Deepavali 2026: Public Holiday, Replacement Leave and School Holiday Dates in Malaysia

Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. While the festival is a public holiday in most parts of Malaysia, the replacement holiday arrangements differ by state.

The Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) lists hari Deepavali as a public holiday in all states except Sarawak. Its 2026 calendar also lists a separate cuti hari Deepavali for states where a replacement holiday applies.

For employers and HR teams, understanding these dates is important for planning staff schedules, managing leave requests and preparing payroll.

Deepavali 2026 Public Holiday and Replacement Dates

According to JTKSM's 2026 calendar, Deepavali falls on 8 November, with a separate replacement holiday listing for the following states.

Holiday Arrangement	States
Deepavali public holiday – 8 November 2026 (Sunday)	All states except Sarawak
Replacement holiday – 9 November 2026 (Monday)	Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya

No separate Cuti Hari Deepavali is listed by JTKSM for Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. This reflects differences in state holiday arrangements and weekly rest days.

Employers should check the official state holiday schedule and their employees' designated rest days before confirming the applicable replacement leave.

Deepavali 2026 School Holiday Dates

The Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) has also allocated additional school holidays for Deepavali under its 2026 academic calendar.

The dates are different depending on the school group:

School Group	States	Additional School Holiday
Group A	Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu	9 November 2026 (Monday)
Group B (except Sarawak)	Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya	10 November 2026 (Tuesday)
Sarawak	Sarawak	9 November 2026 (Monday)

These additional holidays apply to schools under KPM. They do not automatically give private-sector employees an additional paid public holiday.

What Employers and HR Teams Should Know

With Deepavali approaching, employers should review their November work schedules and public holiday arrangements to avoid confusion among employees.

Here are four important areas for HR teams to check:

Review The Company's Public Holiday List

Under Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955, covered employees in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan are entitled to 11 paid public holidays each year. Five are compulsory, while employers select the remaining six from gazetted public holidays. Check whether Deepavali is included in the company's selected holidays.

Confirm Replacement Leave

Where an applicable paid public holiday falls on an employee's designated rest day, the next working day is generally provided as a replacement paid holiday under Section 60D. Check the employee's actual rest-day arrangement.

Prepare Payroll Accordingly

Employees required to work on a paid public holiday may be entitled to additional payment under the applicable employment law. HR should check the employee's eligibility and relevant statutory requirements.

Communicate Holiday Arrangements Early

Inform employees about office closures, replacement leave, work schedules and any changes to shift arrangements.

Note: The Employment Act 1955 applies to covered private-sector employment in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Employers in Sabah and Sarawak should refer to their respective labour ordinances and applicable holiday requirements.

FAQs

When is Deepavali 2026 in Malaysia?

Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. According to JTKSM, it is a public holiday in all states except Sarawak.

Will employees get a replacement public holiday on 9 November 2026?

JTKSM's calendar lists a separate Cuti Hari Deepavali for Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

However, private-sector employees should also check whether Deepavali is included in their employer's selected paid public holidays and confirm their designated rest-day arrangements.

Do private-sector employees get the additional Deepavali school holidays?

No. The additional holidays announced by KPM apply to schools. They do not automatically give private-sector employees extra paid leave. Employee entitlements depend on applicable employment laws and company holiday arrangements.

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