Malaysia Events Calendar 2025
Major Events & Festivals

There's always something going on Malaysia whatever the month. With this Malaysia Events Calendar 2025 you can see month by month all the major festivals and activities planned for this year.

Of course Malaysia, with its year-round tropical climate, does not have the seasonal variations that many countries experience. Most of the top attractions appearing on this website are available all year round such as climbing Mt. Kinabalu, exploring the national parks and caves, or just relaxing on the beach.

Some of the East Coast beaches and islands have a low season when the northeast monsoon makes the seas too choppy (November to February) but beaches elsewhere in the country are enjoyable throughout the year.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia it is always sensible to check what events are scheduled for your proposed dates. Even if you don't want to participate in the events yourself they might affect hotel room and air ticket availability and prices.

School holidays also affect hotel prices and availability. These are the school holiday dates for Malaysia in 2025 as announced by the Ministry of Education:

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS CALENDAR FOR 2025

For schools in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan & Terengganu:

Academic Calendar 2025/26

• First Day of School 16 Feb 2025 (Sun)
• Term 1 Holidays 29 May 2025 (Thu) - 9 Jun 2025 (Mon)
• Term 2 Holidays 12 Sep 2025 (Fri) - 20 Sep 2025 (Sat)
• End of School Year Holidays 19 Dec 2025 (Fri) - 10 Jan 2026 (Sat)

For schools in Perlis, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya:

Academic Calendar 2025/26

• First Day of School 17 Feb 2025 (Mon)
• Term 1 Holidays 29 May 2025 (Thu) - 9 Jun 2025 (Mon)
• Term 2 Holidays 13 Sep 2025 (Sat) - 21 Sep 2025 (Sun)
• End of School Year Holidays 20 Dec 2025 (Sat) - 11 Jan 2026 (Sun)

Source: Education Ministry (www.moe.gov.my)

Other School & Public National Holidays

• New Year's Day Sun 1 Jan 2025 (all states except Kedah, Johor, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu)
• Chinese New Year 29 - 30 January 2025
• Thaipusam 11 February 2025
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri * 31 Mar 2025 - 2 Apr 2025
• Labour Day 1 May 2025
• Wesak Day 12 May 2025
• Yang di Pertuan Agong's Birthday 2 Jun 2025
• Hari Raya Haji * 7 Jun 2025
• Awal Muharram 27 Jun 2025
• Merdeka Day Mon 31 Aug 2025
• Prophet Muhammad's Birthday 5 Sep 2025
• Malaysia Day Wed 16 Sep 2025
• Deepavali *: 20 October 2025
• Christmas Day 25 Dec 2025

* Subject to change

In addition to the above there are a number of state holidays which apply in specific states only.

One venue which has different events going on all year is Istana Budaya, Malaysia’s national performing arts theatre, home to cultural events such as classical music concerts, local and international theatre shows, traditional local music, opera, dance performances and so on.

Malaysia Events Calendar 2025 Month by Month

Some of the dates are tentative at this stage. I shall be updating the page throughout the year as and when timings are confirmed.

If you are organising any events in Malaysia this year which you would like to publicise, feel free to provide details on my Contact page and I will include them on this calendar free of charge.

Chinese New Year falls on 29 January this year.  You can see how Malaysians welcome in the Year of the Snake with joyful celebrations, lion dances, fireworks and lots of food. Some of the main temples have splendid light and lantern displays at this time of year, including Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang  and Thean Hou Temple in KL. In Jenjarom, Selangor, the FGS Dong Zen Temple is holding its Chinese New Year Lantern & Flora Festival in the first fortnight after Chinese New Year. 

The Hindu thanksgiving event Ponggal, this year falls from 13-16 January 2025. Festivities will no doubt be held at Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Penang and at various locales around the country.

Sailing vessels of various shapes and sizes will be competing at the 21st Royal Langkawi International Regatta to be held from 20 - 25 January 2025 at the yacht club on Langkawi Island.

Sabah's Inaugural Antique, Classic & Retro Bicycle Carnival featuring various old school bicycles and other fun stuff will take place at Dewan Masyarakat in Papar on 25 January 2025.

