Annual leave and public holidays in Malaysia 2026
How many paid days off you get in Malaysia depends on the legal minimum, your contract and the public holidays that fall on working days. The calculator above counts them for your own case. Below you will find the legal minimum, the 2026 public holidays and the family leave rules.
Your annual leave
The legal minimum in Malaysia is 8 working days a year on a five-day week. In 2026, 16 public holidays fall on working days (national, on working days). In the example (12 days of leave in the contract) that makes 28 paid days off in all.
The Employment Act gives 8 days of paid annual leave for less than 2 years of service, 12 days for 2 to 5 years and 16 days after 5 years. Kuala Lumpur’s gazetted public holidays are shown (other states differ; employers must give at least 11 paid holidays, including 5 set by law); a holiday on a Sunday moves to Monday. Islamic and lunar dates are shown for the years published.
Public holidays 2026 in Malaysia
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Sun 1 Feb | Thaipusam | weekend |
| Sun 1 Feb | Federal Territory Day | weekend |
| Mon 2 Feb | Thaipusam (replacement holiday) | |
| Tue 3 Feb | Federal Territory Day (replacement holiday) | Take Monday off → 4 days in a row |
| Tue 17 Feb | Chinese New Year | Take Monday off → 4 days in a row |
| Wed 18 Feb | Chinese New Year (2nd day) | |
| Sat 7 Mar | Nuzul Al-Quran | weekend |
| Sat 21 Mar | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | weekend |
| Sun 22 Mar | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (2nd day) | weekend |
| Mon 23 Mar | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (2nd day) (replacement holiday) | |
| Fri 1 May | Labour Day | |
| Wed 27 May | Hari Raya Aidiladha | |
| Sun 31 May | Wesak Day | weekend |
| Mon 1 Jun | Agong’s Birthday | |
| Tue 2 Jun | Wesak Day (replacement holiday) | Take Monday off → 4 days in a row |
| Wed 17 Jun | Awal Muharram | |
| Tue 25 Aug | Maulidur Rasul | Take Monday off → 4 days in a row |
| Mon 31 Aug | National Day (Merdeka) | |
| Wed 16 Sept | Malaysia Day | |
| Sun 8 Nov | Deepavali | weekend |
| Mon 9 Nov | Deepavali (replacement holiday) | |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
Family leave
- Maternity leave: 98 days · Pay: Full pay (after 90 days of service)
- Paternity leave: 7 days (married fathers after 12 months of service) · Pay: Full pay
- Sick leave: 14 days a year (18 after 2 years, 22 after 5), plus up to 60 days in hospital · Pay: Full pay
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in Malaysia?
At least 8 working days a year on a five-day week. Many contracts and collective agreements give more.
How many public holidays are there in Malaysia in 2026?
23 national public holidays, of which 16 fall on working days. Regional holidays can add more.
What leave do parents get?
For example, Maternity leave: 98 days (Full pay (after 90 days of service)). The table above lists the main family leave types.
Are these figures exact?
They follow the national rules for 2026. Your contract, a collective agreement or regional holidays can give more days off.
Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” above. Last checked: October 2026. The amounts are estimates for information, not financial or legal advice.