Top 10 Festivals in Malaysia 2025/2026

From international electrifying music festivals to deeply rooted Malay celebrations, Malaysia has a year-round calendar of events that appeal to both locals and visitors from abroad. Here are some of the must-experience festivals in Malaysia, each offering a unique window into the nation's soul. You may pick up your favorite and put it on your upcoming Malaysia tour.

Chinese New Year

When: February 17 - March 3, 2026 (1st to 15th day of the Lunar New Year)

With a profound impact from Chinese traditions in ancient times, Malaysia widely celebrates the Chinese New Year as well. It serves an equally important role and on a grand scale in Malaysia.

From the first day to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month (17th Feb to 3rd March 2026), streets, malls, temples, and homes are adorned with red lanterns, banners, and other traditional New Year decorations. You can custom-make a creative scroll in English with Chinese and go shopping for Malay pastries and ponkan (orange), or follow the "Ang Pow" tradition (red envelopes filled with money) to your parents and kids as a totally sincere blessing for good luck.

Major locations like Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Street and Penang's George Town will be festive hubs with elaborate light-ups and night markets. There are lines of food stalls offering Chinese and Malay snacks like Kuih Kapik (egg rolls), Nasi Lemak (glutinous rice with coconut), Nasi Padang (fried rice), and the iconic dish Lo Hei, a raw fish salad. In these places, you can also watch high-energy lion dances and fireworks displays. The performance is unique to high-pole lion dance, which features Malaysian style and thrilling scenes.

Chinese Dragon Dance

Thaipusam

When: February 1-2, 2026

Thaipusam is one of the spectacular Hindu festivals observed by the Tamil community in Malaysia. The festival is typically celebrated on the full moon day in late January or early February (falls on 1st and 2nd February in 2026). The Batu Caves shrine in Selangor and the Waterfall Temple in Penang are where you witness its grandest celebrations.

There are over a million devotees flocking to the shrine, some in proper Indian dress carrying Lord Muruga and offerings in an intricately decorated chariot (Kavadi). You can also see Hindu devotees with skewers through their cheeks and sharp hooks embedded in their backs, considered the greatest homage to the gods.

The procession is full of chanting and the refreshing sound of Indian drums and trumpets. It is an amazing sight to experience the religious fervor of thousands of ardent devotees' blessings.

Batu Caves

Hari Raya Haji

When: June 7-9, 2025

Hari Raya Haji, locally called Eid, is a major festival observed by Muslims across Malaysia. The holiday usually falls after the fasting month of Ramadhan (the date is from 7-9 June 2025). On holiday, most Muslims return home and say the morning prayers at a mosque. For family gatherings, many mosques host communal meat-heavy feasts, with some delicious dishes like rendang, lemang, and satay to try.

You may luckily be a guest of a Malaysian family and be entertained with traditional delicacies and desserts, thanks to the Open House tradition, where Malaysians open their doors and welcome all visitors. The Islamic festival also launches into much of the national cuisines, including nasi lemak, chapati bean sprouts, chicken flatbread, and more that definitely satisfy your taste.

Malaysia Water Festival

When: April 13 - 15, 2026

The country's deep roots in aquatic culture contribute to this unique water celebration. Unlike the singular focus of regional water festivals like Thailand's Songkran, Malaysia's version spans diverse activities across its coastal and riverine landscapes. Held annually from April to early May for a whole week (taking place from 13-15 April 2026), the highlight of the festival is the immersion in splashing uncolored water at each other on the streets.

Not only that, the festival features over 100 adrenaline-pumping water-based sports and competitions for different pleasures. They involve the famous international fishing tournament, underwater treasure hunts, white-water rafting, and other water contests about kayaking, jet-skiing, and sandcastle building. Every adventure will provide you with a great deal of enjoyment.

Rainforest World Music Festival

When: June 20-22, 2025

Have you ever followed the heart-shaking beats at a music festival in the rainforests? This magical experience can be a dream come true in the jungle of Borneo. The island hosts an annual three-day music festival in June against an actual lush rainforest setting (it falls on 20-22 June 2025).

The festival has daytime music workshops for music fans working out their original melody. With an arts and crafts area, the audience can visit craft displays of local instruments and performance costumes. The most impressive part is an incredible mix of evening live-stage performances by top-ranking local and international artists. You're treated to a wide range of music styles and genres, from Sarawak's sape music and Mongolian throat singing to African drumming and Polynesian chants.

