Table of Contents
Malaysia's official 2027 schedule, issued in August 2026 by the Cabinet, Constitution and Intergovernmental Relations Division of the Prime Minister's Department, lists 12 federal holidays (some spread over two days) plus state holidays that differ from state to state. For travellers from Singapore, the state that matters most is Johor: in 2027 it has public holidays on 18 dates, including Thaipusam, Awal Ramadan and the Sultan of Johor's Birthday, but not New Year's Day. Dates for Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Qurban (Haji), Deepavali and Awal Ramadan are marked as subject to change, so we label them as expected below.
How to read the official list
The Prime Minister's Department publishes one schedule for the whole country. Each holiday is marked either as a federal holiday, observed nationwide apart from any listed exceptions, or as a state holiday, observed only in the states ticked against it. An asterisk means the date is subject to change, which in 2027 applies to Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Qurban, Deepavali and Awal Ramadan. Islamic holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar, and the start of Ramadan and Hari Raya Puasa in particular are only confirmed after the official moon sighting, shortly before the day. States can also declare extra one-off holidays during the year, for example after a royal or sporting occasion, so it is worth scanning local news in the week before a trip.
Federal holidays 2027
These apply across Malaysia, with the few exceptions noted.
| Holiday | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | Sat 6 – Sun 7 Feb | Second day is a state holiday in Kelantan and Terengganu |
| Hari Raya Puasa | Wed 10 – Thu 11 Mar (expected) | Depends on the moon sighting |
| Labour Day | Sat 1 May | |
| Hari Raya Qurban (Haji) | Mon 17 May (expected) | Second day, Tue 18 May, in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis only |
| Wesak Day | Thu 20 May | |
| Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) | Sun 6 Jun | Islamic calendar date |
| Agong's Official Birthday | Mon 7 Jun | |
| Maulidur Rasul | Sun 15 Aug | Islamic calendar date |
| National Day (Hari Kebangsaan) | Tue 31 Aug | |
| Malaysia Day | Thu 16 Sep | |
| Deepavali | Thu 28 Oct (expected) | Not a holiday in Sarawak |
| Christmas Day | Sat 25 Dec |
Johor public holidays 2027: the full list
Johor went back to a Saturday–Sunday weekend on 1 January 2025, the same as Singapore. Here is every Johor holiday for 2027, federal and state together.
| Date | Holiday | Also a Singapore holiday? |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 22 Jan | Thaipusam (state) | No |
| Sat 6 – Sun 7 Feb | Chinese New Year | Yes (Singapore also off Mon 8 Feb) |
| Mon 8 Feb | Awal Ramadan (state, expected) | Yes, but for Chinese New Year |
| Wed 10 – Thu 11 Mar | Hari Raya Puasa (expected) | Wed 10 Mar only |
| Tue 23 Mar | Sultan of Johor's Birthday (state) | No |
| Sat 1 May | Labour Day | Yes |
| Mon 17 May | Hari Raya Qurban (expected) | Yes (Hari Raya Haji) |
| Thu 20 May | Wesak Day | Yes (Vesak Day) |
| Sun 6 Jun | Awal Muharram | No |
| Mon 7 Jun | Agong's Official Birthday | No |
| Sun 11 Jul | Hari Hol of the late Sultan Iskandar (state) | No |
| Sun 15 Aug | Maulidur Rasul | No |
| Tue 31 Aug | National Day | No |
| Thu 16 Sep | Malaysia Day | No |
| Thu 28 Oct | Deepavali (expected) | Yes |
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Yes |
Replacement holidays for Sunday dates
Several 2027 holidays fall on a Sunday. In states with a Saturday–Sunday weekend, Malaysia's usual practice is to give the next working day off instead. The official list does not print these replacement days, so treat the following as expected and check announcements nearer the time:
- Chinese New Year day 2 (Sun 7 Feb): most states would get Mon 8 Feb. In Johor, Mon 8 Feb is already Awal Ramadan, so the replacement may move to Tuesday 9 February.
- Awal Muharram (Sun 6 Jun): Monday is already the Agong's Birthday, so a replacement would be Tuesday 8 June.
- Hari Hol (Sun 11 Jul, Johor): expected Monday 12 July.
- Maulidur Rasul (Sun 15 Aug): expected Monday 16 August.
Holidays that fall on a Saturday, such as Labour Day and Christmas, do not usually get a replacement day.