The colourful festival of Thaipussam this year falls on 11 February 2025. Every year huge crowds witness a 15km chariot procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur up to the amazing Batu Caves. Festivities will take place elsewhere in Malaysia including Little India in Penang.

Fitness fans will be hoping to conquer a brand new 7km route with 12 epic obstacles at the Viper King of the Mountain event to be staged at Resorts World Awani on 22 Feb 2025.

Alternatively, on the same date, you could take part in the Cameron Night Run to experience the coldest night run temperatures in Malaysia. Runners can choose between 5km, 10 km or 21 km categories.

On 8 Feb 25, the Malaysia Sarong Music Run 2025 will be held, starting at the Petronas Twin Towers in KL. This unique event showcases culture, dances and food of Malaysia's 14 states while incorporating a 3km walk or 5km run.

If you want to see some traditional Malay cultural activities you can head off to Perlis from 14-16 February 2025 for the Perlis East Wind Festival (Pesta Angin Timur Perlis). This festival marks the change in weather and end of the harvest season. 

The fasting month of Ramadan is one of the highlights of the annual calendar and special food stalls and bazaars spring up all over Malaysia during this time. Ramadan this year will last approximately from 28 February - 30 March 2025 with exact dates depending on the moon sighting.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a nationwide celebration marking the end of the fasting month. Homes, restaurants and shopping malls will be beautifully decorated for the celebrations. This year it falls around 31 March 2025.

March usually sees the return of Raptor Watch, Malaysia's biggest and best eco-tourism event. Organized by the Malaysian Nature Society, the dates are yet to be announced but last year it was held from 9 - 10 March 2024 at Tanjung Tuan Wildlife Reserve (Cape Rachado).

The 15th of April 2025 marks Proclamation Day of Melaka as a UNESCO World Heritage City and various programmes and activities will be staged in the city to mark the event.

MATTA Fair, Malaysia's largest consumer travel fair is taking place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from 18-20 April 2025 and always attracts a big crowd looking for travel ideas and hoping to bag travel bargains.

A Duathlon event involving running and cycling is scheduled for 26 April 2025 in Kangar, Perlis.

ANZAC Day, 25 Apr 2025, is to be marked as usual in a poignant ceremony at Sandakan Memorial Park, the starting point of the infamous Death Marches, restrictions permitting.

Wesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. This year, Wesak Day falls on 12 May 2025 and activities will be held in Buddhist temples all over the country such as at Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple in Brickfields.

Tadua Ka'Amatan or harvest festival will be marked in Sabah and Labuan on 30 - 31 May 2025.

Super-fit athletes can take on the gruelling 100 km Merapoh Rainforest Trail from 2-3 May 2025. Shorter formats of 55km, 30km and 10km will also be held.

If you are looking to buy a private jet, a helicopter or an aircraft carrier then LIMA is the exhibition for you. LIMA (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) is a biennial event and is back this year, slated for 20 - 24 May 2025.

In Pahang this month is the Janda Baik Ultra from 17-18 May 2025 with races planned for 100km, 75km, 50km, 30km and 14km and 5km fun run.

Fraser's Hill International Bird Race is a regular bird watching highlight of the Malaysia Events Calendar. It is to take place at Fraser's Hill, Pahang from 20 - 22 June 2025.

Gawai Dayak, 1st - 2nd Jun 2025, is a harvest festival celebrated all over Sarawak by the state's indigenous people in traditional costumes.

Meanwhile, the International Beauty Expo is taking place at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 2 - 5 June 2025, aimed for those in the beauty industry.

Hari Raya Aidiladha falls on 7 June 2025 marking the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage season.

The Rainforest World Music Festival, one of the largest musical events in Malaysia, will be held in the shadow of legendary Mt. Santubong near Kuching, Sarawak from 20 - 22 June 2025.

July 4th has been declared Agnes Keith Day (her birthday) and visitors are invited to visit the famous author’s former residence in Sandakan which has been turned into a museum.

On7 July 2025, Penang will celebrate the anniversary of George Town being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage city. Street festivals and events will be held to mark the occasion.

St. Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam, Penang is the focal point for the annual 10-day St Anne's Novena and Feast Day celebrations which takes place at the end of July annually. 

A popular Japanese-themed event is the Penang Bon Odori Festival to be held on the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) George Town on 27 July 2025 from 5pm.

Marathon fans can push yourselves to your limits at the Kar Ultra @ Kadamaian Ultra race to be held in the shadow of the mighty Mount Kinabalu in Sabah on 26-27 July 2025.

National Day, or Hari Merdeka, is on 31 August 2025 and parades and other activities will be held to celebrate the day on which the country achieved its independence from Britain.

 Royal Floria , Putrajaya's highly popular annual flower and garden festival, will make a comeback this year. If so,  it should not be missed by garden lovers. Dates for this year's event are still to be announced. The venue is likely to be Anjung Floria, Putrajaya, Presint 4.

Vinayagar Chaturthi is when thousands of Hindu worshippers gather at temples such as Kortumalai Pillayar Temple in Jalan Pudu Lama to make offerings to the deity Lord Ganesh. This festival will fall on 26 Aug 2025.

The Pahang Eco Beach Run is another ultra trail running event along the coast at Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan on 1 Aug 25. For further details: Telephone 013-9185399 or Email elpis.eventmgm@gmail.com

The Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi is Malaysia's leading cycling event and is scheduled to take place this year from 28 September - 5 October 2025.

The annual Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge returns to Rompin on Friday 12 September 2025. Thankfully this is a 'catch and release' angling event.

Over in beautiful Tioman is the Tioman National Scuba Divers Festival bringing together 1,500 scuba divers from home and abroad. This program will be the largest scuba diving festival in Malaysia and will promote Tioman Island as the best diving spot internationally. It takes place from 20-21 September 2025.

Something new is the Taman Negara Rakit Race, a competition held from 18-19 October 2025 that uses a specially designed bamboo raft with nine bamboo sticks. Through this competition, the participants had the opportunity to see the beauty of nature including Orang Asli Bateq villages.

Over in Sarawak, the Siniawan Heritage Fiesta, usually held during October each year, is when this small town about 20km away from Kuching shows off its cultural heritage. Look out for dates.

Deepavali (Diwali) or the 'Festival of Lights' falls on 20 October 2025 this year. Open houses are held where family and friends visit each other and enjoy delicious traditional food.

The Tamu Besar traditional open-air market is usually held in October in Kota Belud, Sabah. Highlights include Bajau Horsemen (known as Cowboys of the East), a beauty pageant and water buffalo race. Watch out for the dates to be announced.

The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia 2025 will see powerful motorbikes igniting the Sepang International Circuit during the race weekend 24-26 October 2025.

Golfers will head to Kuala Rompin from 5-7 December 2025 to take part in the Tourism Pahang Monsoon Cup Golf Rompin 2025.

Endurance event addicts will not want to miss the Ironman event in Langkawi with a challenging course of swimming, cycling and running to be held on 1 November 2025.

Annual Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held at the Labuan Commonwealth War Graves on 11 Nov 2025 to remember those who fell in the defence and liberation of Borneo during WWII.

Enduro mountain biking enthusiasts will not want to miss the Langkawi Geopark Enduro Challenge 2025 in November 2025 (dates to be confirmed).

In the run up to Christmas, i-City in Shah Alam, with its forest of digital lights and Snowalk attractions, is especially popular at this time of year. Homeowners in the Portuguese Settlement in Melaka take pride in decorating their houses inside and out at Christmas. Elsewhere, some of the best Xmas decoration displays can be found in KL's top shopping malls such as Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysians like to see in the New Year with enthusiastic celebrations and plenty of cheer. Lavish firework displays are held in major towns all over the country. Light and Motion Putrajaya LAMPU illuminates Putrajaya with a spectacular sound and light display projected on some of the city’s major landmarks and this year is set to return  from 30 December 2025 - 1 January 2026.

That's it! I'll add more items to this Malaysia Events Calendar as the year progresses.

If you are organising any events in Malaysia this year which you would like to publicise, feel free to provide details on my Contact page and I will include them on this calendar free of charge.

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