New Year's Day 2026, School Holiday & Public Holiday Dates

Date of New Year's Day 2026, New Year's celebration or New Year, school holidays and public holidays, remind us that New Year is a celebration held to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one.

New Year's Day is the first day of each year. According to the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1, which falls exactly one week after Christmas Day the previous year. In modern times, New Year's Day is January 1 and is a public holiday in most countries.

This is a personal and societal opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead—often referred to as New Year's resolutions.

New Year's Day Date 2026

Announcement of the Official Date of the New Year's Day Holiday 2026

If you refer to the 2026 federal and state public holiday schedule by kabinet.gov.my, New Year's Day will be celebrated in Malaysia on:

January 1, 2026 (Thursday) – New Year's Day (All States except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu)

January 2026

School Holidays in Conjunction with the New Year's Day Public Holiday 2026

All students in Malaysia will enjoy the New Year's Day holiday based on their school group in 2026. These dates will help students, parents, and even teachers plan their celebrations and travel arrangements effectively.

Group A

(Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu)

1 January 2026 (Thursday) – During the final school holidays of the 2025/2026 Session. School holidays in all states.

Group B

(Mellaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, WP Labuan and WP Putrajaya)

1 January 2026 (Thursday) – During the final school holidays of the 2025/2026 Session. School holidays in all states.

If you plan ahead, keep in mind that the school will follow the government's public holiday schedule without additional holidays.

The Ministry of Education has not announced any special/additional arrangements for the 2026 New Year's Day celebration. You can check the official MOE portal for any latest information on the academic calendar as the celebration date approaches.

New Year's Day Celebration in Malaysia

Every year on 1 January, Malaysia celebrates the New Year, marking the first day of the Gregorian calendar year. New Year's celebrations in most countries enjoy public holidays. In Malaysia, public holidays for New Year's celebrations are enjoyed by all states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu.

New Year's Day symbolizes confidence and new beginnings, a philosophy rooted in human tradition.
This is a personal and societal opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead—often referred to as New Year's resolutions.

The New Year celebrations will be enlivened with various exciting events and activities across the country.

The excitement of celebrating the New Year with countdown moments, fireworks, concerts and family gatherings is growing in popularity every year. It seems like it has become a mandatory event every year, the countdown moment on the eve of the new year is indeed eagerly awaited by all walks of life in this country.

In Kuala Lumpur, city centres such as Bukit Bintang and the area around the Petronas Twin Towers will be the focus with fireworks, musical performances and street activities. In addition, there will also be events at The Exchange TRX offering a special shopping and entertainment experience. Many Malaysians gather for dinner—a fusion of international and local dishes

At major locations across the country, thousands of visitors will 'take to the streets' to celebrate the arrival of the new year while watching various performances including the highlight of the fireworks display. In addition to the fireworks, it is traditionally a time for introspection, making resolutions and setting a vision for the year ahead. Some popular locations are:

Putrajaya Square, Precinct 3
The Curve, Mutiara Damansara
IOI City Mall, Putrajaya
The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur Tower
and many more specific locations of several states

Internationally, some cities such as London will also host large fireworks displays along the River Thames.

New Year's Day Date by Year

2025 January 1 Wednesday
2026 January 1 Thursday
2027 January 1 Friday

New Year's Day is set on January 1, making annual planning easier.

A public holiday, New Year's Day brings Malaysians together in a national celebration. It fosters strong unity among the diverse cultures in Malaysia's diverse society.

Furthermore, the New Year season sparks increased activity in tourism, commerce, performing arts and community engagement. Embrace the symbolic new beginning by setting personal or collective goals.