Other states Singapore travellers often visit
If your trip goes beyond Johor, these state holidays can change opening hours and traffic:
- Melaka: New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan), Declaration of Independence Day (Sat 20 Feb), a third day of Hari Raya Puasa (Fri 12 Mar) and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday (Tue 24 Aug).
- Kuala Lumpur: New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan), Thaipusam (Fri 22 Jan), Federal Territory Day (Mon 1 Feb) and Nuzul Al-Quran (Wed 24 Feb). Selangor shares all of these except Federal Territory Day, and adds the Sultan of Selangor's Birthday (Sat 11 Dec).
- Pahang (Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands): New Year's Day, Nuzul Al-Quran, Hari Hol of the late Sultan Ahmad Shah (Sat 22 May) and the Sultan of Pahang's Birthday (Fri 30 Jul).
- Negeri Sembilan (Port Dickson): New Year's Day, Israk and Mikraj (Wed 6 Jan and Sun 26 Dec), the Yang di-Pertuan Besar's Birthday (Thu 14 Jan) and Thaipusam.
- Penang: New Year's Day, Thaipusam, Nuzul Al-Quran, the anniversary of George Town's World Heritage listing (Wed 7 Jul) and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's Birthday (Sat 10 Jul).
- Perak (Ipoh): New Year's Day, Thaipusam, Nuzul Al-Quran and the Sultan of Perak's Birthday (Fri 5 Nov).
What Malaysian holidays mean for a trip from Singapore
Dates both countries share
Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Qurban/Haji, Wesak and Deepavali are holidays on both sides. These bring the heaviest two-way traffic of the year at the Causeway and the Second Link, and full hotels from Johor to Penang. See our Causeway jams on public holidays guide for the worst crossing times.
Malaysia-only dates
National Day (31 Aug), Malaysia Day (16 Sep), the Agong's Birthday (7 Jun) and the Johor-only days are normal working days in Singapore. Expect busier malls, beaches and theme parks in Johor, as local families are off, and some government offices closed. Traffic into Singapore is usually lighter than on shared holidays, but Malaysian visitors heading south can add to the queues.
Festive closures
During Hari Raya Puasa many Malay-run eateries and shops close for a few days, and during Chinese New Year many Chinese family businesses close for the first days of the new year. Big malls usually stay open. If you are going for a specific restaurant or shop, check before you travel.
Ramadan in February and March
With Awal Ramadan expected on 8 February, the fasting month runs from early February to Hari Raya Puasa. Evening Ramadan bazaars pop up across Johor Bahru, and traffic can be heavy in the hour before the evening meal as people rush home.
Planning tips
- Cross-check both calendars. Our Singapore long weekends 2027 guide shows which Singapore breaks line up with Malaysian ones.
- Treat Islamic dates as provisional. Hari Raya Puasa and Qurban can move by a day after the moon sighting, so keep bookings flexible.
- Watch the live cameras. Check our Woodlands and Tuas checkpoint traffic page before you set off.
- Book early for festival weekends. Rooms and cars run out first on Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.
Travelling on a Malaysian holiday by private car
Holiday weekends are when a private car helps most. You stay in the car through immigration at both checkpoints, there are no bus queues on the Malaysian side, and the driver takes you door to door, from anywhere in Singapore to your hotel or family home. Our cross-border drivers know how the roads behave around each festival and can suggest a sensible departure time. Fares are per car and the same in both directions, including tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking.
Heading into Malaysia over a 2027 holiday? See all destinations on the Singapore to Malaysia page, read how booking works, or Whatsapp us with your dates. No deposit is needed; you pay the driver on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1 January 2027 a public holiday in Johor?
No. New Year's Day is a state holiday in many parts of Malaysia, including KL, Melaka, Selangor and Penang, but it is not on Johor's 2027 list.
When is Hari Raya Puasa 2027 in Malaysia?
The official list gives Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March 2027, marked as subject to change. The final date depends on the moon sighting at the end of Ramadan.
Is Thaipusam a holiday in Johor in 2027?
Yes. Thaipusam on Friday 22 January 2027 is a state holiday in Johor, as well as in KL, Putrajaya, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Penang.
What is Johor's weekend?
Saturday and Sunday, the same as Singapore. Johor switched back from a Friday–Saturday weekend on 1 January 2025.
Where does the official Malaysian holiday list come from?
It is published by the Cabinet, Constitution and Intergovernmental Relations Division of the Prime Minister's Department. States can still add special holidays during the year, so check local news close to your trip.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
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