Public Holidays in Sabah 2026–2027 (Full Calendar)
What are the public holidays in Sabah 2026?
Sabah observes 20 gazetted public holidays in 2026, including federal holidays and Sabah-specific ones: Sabah Governor's Birthday (30 March), Good Friday (3 April), Pesta Kaamatan / Harvest Festival (30–31 May), and Christmas Eve (24 December). The full list is below, taken from the official Sabah Government holiday list.
Sabah observes all Malaysian federal public holidays plus several state-specific holidays that Peninsular Malaysia doesn't get. The official Sabah list has 20 public holidays in 2026 (Sabah State Government, checked 7 October 2026).
Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival, 30–31 May), Good Friday, Christmas Eve, and the Sabah Governor's Birthday (30 March) are Sabah holidays that Peninsular Malaysia doesn't observe. That's 5 extra days off.
2026 Public Holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type | Bridge Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thu | New Year's Day | Federal | Take Fri 2 Jan → 4-day weekend |
| 17 Feb | Tue | Chinese New Year (Day 1) | Federal | Take Mon 16 Feb → 5-day break |
| 18 Feb | Wed | Chinese New Year (Day 2) | Federal | |
| 21 Mar | Sat | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Day 1) | Federal* | Take Thu 19 + Fri 20 Mar → 5-day break |
| 22 Mar | Sun | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Day 2) | Federal* | |
| 23 Mar | Mon | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (replacement) | Replacement† | |
| 30 Mar | Mon | Sabah Governor's Birthday | Sabah | 3-day weekend! (Take Tue 31 Mar → 4 days) |
| 3 Apr | Fri | Good Friday | Sabah | 3-day weekend! |
| 1 May | Fri | Labour Day | Federal | 3-day weekend! (Take Mon 4 May → 4 days) |
| 27 May | Wed | Hari Raya Haji | Federal* | Take Thu 28 + Fri 29 May → 6-day break! Combines Haji + Kaamatan + Vesak + Agong's Birthday |
| 30 May | Sat | Pesta Kaamatan (Day 1) | Sabah | |
| 31 May | Sun | Pesta Kaamatan (Day 2) + Wesak Day | Sabah Federal | |
| 1 Jun | Mon | Agong's Birthday | Federal | |
| 2 Jun | Tue | Pesta Kaamatan (private-sector replacement)§ | Replacement§ | Private-sector staff with a Sunday rest day |
| 3 Jun | Wed | Wesak Day (private-sector replacement)§ | Replacement§ | |
| 17 Jun | Wed | Awal Muharram | Federal* | Take Mon 15 + Tue 16 Jun → 5-day break |
| 25 Aug | Tue | Maulidur Rasul | Federal* | Take Mon 24 Aug → 4-day weekend |
| 31 Aug | Mon | Merdeka Day | Federal | 3-day weekend! |
| 16 Sep | Wed | Malaysia Day | Federal | Take Thu 17 + Fri 18 Sep → 5-day break |
| 8 Nov | Sun | Deepavali | Federal | Mon 9 Nov replacement holiday† → 3-day weekend |
| 24 Dec | Thu | Christmas Eve | Sabah | 4-day break with no leave needed (Thu–Sun) |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day | Federal |
Dates from the official Sabah list (Sabah State Government, checked 7 October 2026) and the Jabatan Cetak Kerajaan Sabah 2026 calendar (checked 7 October 2026).
* Islamic holiday dates can shift by a day after official moon sighting.
† Replacement days are not printed in the list. In Sabah a holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the next day; a holiday on a Saturday is not replaced (Sabah gazette holiday schedule notes, checked 7 October 2026).
§ Private-sector replacement days under the Sabah Labour Ordinance for staff whose rest day is Sunday and whose employer grants Kaamatan and Wesak as paid holidays (Bernama, quoting the Sabah Labour Department, checked 7 October 2026).
Thaipusam, Israk & Mikraj, and Nuzul Al-Quran are not on the Sabah public holiday list. They are holidays only in some Peninsular states.
Sabah-Specific Holidays
Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival)
30–31 May every year
The most important cultural celebration in Sabah. The Kadazan-Dusun people give thanks to the spirit of rice (Bambaazon) for a bountiful harvest. Main celebrations at KDCA Penampang with traditional dancing, tapai (rice wine), the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, and cultural performances. Each district holds their own celebrations throughout May.
Good Friday
Varies (March/April)
Only observed in Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah has a large Christian community, mainly among the Kadazan-Dusun and Murut communities. Churches hold special services. Many businesses in KK remain open.
Sabah Governor's Birthday
30 March (from 2025 onwards)
The official birthday of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah (TYT). From 2025, the official celebration moved to 30 March, the actual birthday of TYT Tun Musa Aman (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026). An investiture ceremony is held at the Istana. A state-level celebration — most government offices and many businesses close.
