School Holidays Malaysia 2026: Official Takwim & Term Dates

Updated 8 September 2026 against official sources (see the notes marked in the article).

Walaoeh! Is it just me, or did the school holidays just end, and now the kids are asking “Bila cuti lagi?” (When is holiday again?) 🏫📅

Welcome to 2026. In Malaysia, “Cuti Sekolah” is not just for students. It is a national phenomenon. It dictates when the PLUS Highway will jam for 10 hours. It dictates when flight tickets to Hat Yai or Langkawi will triple in price. And for parents, it dictates when your wallet will bleed.

But the Malaysian education calendar (Takwim) is confusing. “Eh, Johor holiday is Friday or Saturday?” “KL is Group A or Group B?” “How many extra days for Raya Puasa?”

In this Ultimate 2500-word Mega Guide, we decode the official Malaysia School Holidays 2026. We break down the Takwim Akademik Sesi 2026/2027, list every single Long Weekend, and give you a survival guide for “Back to School” expenses using your STR 2026 money.

The holidaysA or BThe dates

Don’t have time to read the circular? Here is the “Lazy Parent” summary for Malaysia School Holidays 2026.

(Planning a holiday? Check our Best Digital Bank 2026 to save up for your travel fund!)

Before we look at the dates, you MUST know which group your state belongs to. Malaysia is unique because different states have different weekends.

• States: Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu. (Johor also takes its weekend on Friday and Saturday, but KPM puts Johor schools in Kumpulan B.)
• School Week: Sunday to Thursday.
• Holidays Start: Usually on a Friday.

• States: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Labuan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak.
• School Week: Monday to Friday.
• Holidays Start: Usually on a Saturday.

Walaoeh Tip: If you live in KL (Group B) but want to Balik Kampung to Kelantan (Group A), remember that their jam starts one day earlier!

Based on the projected calendar from the Ministry of Education (KPM), here is the detailed breakdown. (Note: Dates are subject to official KPM circulars and moon sighting for festivals).

The MOE has moved the school year back to January. Per KPM’s Kalendar Akademik Tahun 2026, the 2026 session started on 11 January 2026 (Kumpulan A) and 12 January 2026 (Kumpulan B).

• Group A: 11 January 2026 (Sunday).
• Group B: 12 January 2026 (Monday).

• Official (Cuti Penggal 1): 20 to 28 March 2026 for Group A, 21 to 29 March 2026 for Group B.
• Duration: 9 Days.

• Likely: End of May to Early June 2026.
• Duration: 9 Days.
• Activity Idea: Perfect time for a family road trip to Penang or Melaka.

• Likely: September 2026.
• Duration: 9 Days.

• Likely: December 2026 to January 2027.
• Duration: 3-4 Weeks (The Big One!).
• Warning: This is peak travel season. Hotel prices will be insane.

The Ministry of Education (KPM) is very generous. For major festivals, they give “Cuti Tambahan” (Additional Holidays) so students don’t have to skip school to Balik Kampung.

• Date: February 17 (Tuesday) & 18 (Wednesday).
• KPM Extra Days: Likely February 16 (Monday) and February 19 (Thursday).
• Total Break: You essentially get a full week off!

• Date: March 20 (Friday) & 21 (Saturday) (Subject to moon sighting).
• KPM Extra Days: Likely leading up to the weekend.
• Total Break: 1 Week+.

• Date: November 8 (Sunday).
• KPM Extra Days: Monday and Tuesday off.

(Walaoeh Pro Tip: Parents, please apply for your Annual Leave NOW. Your colleagues are already plotting to block these dates!)*

You don’t need to wait for School Holidays (School Holiday Planner Malaysia) to travel. Public Holidays Malaysia 2026 offers many opportunities for 3-day or 4-day weekends.

• New Year (Jan 1, Thu): Take leave on Friday (Jan 2) = 4 Days Off.
• Thaipusam (Feb 1, Sun): Replacement holiday on Monday = 3 Days Off.
• Labour Day (May 1, Fri): Automatic 3 Days Off.
• Wesak Day (May 31, Sun): Replacement on Monday = 3 Days Off.
• Agong’s Birthday (June 1, Mon): Automatic 3 Days Off.
• Merdeka (Aug 31, Mon): Automatic 3 Days Off.
• Malaysia Day (Sep 16, Wed): Take Thu & Fri = 5 Days Off.

• Short Trip: Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands.
• Shopping: Hat Yai (Thailand).
• Staycation: KL City Centre (Bukit Bintang).

The holidays are fun, but the week before school reopens is a nightmare for your bank account. Uniforms, shoes, books, PIBG fees… it adds up.

• Uniforms (2 sets): RM 100 – RM 150.
• School Shoes (2 pairs): RM 80 – RM 120 (Black shoes last longer!).
• Bag & Stationeries: RM 100.
• Workbooks & Fees: RM 150.
• Total: ~RM 500 per child.

1. Use STR Money: The Phase 1 STR 2026 payment started on 20 January 2026, at RM 100 to RM 500 depending on your category (Ministry of Finance, 14 January 2026). Check your status at our STR 2026 Guide.
2. BAP (Bantuan Awal Persekolahan): The government gives RM 150 per student (Standard 1 to Form 5) regardless of income. Don’t forget to claim this from the school!
3. Credit Card Installment: For expensive items like Laptops or Tablets for school, use 0% Installment plans. Check our Gadget Guide (same principle applies to Laptops).

During Malaysia School Holidays 2026, the highways become parking lots. If you must travel, follow these rules:

Ensure your Touch ‘n Go RFID is working.

• Stick it on the Headlamp (not metal tint windscreen).
• Set up Auto-Reload.
• Nothing is more embarrassing than being the person stuck at the toll with “Insufficient Balance” while 50 cars honk at you.

• Best time to leave: 4:00 AM (Subuh warrior) or after 10:00 PM.
• Worst time: Saturday morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).

Book at least 3 months in advance. AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines prices skyrocket during school breaks. If you book last minute, it’s cheaper to fly to London than to Kota Kinabalu.

If your child is taking SPM 2026, the holidays are NOT for playing PS5 Pro or GTA 6 all day.

• 50% Rest: Let them sleep, play games, and relax. Burnout is real.
• 50% Revision: Focus on weak subjects.
• Tuition: Intensive holiday classes are boring but effective.

Walaoeh Advice for Parents: Don’t be a “Tiger Mom/Dad” 24/7. Let them breathe. A happy kid studies better than a stressed kid.

The Malaysia School Holidays 2026 are inevitable. You can either be the parent who is stressed, broke, and stuck in traffic… OR You can be the Walaoeh Parent who booked the hotel 3 months ago, used STR money for uniforms, and is currently sipping coconut water on the beach.

1. Download: Save the Takwim Akademik Sesi 2026/2027 image to your phone.
2. Apply Leave: Block your annual leave dates now.
3. Budget: Put aside RM 500 per child for Feb 2026 expenses.

Disclaimer: The dates and information provided in this article regarding the Malaysia School Holidays 2026 and Takwim Akademik are based on projections and historical patterns from the Ministry of Education (MOE/KPM) as of late 2025. Official dates are subject to change by the government or religious authorities (for moon sighting). The financial advice regarding STR, BAP, and budgeting is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. Please verify all dates with the official MOE Website before booking non-refundable travel tickets. The Walaoeh is not responsible for any financial loss or travel disruptions.