Malaysia Public Holidays Left in 2026: State-by-State Guide From September to December
Malaysia Public Holidays Left in 2026: State-by-State Guide From September to December
Nine public holidays remain on Malaysia's 2026 calendar after mid-September — but five of them are easy to miss because they only apply if you live or work in one specific state. Malaysia Day, Deepavali and Christmas get plenty of coverage every year; the royal birthdays of the Sultans of Kelantan, Perak and Selangor, plus Sarawak's Governor, rarely do. Here's the complete list, sorted by date, with exactly which state gets each day off.
Key Details: Every Public Holiday Left in 2026
| Holiday | Date(s) | Day | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia Day | 16 September | Wednesday | National |
| Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday | 29–30 September | Tue–Wed | Kelantan only |
| Sarawak Governor's Birthday | 10 October | Saturday | Sarawak only |
| Selangor Silver Jubilee | 25 October | Sunday | Selangor only (special one-off) |
| Sultan of Perak's Birthday | 6 November | Friday | Perak only |
| Deepavali | 8 November | Sunday | National (except Sarawak) |
| Sultan of Selangor's Birthday | 11 December | Friday | Selangor only |
| Christmas Eve | 24 December | Thursday | Sabah only |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Friday | National |
The bolded rows are what this guide focuses on — the four you won't find a dedicated write-up for anywhere else on this site. We've already covered Malaysia Day, the Selangor Silver Jubilee, Deepavali and Christmas in detail elsewhere; links are at the bottom of this page.
The Four State Holidays Most Calendars Skip
Malaysia's federal constitution guarantees each of its nine hereditary Malay rulers, and each of the four non-monarchy states/territories, a gazetted holiday to mark their birthday. These days off apply only within that ruler's state — everyone else in Malaysia works as normal.
Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday — 29–30 September (Tuesday–Wednesday)
Kelantan is one of the few states that marks its Sultan's birthday with two consecutive days off rather than one. In 2026, that falls on a Tuesday and Wednesday, right after the weekend.
Sarawak Governor's Birthday — 10 October (Saturday)
Sarawak's head of state is a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) rather than a hereditary Sultan, since it isn't one of the nine Malay-ruler states. In 2026 the holiday lands on a Saturday, which is already a rest day for most Sarawakians, so it doesn't create extra time off this year.
Sultan of Perak's Birthday — 6 November (Friday)
Perak observes its Sultan's birthday on the first Friday of November each year. In 2026 that's 6 November — a Friday, which means Perak residents get an automatic 3-day weekend without touching their annual leave.
Sultan of Selangor's Birthday — 11 December (Friday)
Unlike Perak's floating "first Friday" rule, Selangor fixes this one on the calendar date itself: 11 December every year, whatever day it falls on. In 2026 it happens to land on a Friday too, giving Selangor residents another automatic 3-day weekend just two weeks before Christmas.
What's Open and Closed
| Category | In the observing state | Everywhere else |
|---|---|---|
| State government offices | Closed | Open (normal working day) |
| Banks | Closed in that state | Open |
| Schools | Closed in that state | Open (unless separately on school holiday) |
| Private businesses | Many close or run reduced hours, especially government-linked companies | Open as usual |
| Shopping malls & restaurants | Open | Open |
Because these are state (not federal) holidays, national chains, banks and government counters based in other states operate normally — only branches and offices physically located in the observing state close.
Turning These Long Weekends Into Longer Breaks
Two of the four state holidays already fall on a Friday, and the Kelantan one lines up neatly with a weekend too. Here's how a small amount of leave stretches each one.
Kelantan: 3 days of leave → 9 days off
| Date | Day | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 26 Sep | Saturday | Weekend |
| Sun, 27 Sep | Sunday | Weekend |
| Mon, 28 Sep | Monday | Take leave |
| Tue, 29 Sep | Tuesday | 🎉 Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Wednesday | 🎉 Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday |
| Thu, 1 Oct | Thursday | Take leave |
| Fri, 2 Oct | Friday | Take leave |
| Sat, 3 Oct | Saturday | Weekend |
| Sun, 4 Oct | Sunday | Weekend |
Result: 3 days of annual leave (28 Sep, 1–2 Oct) turns into 9 consecutive days off, from 26 September through 4 October — for Kelantan-based readers only.
Perak: 0 days of leave → automatic 3-day weekend
Because 6 November is already a Friday, Perak residents get Friday–Sunday off with no leave needed. Add a single day of leave on Thursday, 5 November, for a 4-day break instead.
Selangor: 0 days of leave → automatic 3-day weekend
The same applies to 11 December — an automatic Friday–Sunday break for Selangor residents. It also sits just two weeks before the Christmas long weekend, so it's worth checking our Christmas & New Year guide if you're planning leave across both.
Why Do Some States Have Different Royal Birthdays?
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and 3 federal territories, and nine of those states are hereditary Malay sultanates: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu. Each sultanate's Ruler sets their own official birthday celebration date — sometimes the actual birth date, sometimes a symbolic date chosen for the coronation or convenience — and it becomes a state public holiday specific to that state. Every five years, one of these nine Rulers is elected Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia), whose birthday is marked separately, nationwide, on the first Monday of June.
The remaining four states/territories — Penang, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak — don't have hereditary Rulers. Instead, each has a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) appointed by the King, and their birthdays are gazetted as state holidays the same way. Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, as federal territories, don't have a ruler's birthday holiday of their own at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Malaysia have left in 2026?
Counting from mid-September, there are nine dates left on the calendar through 31 December 2026: Malaysia Day, the Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday (2 days), the Sarawak Governor's Birthday, the Selangor Silver Jubilee, the Sultan of Perak's Birthday, Deepavali, the Sultan of Selangor's Birthday, Christmas Eve (Sabah only) and Christmas Day.
Do I get any of these four state holidays off if I don't live in that state?
No. State holidays like the Sultan of Kelantan's, Perak's or Selangor's birthdays, and the Sarawak Governor's Birthday, only apply to people who work, study or are registered in that specific state. If your employer's head office is based there but you work in a branch elsewhere, check with HR — the applicable holiday is usually based on your actual work location, not head office.
Why does Kelantan get two days off for its Sultan's birthday?
Kelantan has long observed its Ruler's birthday with two consecutive days off — a tradition unique to the state. Most other states only gazette a single day.
What's the next holiday after Malaysia Day that applies nationwide?
After Malaysia Day (16 September), the next holiday observed nationally — in every state except Sarawak — is Deepavali on 8 November 2026.
Is the Selangor Silver Jubilee the same as the Sultan of Selangor's Birthday?
No — they're different holidays. The Silver Jubilee on 25 October 2026 is a one-off celebration marking 25 years of the Sultan's reign, while 11 December is his regular annual birthday holiday, observed every year.
Looking for the national holidays we didn't cover in detail here? See our guides to Malaysia Day 2026, the Selangor Silver Jubilee holiday, Deepavali 2026 and Christmas & New Year. For the full year-round calendar, head to our holiday planner homepage.