New Year's Day in Malaysia
Marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar year.
New Year's Day marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year and is observed as a public holiday across most of Malaysia. It is a relatively quiet holiday compared with the country's vibrant religious and cultural festivals, but it remains a welcome day off to recover from New Year's Eve celebrations and to set fresh intentions for the year ahead.
The day is not observed as a public holiday in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu, reflecting the differing holiday calendars maintained by individual states. Elsewhere, malls, restaurants and tourist attractions typically remain open, while government offices and many businesses close.
When is New Year's Day?
| Year | Date | Observed in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu, 1 January 2026 | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu | |
| 2027 | Fri, 1 January 2027 | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu | |
| 2028 | Sat, 1 January 2028 | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
Planning around New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed in National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu. If you are planning travel or annual leave, check the dates above for 2026 and the following years, because the weekday changes each year and determines whether the holiday creates a natural long weekend.
Within the years listed, New Year's Day falls next to a weekend in at least one year, so taking one or two days of annual leave can stretch your break further. See our long-weekend pages for the best leave suggestions in each state.