School Holidays 2026 Malaysia — Sabah (Group B)
Malaysia's public school calendar is set by the Ministry of Education (KPM). Sabah is in Group B, with a Saturday-Sunday weekend. Group B schools started the 2026 year on 12 January (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026). The last school day is 4 December, before the year-end break that starts on 5 December (Sabah State Government, checked 7 October 2026).
Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and most other states follow Group B. Weekend is Saturday-Sunday. School week is Monday to Friday. Group A states (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu) have a Friday-Saturday weekend and slightly different dates.
2026 School Calendar (Group B)
Term Dates & Breaks
| Period | Dates (Group B) | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| School year starts | Mon 12 January 2026 | — | First day of school |
| Chinese New Year break | 14–22 February 2026 | 9 days | Weekends plus extra school holidays 16–17 and 19–21 Feb (Sabah Government, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Hari Raya + Term 1 break | 19–29 March 2026 | 11 days | Extra Raya holidays 19–21 Mar, overlapping the Term 1 break 21–29 Mar (Sabah Government, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Mid-year break | 23 May – 7 June 2026 | 16 days | Longest mid-year break. Overlaps with Kaamatan (30–31 May) |
| Term 2 break | 29 August – 6 September 2026 | 9 days | Starts just before Merdeka Day (31 Aug) |
| Deepavali | 9–11 November 2026 | — | Mon 9 Nov replacement public holiday; the Sabah Government lists extra school holidays on 10–11 Nov |
| School year ends | Fri 4 December 2026 | — | Last school day |
| Year-end holiday | 5 December 2026 – 3 January 2027 | 30 days | Longest break of the year; schools reopen Mon 4 January 2027 |
MOE announced the 2026 calendar in October 2025. Individual schools can add their own occasional holidays, so check with your child's school as well.
2027 School Year
Group B schools, including Sabah, run from Monday 4 January to Friday 3 December 2027. The breaks below are from the Ministry of Education's 2027 academic calendar, with weekends and public holidays included in each break (KPM Kalendar Akademik 2027, checked 7 October 2026).
| Break | Dates (2027) | What's in it |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | Fri 5 – Sun 14 February | Public holidays 6–8 Feb plus 5 extra KPM school holidays (5 and 9–12 Feb) |
| Term 1 break | Sat 6 – Sun 14 March | Hari Raya Aidilfitri (10–11 Mar) falls inside it |
| Hari Raya Haji and Wesak | Sat 15 – Fri 21 May | Public holidays 17 and 20 May plus extra KPM school holidays 18, 19 and 21 May; runs straight into the mid-year break |
| Mid-year break | Sat 22 May – Mon 7 June | Pesta Kaamatan (30–31 May) falls inside it; Mon 7 June is a public holiday (Awal Muharram replacement under Sabah's gazette), so schools reopen Tue 8 June. If Sabah adopts the federal list's Agong's Birthday on 7 June, the Awal Muharram replacement moves to Tue 8 June, so schools would reopen Wed 9 June unless the Ministry says otherwise: details |
| Term 2 break | Sat 28 August – Sun 5 September | Merdeka Day (31 Aug) falls inside it |
| Deepavali | Wed 27 – Sun 31 October | Deepavali 28 Oct plus extra KPM school holidays 27 and 29 Oct |
| Year-end break | Sat 4 – Fri 31 December | Christmas falls inside it |
Exam Periods
Major national examinations in 2026:
| Exam | Level | Estimated Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSR | Year 6 (Primary) | No national exam | Replaced by Pentaksiran Bilik Darjah (PBD) — school-based assessment. No more national exam since 2021. |
| PT3 | Form 3 | No national exam | School-based assessment (PBS). No national written exam since 2022. |
| SPM | Form 5 | 26 Oct – 17 Dec 2026 | The main national exam (RTM, checked 7 October 2026). |
| STPM | Form 6 | See MPM | 3-semester exam system. Dates are set by the Malaysian Examinations Council (MPM). |
| School-level exams | All levels | Mar/Jun/Sep/Nov | Mid-year (Jun) and final year (Oct-Nov) are the main school exams. |
International Schools
International schools in Sabah follow their own academic calendars based on their curriculum. All are located in or near Kota Kinabalu.
Kinabalu International School (KIS)
Offers Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma. Academic year: August–June. Ask the school for current fees.
Jesselton International School (JIS)
Follows British National Curriculum. Pre-school through secondary. Ask the school for current fees.
Charis International School
Cambridge Primary and IGCSE. Ask the school for current fees.
Tips for Parents
Book Travel Early
Flights and hotels spike during school breaks — especially the year-end break (December) and the mid-year break (May–Jun). Book 4–6 weeks ahead.
Holiday Programmes
Many centres in KK offer holiday camps: coding, sports, art, nature. Look for programmes at Sabah Parks, City Library, or private enrichment centres. Book 2–3 weeks before the break starts.
Plan Around Exams
SPM runs late October to mid-December. Avoid planning major family events during this period if you have Form 5 students. Mid-year exams are usually in June.
Teacher's Day
16 May — not a holiday, but schools organise celebrations. Students often bring gifts. There may be early dismissal.
Frequently asked questions
Q What is the difference between Group A and Group B schools?
Malaysia divides public schools into two groups:
- Group A — Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. Weekend is Friday-Saturday.
- Group B — All other states including Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan. Weekend is Saturday-Sunday. Standard Mon-Fri school week.
Term and break dates for the two groups usually differ by a day (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026).
Q When are SPM exams in 2026?
SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia / Malaysian Certificate of Education) 2026 runs from 26 October to 17 December 2026, covering oral, practical and written papers (RTM, checked 7 October 2026).
MOE announces the results date separately.
Q How much do international schools in Sabah cost?
Fees vary by school and year level, and change from year to year. Ask each school for its current fee schedule:
- Kinabalu International School (KIS)
- Jesselton International School (JIS)
- Charis International School
Budget separately for registration fees, uniforms, books, and transport.
Q Can my child attend a Malaysian public school as a foreigner?
Expatriate children can attend Malaysian public schools, but places are not guaranteed and depend on availability. Requirements:
- Valid student/dependent pass
- Application through the nearest District Education Office (PPD)
- Previous school records (translated to Malay if needed)
Teaching is in Malay with English for science and math in some schools. Most expat families opt for international schools due to language and curriculum differences.
Q When should I book travel during school holidays?
Book at least 4–6 weeks ahead for domestic travel during school breaks. Prices and availability are worst during:
- Year-end break (December) — Peak season, prices rise
- Mid-year break (late May–early Jun) — Coincides with Kaamatan
- Term breaks — Less extreme but still busier than term-time
Best value: travel during term-time weeks, away from the break dates above.
Sources & References 10 sources
Last verified: 7 October 2026
Official Education Sources
- Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) Official school calendar & policies
- Sabah Education Department (JPN Sabah) State-level education office
- Malaysian Examinations Council (MPM) STPM exam schedules
- Sabah Government: School Terms 2026 Official 2026 school holidays for Sabah
- Bernama: 2026 academic calendar returns to January (28 October 2025) 2026 start dates and Group A/B states
- Bernama, MOE: 2027 school session to begin 4 January (2 October 2026) 2027 school year dates
- KPM Kalendar Akademik 2027 (Lampiran B and C) Group B 2027 term breaks and extra festive school holidays
- RTM: SPM 2026 starts 26 October (18 August 2026) SPM 2026 exam window