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Kaamatan Harvest Festival

When: May 30-31, 2025

Kaamatan Harvest Festival, also known as Tadau Kaamatan, is a significant native festival held in Sabah, Malaysia. The festival annually spans May, with the climax from May 30 to 31. Locals observe many traditional rites for a bountiful harvest. The festival begins with a unique display of traditional folk dance, Sumazau.

The natives will dress themselves in their finest traditional attire with gorgeous designs and colors. You won't miss the richness of traditional sports during the harvest. It can be a stirring moment being a spectator or taking in its wrestling games, like arm wrestling and knuckle wrestling. The shooting race, catapulting, or tug of war also never fails to amuse and entertain. By the way, don't forget to have a taste of the local rice wines, tapai and lihing, if you feel thirsty.

Deepavali

When: October 20, 2025

Deepavali is also described as the "Festival of Lights," where local Hindus decorate their homes with colorful lamps and diyas as a way to ward off evil spirits. But now the tradition is not celebrated only by the Hindu community but other ethnic groups in Malaysia.

In public areas and malls, you'll spot many eye-catching geometrical drawings called "rangoli" on the ground. They are dramatically produced by colored chalk powder or rice flour and dotted with tiny oil lamps at night. During Deepavali, local people of varied races gather together to show their creations. The patterns are so fantastic that each is suitable for a wonderful shot. Wherever there are gatherings, savory food is always guaranteed. You can expect the Indian snacks of murukku, athi resam (a puff), halwa (sweetmeat), and laddoo (sweet flavor).

Deepavali is often celebrated in October or November; however, the exact day varies every year due to the Hindu lunar calendar. Officially, it happens on 20th October 2025.

Hungry Ghost Festival

When: September 6, 2025

In Malaysia, the seventh lunar month is a "ghost month" when the restless spirits come out to wander around the earth, hungry for comfort and food. The festival falls on the 15th day. In 2025, the ghost month is from August 23 to September 21 and Hungry Ghost Festival will take place on September 6.

During the month, Malays across the country hold a special performance "Getai", featuring singing, dancing, sketch, and a magic show to entertain both living audiences and wandering spirits.

In the city of Penang, the festival celebrations are fascinating with grand processions and communal gatherings. Locals head for temples to worship the towering "Tua Pek Kong" and parade with peculiar paper-made models of earthly items, such as sofas, refrigerators, televisions, and cars - all to be burnt. Every night during the ghost month, there are traditional Chinese puppet shows and karaoke singing concerts, which are complete with food and drink services.

Christmas

When: December 25, 2025

As a secular festival, Christmas in Malaysia is more about fun and originality. Malaysians spend the holiday time with parties and relaxation.

The shopping malls are attractions for participating in Christmas celebrations. You may marvel at extravagant and impressive decorations in each mall, beautiful with lots of several-story-high Christmas trees, lights, snowmen, Santas, reindeer, and fake snow. You can even go ice skating at the indoor ice rink and enjoy carol singing.

During the festival, there is a distinctive tradition that people often exchange "Ang Pow" (mentioned on Chinese New Year), so make preparations in advance. Restaurants often serve special Christmas menus in authentic Malay flavor, such as curry chicken, lemon roast beef, fried noodles, and sugee cake, each very worth a try.

The Dragon Boat Festival

When: May 31, 2025 (5th day of the 5th lunar month)

The Dragon Boat Festival in Malaysia is a lively blend of tradition and multicultural flair. At each corner of the country, on the fifth day of May on the lunar calendar, dragon boat races are the most exciting part of the festival. You can catch the highlights on May 31st, 2025. Especially at the Teluk Bahang Dam of Penang, scores of beautifully designed dragon boats are racing together on the river, where teams from around the world paddle to rhythmic drums.

It's wonderful to be a participant and enjoy this spectacle of inspiring competition. For more insights, Melaka is home to many boat workshops, with a chance to partake in the making of an intricate and magnificent dragon boat.

Many cities are alive with entertainment like eating, crafts, and performances on the festival night. This is a time for you to seek jubilation. Zongzi (rice dumpling) is integral to the festival dishes. You can try a Malaysian twist with Nyonya-style fillings of spiced meats, sweet bean pastes, and shredded coconut.

Plan Your Trip to Malaysia Now

It is a testament to Malaysia's cultural diversity by hosting a full variety of festivals all around the year. It would be an unforgettable memory for you to time a visit around these festivals, which guarantees a remarkable immersion into the heart of this fabulous country.

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