Long Weekend Planner
Strategically time your annual leave to stack onto public holidays. Here are the best bridge day opportunities in 2026:
| Take Leave On | Total Days Off | Leave Used | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 2 Jan | 4 days | 1 day | Thu 1 Jan (NY) → Sun 4 Jan |
| Mon 16 Feb | 5 days | 1 day | Sat 14 → Wed 18 Feb (Mon leave + CNY1 + CNY2) |
| Thu 19 + Fri 20 Mar | 5 days | 2 days | Thu 19 → Mon 23 Mar (Aidilfitri Sat–Sun + replacement Mon) |
| Tue 31 Mar | 4 days | 1 day | Sat 28 → Tue 31 Mar (Sabah Governor's Birthday on Mon 30 Mar) |
| Mon 4 May | 4 days | 1 day | Fri 1 May (Labour) → Mon 4 May |
| Thu 28 + Fri 29 May ⭐ | 6 days | 2 days | Wed 27 May (Haji) → Mon 1 Jun (Agong's) — stacks Haji + Kaamatan + Vesak + Agong's |
| Mon 15 + Tue 16 Jun | 5 days | 2 days | Sat 13 → Wed 17 Jun (Awal Muharram) |
| Mon 24 Aug | 4 days | 1 day | Sat 22 → Tue 25 Aug (Maulidur Rasul) |
| Thu 17 + Fri 18 Sep | 5 days | 2 days | Wed 16 Sep (Malaysia Day) → Sun 20 Sep |
| No leave (Christmas) | 4 days | 0 days | Thu 24 (Xmas Eve) → Sun 27 Dec |
The Hari Raya Haji + Kaamatan + Vesak + Agong's Birthday combo (27 May – 1 Jun) is the jackpot of 2026. Take just 2 days of leave (Thu 28 + Fri 29 May) to get a 6-day break. Perfect for an island hop or a Mount Kinabalu climb.
2027 Public Holidays
The 2027 Sabah holiday list was gazetted on 26 March 2026 (Warta Kerajaan Negeri Sabah No. 100, checked 7 October 2026). Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Qurban and Deepavali carry an asterisk in the gazette list, and Raya dates can still move by a day after moon sighting. Replacement days below follow the Sabah Sunday rule and are not printed in the gazette.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Fri | New Year's Day | Federal |
| 6 Feb | Sat | Chinese New Year (Day 1) | Federal |
| 7 Feb | Sun | Chinese New Year (Day 2) | Federal |
| 8 Feb | Mon | Chinese New Year (replacement)† | Replacement |
| 10 Mar | Wed | Hari Raya Aidilfitri* | Federal |
| 11 Mar | Thu | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Day 2)* | Federal |
| 26 Mar | Fri | Good Friday | Sabah |
| 30 Mar | Tue | Sabah Governor's Birthday‡ | Sabah |
| 1 May | Sat | Labour Day | Federal |
| 17 May | Mon | Hari Raya Haji* | Federal |
| 20 May | Thu | Wesak Day | Federal |
| 30 May | Sun | Pesta Kaamatan (Day 1) | Sabah |
| 31 May | Mon | Pesta Kaamatan (Day 2) | Sabah |
| 1 Jun | Tue | Agong's Birthday | Federal |
| 2 Jun | Wed | Pesta Kaamatan (replacement)† | Replacement |
| 6 Jun | Sun | Awal Muharram | Federal |
| 7 Jun | Mon | Awal Muharram (replacement)† | Replacement |
| 15 Aug | Sun | Maulidur Rasul | Federal |
| 16 Aug | Mon | Maulidur Rasul (replacement)† | Replacement |
| 31 Aug | Tue | Merdeka Day | Federal |
| 16 Sep | Thu | Malaysia Day | Federal |
| 28 Oct | Thu | Deepavali* | Federal |
| 24 Dec | Fri | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
| 25 Dec | Sat | Christmas Day | Federal |
* Marked with an asterisk in the Sabah gazette list; Raya dates are confirmed by moon sighting closer to the date. † Replacement day: the holiday before it falls on a Sunday (for Kaamatan Day 1, the next two days are already holidays, so the replacement moves to Wed 2 June). ‡ The Governor's Birthday follows the office-holder's birthday, so the date may change if the office-holder changes.
The federal holiday list published in August 2026 (Cabinet Division, checked 10 October 2026) puts the Agong's Birthday on Monday 7 June 2027 and adds Hari Raya Haji Day 2 on Tuesday 18 May. Sabah's gazette above still says Tuesday 1 June and lists no second Raya Haji day. The table follows Sabah's gazette until Sabah amends it. If Sabah follows the federal list, Kaamatan's replacement becomes Tue 1 June and Awal Muharram's becomes Tue 8 June. Full 2027 view: Kalendar Sabah 2027.
