest festivals of Sabah and Sarawak. Not every holiday applies in every state, and the Muslim holidays depend on the moon. This calendar gives the dates in the government's official 2027 list, says which are provisional, and explains what each festival looks like for a visitor.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated Facts checked 4 min read
Crowds of devotees below the golden Murugan statue and limestone cliffs of Batu Caves at Thaipusam
Thaipusam crowds at Batu Caves.
Suggested time
Most holidays are one or two days; the Sabah and Sarawak harvest festivals are two-day state holidays with celebrations around them.
Where to stay
Kuala Lumpur for Thaipusam at Batu Caves and the national holidays, Penang for Thaipusam and Chinese New Year, Kota Kinabalu for Kaamatan, Kuching for Gawai.
Season and timing
Festivals fall all year; the Hari Raya dates are confirmed only shortly before, so keep plans flexible around them.

The short answer

Malaysia's big festivals in 2027: Thaipusam (22 January) at Batu Caves and in Penang, Chinese New Year (6-7 February), Hari Raya Aidilfitri (expected 10-11 March), Kaamatan in Sabah (30-31 May), Gawai in Sarawak (1-2 June), National Day (31 August), Malaysia Day (16 September) and Deepavali (expected 28 October). The Muslim holidays and Deepavali can move by a day. Some holidays apply only in certain states.

How to read this calendar

The dates come from the official 2027 public holiday list published by the Prime Minister's Department. Malaysia has federal holidays and state holidays, and the list shows which apply where: New Year's Day and Thaipusam, for example, are holidays only in some states, while Kaamatan is a Sabah holiday and Gawai a Sarawak one.

The list marks the Hari Raya dates and Deepavali as subject to change. The Muslim holidays are fixed by the sighting of the moon, so the first day can move by a day either way; the final dates are announced shortly before. A holiday on the list tells you nothing about which shops or sights close.

January: New Year and Thaipusam

New Year's Day, Friday 1 January, is a holiday in some states but not all.

Thaipusam falls on Friday 22 January. Tamil Hindu devotees carry kavadi, ornate frames, in processions; Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur and Penang are the best known settings. Tourism Malaysia describes thousands of devotees and onlookers at Batu Caves. It is a holiday in some states only.

Children in black and red Kadazandusun costume outside a bamboo house at a Kaamatan harvest festival in Sabah
Children in traditional dress at a Kaamatan celebration in Sabah.

February and March: Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February. Families visit each other and many keep open house. Check the list for your state for any replacement day.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri, marking the end of Ramadan, is expected on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March, subject to change: the first day can move by a day. Families and communities celebrate together, and open houses are part of the tradition.

Dayak men in feathered headdresses and beaded costume walking in a Gawai parade
Dancers in traditional dress at a Gawai Dayak parade.

May and June: Labour Day, Hari Raya Haji, Wesak and the harvest festivals

Labour Day falls on Saturday 1 May. Hari Raya Aidiladha (Hari Raya Haji), with prayers and the sacrifice of cattle at the end of the Hajj season, is expected on Monday 17 May, with a second day on 18 May in some states; it too can move by a day. Wesak, the Buddhist holy day, falls on Thursday 20 May.

In Sabah, Kaamatan, the Kadazandusun harvest thanksgiving, is a state holiday on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 May, the climax of celebrations held through May.

In Sarawak, Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival, is a state holiday on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 June, with traditional activities on the eve, 31 May. Expect offering ceremonies, music and dancing, and gatherings in longhouses; visitors should not assume they can join a longhouse celebration without an invitation.

August and September: National Day and Malaysia Day

National Day (Merdeka), Tuesday 31 August, commemorates independence. The location of the 2027 parade had not been announced when we checked.

Malaysia Day, Thursday 16 September, is a national commemoration.

Mounted police in white jackets riding in the National Day parade in Kuala Lumpur
Mounted police in a National Day parade in Kuala Lumpur.

October to December: Deepavali and Christmas

Deepavali, the festival of light, is listed for Thursday 28 October, subject to change. Homes are lit with lamps and decorated with kolam patterns, with prayers and family meals. Check whether it is a holiday in the state you are visiting.

Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December, is a federal holiday, and Christian families too keep open house.

Practical questions

When is Thaipusam 2027 at Batu Caves?

Friday 22 January 2027. Thousands of devotees and onlookers gather at Batu Caves; it is a public holiday in some states only.

When is Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2027 in Malaysia?

It is expected on 10 and 11 March 2027. The date depends on the sighting of the moon and can move by a day; the final date is announced shortly before.

When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Malaysia?

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027.

When is Gawai 2027 in Sarawak?

1 and 2 June 2027, with traditional activities on the eve, 31 May. It is a Sarawak state holiday.

When is Kaamatan 2027 in Sabah?

The state holidays are 30 and 31 May 2027, the climax of harvest celebrations held through May.

Are Malaysian public holidays the same in every state?

No. Some holidays apply only in certain states, such as Thaipusam, New Year's Day, Kaamatan and Gawai. Check the official list for the state you are visiting.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 22 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

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