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Which calendar applies in Kuala Lumpur depends on whether you choose an international or a Malaysian national school. Our Kuala Lumpur city guide maps the sector; this page sets out the 2026 dates. The headline shared breaks for international schools are the Chinese New Year week in February and the long summer from late June.
Kuala Lumpur public holidays 2026
All Kuala Lumpur schools close on federal public holidays, and Malaysia has one of the fullest calendars in the world because it marks Muslim, Chinese, Hindu and Christian festivals. The headline 2026 federal dates are below; several move with the lunar or Islamic calendar.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Chinese New Year | Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February |
| Hari Raya Aidilfitri | Friday 20 to Monday 23 March (with replacement day) |
| Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| Wesak Day | late May to early June (lunar) |
| Hari Raya Aidiladha | late May (Islamic calendar) |
| Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday | Monday 1 June |
| Awal Muharram | mid-June (Islamic calendar) |
| National Day (Merdeka) | Monday 31 August |
| Malaysia Day | Wednesday 16 September |
| Deepavali | Sunday 8 November |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
Islamic dates such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha and Awal Muharram are set by moon sighting and confirmed shortly before, so treat them as indicative until officially gazetted. In 2026 an additional government holiday on Friday 20 March created a four-day Raya weekend. Kuala Lumpur, in the Federal Territories, also observes Federal Territory Day on 1 February.
Term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
International schools, the choice of most expatriate families in Kuala Lumpur, follow the northern-hemisphere pattern shown below, based on published 2025-26 calendars of major KL international schools. Malaysian national schools run a separate two-semester year set by the Ministry of Education (KPM), with a mid-year break around late May to June and a longer year-end break.
| Period (typical international school) | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 begins | mid-to-late August 2025 |
| Term 1 half-term break | mid-October 2025 |
| Winter break | mid-December 2025 to early January 2026 |
| Chinese New Year break | around 16 to 20 February 2026 (about one week) |
| Spring / Easter break | early April 2026 |
| Term 3 ends / summer break | mid-to-late June 2026 |
| Malaysian national schools: mid-year break | late May to mid-June 2026 (KPM dates) |
The international school rows are indicative of the common shape and vary by a few days between schools, so confirm against your school's published calendar. Malaysian national-school dates for 2026 are set by the Ministry of Education and differ for the two state groups; confirm the exact KPM calendar for the Federal Territories.
Building your Kuala Lumpur school shortlist?
Kuala Lumpur has one of the largest and most affordable international school markets in Asia, from British and IB campuses to American schools. Our school finder filters by curriculum and fee tier.
International school term dates
International schools dominate the expatriate market in Kuala Lumpur and run an August to June northern-hemisphere year. British schools such as the Alice Smith School and the Garden International School keep three terms with an October half-term and a roughly one-week Chinese New Year break; American and IB schools run two semesters. The largest single difference from the Malaysian national calendar is the summer break: international schools break from mid-to-late June into August, while national schools take their longest break at the year-end. Chinese New Year in February is the key shared cultural break across the city. Our curriculum guide explains how each system shapes assessment and the year.
Planning the year
Two practical notes for Kuala Lumpur families. First, the Chinese New Year week and the Hari Raya period are the busiest domestic and regional travel windows, with flights to nearby beaches and to Singapore filling early; book by January. Second, Kuala Lumpur is known for strong value in international education, so weigh your shortlist against our Kuala Lumpur international school fees guide, billed by term. For the national framework, see our Malaysia country guide, and start a shortlist from the Kuala Lumpur city hub.
Common questions
When do schools break up for summer in Kuala Lumpur? International schools in Kuala Lumpur break for summer in mid-to-late June 2026 and return in August. Malaysian national schools take their longest break at the year-end rather than mid-year.
How long is the summer holiday in Kuala Lumpur? International schools take about seven to eight weeks from late June. Malaysian national schools have a shorter mid-year break of about two to three weeks and a longer year-end holiday.
When does the 2026 school year start in Kuala Lumpur? International schools start the 2026-27 year in mid-to-late August 2026. Malaysian national-school dates are set by the Ministry of Education.
When is the Chinese New Year school break in Kuala Lumpur 2026? Chinese New Year falls on 17 and 18 February 2026, and most international schools close for around a week across the middle of the month.
Why does Kuala Lumpur have so many public holidays? Malaysia officially marks Muslim, Chinese, Hindu and Christian festivals, so the federal calendar is unusually full. Several dates move each year with the lunar or Islamic calendar.