Malaysia School Holidays 2026: Complete Calendar for Group A & Group B
The 2026 Malaysian school session begins on 11 January 2026 (Group A) and 12 January 2026 (Group B), and ends on 31 December 2026.
Planning a family trip or just want to know when the kids are off school? This complete guide covers all official Malaysia school holiday dates for 2026, including term breaks, the mid-year break, festive holidays, and year-end holidays — sourced from the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE).
What Are Group A and Group B Schools?
Malaysian schools are divided into two groups by the Ministry of Education based on each state's weekend:
- Group A — Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu. These states observe a Friday–Saturday weekend, so their school week runs Sunday to Thursday. Their term breaks start one day earlier than Group B.
- Group B — Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya. These states observe a Saturday–Sunday weekend and run a Monday–Friday school week.
2026 School Holiday Dates — Group A
(Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu)
|
Break |
Start |
End |
Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
School Opens |
11 Jan 2026 (Sun) |
— |
— |
|
Term 1 Holiday |
20 Mar 2026 (Fri) |
28 Mar 2026 (Sat) |
9 days |
|
Mid-Year Break |
22 May 2026 (Fri) |
6 Jun 2026 (Sat) |
16 days |
|
Term 2 Holiday |
28 Aug 2026 (Fri) |
5 Sep 2026 (Sat) |
9 days |
|
Year-End Holiday |
4 Dec 2026 (Fri) |
31 Dec 2026 (Thu) |
28 days |
2026 School Holiday Dates — Group B
(Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, KL, Labuan, Putrajaya)
|
Break |
Start |
End |
Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
School Opens |
12 Jan 2026 (Mon) |
— |
— |
|
Term 1 Holiday |
21 Mar 2026 (Sat) |
29 Mar 2026 (Sun) |
9 days |
|
Mid-Year Break |
23 May 2026 (Sat) |
7 Jun 2026 (Sun) |
16 days |
|
Term 2 Holiday |
29 Aug 2026 (Sat) |
6 Sep 2026 (Sun) |
9 days |
|
Year-End Holiday |
5 Dec 2026 (Sat) |
31 Dec 2026 (Thu) |
27 days |
2026 Festive & Special School Holidays
Beyond the standard term breaks, the MOE grants additional festive holidays throughout the year. These apply to all schools but dates may differ slightly between groups.
|
Festive Holiday |
Group A Date |
Group B Date |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chinese New Year |
17–18 Feb 2026 |
15–16 Feb 2026 |
3 extra MOE days for both groups (16, 19, 20 Feb for Group B) |
|
Hari Raya Aidilfitri |
21–22 Mar 2026 |
19 Mar 2026 |
Falls within Term 1 holiday; 1–2 extra MOE days |
|
Kaamatan Festival |
30–31 May 2026 |
30–31 May 2026 |
Sabah & Labuan only; within mid-year break |
|
Gawai Dayak |
1–2 Jun 2026 |
1–2 Jun 2026 |
Sarawak only; within mid-year break |
|
Deepavali |
8 Nov 2026 |
9 Nov 2026 |
1 extra MOE day (10 Nov, except Sarawak) |
|
Christmas Day |
25 Dec 2026 |
25 Dec 2026 |
Within year-end holiday |
Note: Festive holiday dates are subject to change following official government confirmation. Always verify with the MOE official academic calendar.
School Holiday Breakdown by Term
Term 1 Holiday (March 2026) — 9 Days
The first term break of the year falls in late March, typically overlapping with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In 2026, Hari Raya falls on 20 March (with the public holiday observed from 20–21 March), meaning the term break and festive holiday align for most families — making this a popular time for interstate travel.
Group A: 20 – 28 March 2026 Group B: 21 – 29 March 2026
Mid-Year Break (May–June 2026) — 16 Days
The longest break of the mid-year, spanning over two weeks. This is the most popular period for family holidays, both domestic and international. Flights and hotel bookings tend to fill up fast — plan early if you're travelling.
Group A: 22 May – 6 June 2026 Group B: 23 May – 7 June 2026
The Kaamatan Festival (Sabah & Labuan) and Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) both fall within this break.
Term 2 Holiday (August–September 2026) — 9 Days
The shorter second term break, falling at the end of August. This is a quieter travel period compared to the mid-year break, which can make it ideal for domestic getaways at lower prices.
Group A: 28 August – 5 September 2026 Group B: 29 August – 6 September 2026
Year-End Holiday (December 2026) — 27–28 Days
The longest holiday of the school year. Schools close in early December and do not reopen until January 2027. The 2027 school session begins on 4 January 2027 for both groups.
Group A: 4 – 31 December 2026 (28 days) Group B: 5 – 31 December 2026 (27 days)
Tips for Planning Around School Holidays
Book early for mid-year and year-end breaks. These are the two peak travel seasons for Malaysian families. Airlines, theme parks, and popular domestic destinations like Langkawi, Genting, and Cameron Highlands see the highest demand and prices during these periods.
Check your state's group. Parents sometimes assume their state follows Group A or Group B based on neighbours' school schedules. The determining factor is your state's official weekend — if your state observes a Friday–Saturday weekend, you are Group A.
Festive dates may shift. Dates for Hari Raya Aidilfitri are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and are subject to official moon-sighting confirmation, which can shift the exact date by a day. Always check for updates closer to the date.
Long weekends near term breaks. Some term breaks fall near public holidays, creating extended breaks. Check the Malaysia Public Holiday Calendar 2026 to identify these opportunities and plan accordingly.
School Holidays 2026 — Quick Comparison Table
|
Break |
Group A |
Group B |
|---|---|---|
|
Term 1 |
20–28 Mar |
21–29 Mar |
|
Mid-Year |
22 May–6 Jun |
23 May–7 Jun |
|
Term 2 |
28 Aug–5 Sep |
29 Aug–6 Sep |
|
Year-End |
4–31 Dec |
5–31 Dec |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Malaysian schools open in 2026? Group A schools (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu) open on 11 January 2026. Group B schools (all other states) open on 12 January 2026.
How many school holidays are there in Malaysia in 2026? There are four standard term breaks — Term 1, Mid-Year, Term 2, and Year-End — plus additional festive holidays for events like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, and Deepavali.
When is the school mid-year holiday in 2026? Group A: 22 May – 6 June 2026. Group B: 23 May – 7 June 2026. Both groups enjoy 16 days off.
When does the 2026 school year end in Malaysia? The 2026 school session ends on 31 December 2026 for both groups, with year-end holidays beginning 4 December (Group A) or 5 December (Group B).
When does the 2027 school session start? The 2027 school session begins on 4 January 2027 for both Group A and Group B.
What is the difference between Group A and Group B? Group A schools are in states that observe a Friday–Saturday weekend (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu). Group B schools are in all remaining states and Federal Territories, which observe a Saturday–Sunday weekend.
Are school holidays the same as public holidays in Malaysia? Not always. School holidays are set by the Ministry of Education and may or may not align with national public holidays. Some public holidays fall within school term breaks; others do not.
Check all Malaysia public holidays for 2026 alongside school breaks on the Malaysia Public Holiday Calendar. Plan your long weekends, school breaks, and family trips all in one place.
