Chinese New Year 2027, School Holiday & Public Holiday Dates

Chinese New Year 2025 date, Chinese New Year celebration or Chinese New Year (CNY), school holidays and public holidays, remind us that Chinese New Year is a festival celebrated by Chinese people around the world, celebrated around January or February according to the lunar calendar.

Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival in China, and several places around the world. Chinese New Year celebrations are very lively in Malaysia as the Chinese are the second largest population in the country.

Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations, school holidays and public holidays, mark more than just a transition between calendar years – it represents renewal, family unity and respect for tradition and ancestors.

Date of CNY 2027

Announcement of the Official Dates for the 2027 Chinese Raya Holiday

Following references from several sources regarding the 2027 federal and state public holiday schedule, Chinese New Year will be celebrated in Malaysia on:

February 6, 2027 (Saturday) – Chinese New Year (All States)
February 7, 2027 (Sunday) – Second Day of Chinese New Year (All States)

School Holidays in Conjunction with Chinese New Year Public Holidays 2027

All students in Malaysia will enjoy the Chinese Raya holiday based on their school group in 2027. These dates will help students, parents, and even teachers plan their celebrations and travel arrangements effectively.

Group A

(Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu)

6 February 2027 (Saturday) – School holiday in all states
7 February 2027 (Sunday) – School holiday in all states

Group B

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

6 February 2027 (Saturday) – School holiday in all states
7 February 2027 (Sunday) – School holiday in all states

The dates listed above are from various sources and are for initial reference only. Please check this page from time to time for the latest updates on public holidays in 2027 after the official announcement by the cabinet and the Ministry of Education.

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 2027 CNY celebration. You can check the official MOE portal for any updated information on the academic calendar as the celebration date approaches.

Chinese New Year Celebration in Malaysia

As one of the most important cultural festivals in Malaysia, Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar with a tradition that has endured for thousands of years. The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration, rooted in the ancient legend of the monster Nian, combines red decorations and loud noises to ward off evil spirits, while promoting prosperity and good fortune.

Every year on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese people around the world celebrate Chinese New Year, which marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

This festival is celebrated on a large scale by the Chinese community in Malaysia, marking the arrival of the new year according to their calendar. The Chinese believe that there are 12 animals that govern their calendar, namely the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each of these animals has its own significance and luck.

According to Chinese belief, each animal symbolizes the personality of the person born that year. Chinese New Year celebrations are very lively in Malaysia as the Chinese are the second largest population in the country.

On the night before Chinese New Year, all family members gather together to eat together. The purpose is to strengthen family ties.

In preparation for this festival, all families thoroughly clean their homes and decorate their homes with red paper cutouts and citrus/orange fruits. Mandarin oranges and basket cakes are a must-have when celebrating Chinese New Year.

The CNY celebration also features symbolic foods such as Yee Sang, dumplings and sticky rice cakes, representing wealth and prosperity.

Traditional practices include the distribution of red envelopes containing money as sincere gifts, known as “angpau,” from married couples to unmarried teenagers.

Married family members will give 'angpau' to unmarried relatives and friends. 'Angpau' is the distribution of red envelopes containing money, which carries the meaning of lasting prosperity.

At midnight, firecrackers light up the sky, marking the beginning of a 15-day celebration that will culminate with the Lantern Festival celebration.

Throughout the Chinese New Year, lion dances are performed from house to house and in shops to bless those celebrating the festival. To conclude the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Chap Goh Meh festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Although many people know about red envelopes (Ang Pau) and dragon dance (lion dance), the deeper significance of the festival encompasses every aspect of the custom, from the careful selection of food to the use of symbolic colours in decorating the home. Chinese New Year continues to be celebrated throughout the ages as a testament to the enduring strength of cultural tradition.

Chinese New Year Dates by Year

2025 January 29 Wednesday & January 30 Thursday
2026 February 17 Tuesday & February 18 Wednesday
2027 February 6 Saturday & February 7 Sunday