How Replacement Holidays Work
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day becomes the holiday. If the next day is already a holiday, the day after that is used. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is not replaced, because Saturday is already the weekly rest day for the civil service (Sabah gazette holiday schedule notes, checked 7 October 2026).
For private sector employees: Sabah uses the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap. 67), not the Employment Act 1955. If a paid holiday falls on your rest day, the next working day is the replacement. In 2026, for example, staff whose employer grants Kaamatan and Wesak as paid holidays and whose rest day is Sunday got Tue 2 June (Kaamatan) and Wed 3 June (Wesak) as replacement holidays, and these can be moved to other days only with the employee's consent (Bernama, quoting the Sabah Labour Department, checked 7 October 2026).
What Closes on Public Holidays
| Service | Major Holidays | Minor Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Government offices | Closed | Closed |
| Banks | Closed | Closed |
| Shopping malls | Open (reduced hours on CNY Day 1, Raya Day 1) | Open |
| Restaurants | Many close CNY Day 1, Raya Day 1 | Usually open |
| Supermarkets | Open (reduced hours) | Open |
| Public transport | Reduced schedule | Normal or slightly reduced |
| Tourist attractions | Usually open | Open |
| Hospitals (A&E) | 24/7 always open | 24/7 always open |
Frequently asked questions
Q How many public holidays does Sabah get per year?
Sabah's official list has 20 public holidays in both 2026 and 2027. In 2026 specifically, there are 20 gazetted dates but only 19 distinct days off because Wesak Day and Pesta Kaamatan (Day 2) both fall on 31 May. This includes all federal holidays plus Sabah-specific ones: Good Friday, Pesta Kaamatan (2 days), Sabah Governor's Birthday (30 March), and Christmas Eve (24 December). A holiday that falls on a Sunday also gives a replacement day the following day.
Q Do Islamic holiday dates change every year?
Yes. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri (lunar) calendar, which is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Dates like Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Haji, Awal Muharram, and Maulidur Rasul shift earlier each year.
Official dates are confirmed by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal based on moon sighting, sometimes just 1–2 days before the actual holiday. The dates listed here follow the Sabah state holiday lists, but Raya dates can still move by a day after moon sighting.
Q What is Pesta Kaamatan and can tourists attend?
Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) is celebrated on 30-31 May every year. It's the most important cultural celebration for the Kadazan-Dusun people, giving thanks for the rice harvest.
Yes, tourists are welcome! The main celebrations happen at the KDCA (Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association) in Penampang, about 15 minutes from KK. Highlights include traditional dancing, rice wine (tapai/lihing) tasting, the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, and cultural performances.
Individual districts also hold their own celebrations throughout May. Tambunan and Ranau have particularly lively events.
Q Is Good Friday a holiday everywhere in Malaysia?
No. Good Friday is only a public holiday in Sabah and Sarawak. Both states have large Christian populations, particularly among indigenous communities (Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Iban, Bidayuh). Peninsular Malaysia does not observe Good Friday as a public holiday.
Q Do I get a replacement holiday if a public holiday falls on my rest day?
In Sabah, private-sector employment comes under the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap. 67), not the Employment Act 1955. Under the Ordinance, a holiday that falls on your rest day is replaced by the next working day. Five holidays are compulsory, including the Agong's Birthday, and employers choose the rest of the paid holidays they grant.
For the official holiday list, a holiday on a Sunday moves to the next day. A holiday on a Saturday is not replaced. Sources are listed in the replacement holidays section above.
Q When should I avoid visiting Sabah due to crowds?
Peak travel periods in Sabah:
- Pesta Kaamatan week (late May) — Hotels in KK fill up, especially Penampang area
- Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) — 3-4 days of busy hotels and full restaurants
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri (21–22 March in 2026) — Major traffic on highways, especially KK–Interior routes
- School holidays (especially the year-end break from 5 December) — accommodation at tourist spots fills up and prices rise
- Year-end holidays (Christmas–New Year) — Peak season across all of Sabah
Best value periods: February (post-CNY), March, June (post-Kaamatan), September.
Sources & References 6 sources
Last verified: 7 October 2026
Official Government Sources
- Sabah Government — Public Holidays (Primary Source) Official Sabah list, full 2026 dates
- Jabatan Cetak Kerajaan Sabah: 2026 calendar Sabah Government Printing Department calendar with the 2026 holiday list
- Warta Kerajaan Negeri Sabah, 26 March 2026 (No. 100) Gazetted Sabah public holidays for 2027
- Warta Kerajaan Negeri Sabah, 8 August 2024 (No. 221) Holiday schedule with the Sunday and Saturday replacement rule