Visit Malaysia 2026: Events and Travel Tips

Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) is the national tourism campaign run by Tourism Malaysia to bring more international visitors to the country, and in 2026 the government extended it to run through to the end of 2027. For travellers, it does not change how you enter or move around Malaysia, but it does mean more promotion, partnerships with airlines and hotels, and a busier calendar of festivals and events. This guide explains what the campaign is, how to find events that are actually confirmed, and how to plan a trip around it.

What is Visit Malaysia 2026?

Visit Malaysia Year campaigns have been run several times before, with the aim of raising Malaysia’s profile and increasing arrivals and tourism spending. VM2026 was launched by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January 2025 in Sepang, alongside a new logo, a theme song called “Surreal Experiences” and aircraft liveries carried by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air.

The campaign’s icon is the Malayan sun bear, chosen to highlight wildlife conservation, and its two animated mascots are named Wira and Manja. Tourism Malaysia has framed the campaign around sustainable, high-value tourism and around showcasing every state, including Sabah and Sarawak.

In April 2026 the government announced that the campaign would continue into 2027, citing uncertainty in global travel. Tourism Malaysia later described it as a combined Visit Malaysia 2026 to 2027 campaign running to the end of 2027, so the branding and promotions you see in 2026 will carry on through the following year.

What Visit Malaysia 2026 means for travellers

• More events and festivals: states and organisers are using the campaign to promote cultural festivals, sports events and concerts. Many are long-running annual fixtures rather than one-off events.
• Airline and hotel offers: partner airlines and hotel groups have run campaign promotions. These come and go, so compare them with regular fares.
• Busier peak periods: popular destinations such as Langkawi, Penang and Kota Kinabalu can book up earlier around school and public holidays. Reserve accommodation and domestic flights well ahead.
• No change to entry rules: the campaign does not alter visa or entry requirements. Check our Malaysia entry requirements guide before you book.

How to find confirmed VM2026 events

Event lists published online, including some that circulate on social media, can be out of date or speculative. Use these sources for anything you plan to travel for:

• The official Tourism Malaysia website, which carries campaign news and an events calendar.
• State tourism boards, such as Sabah Tourism, Sarawak Tourism and Penang’s tourism office, which list regional festivals.
• The event organiser’s own website or social media, which will have the final dates, tickets and venue.

Festival dates linked to the lunar or Islamic calendars move every year, so always confirm the specific year’s dates before booking flights.

Annual festivals worth planning around

These recurring celebrations happen every year, campaign or not, and are some of the best times to see Malaysian culture. Dates shift with the calendar, so check each year.

Festival	When	Where to experience it
Chinese New Year	January or February	George Town, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Melaka
Thaipusam	January or February	Batu Caves near KL, Penang
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	End of Ramadan, moves each year	Nationwide; Ramadan bazaars beforehand
Kaamatan (harvest festival)	May, peaking 30 and 31 May	Sabah, especially Penampang near Kota Kinabalu
Gawai Dayak	1 and 2 June	Sarawak, especially longhouses and Kuching
Merdeka Day	31 August	Nationwide; main parade in Putrajaya or KL
Malaysia Day	16 September	Nationwide, with celebrations in Sabah and Sarawak
Deepavali	October or November	Little India in George Town, Brickfields in KL

For Thaipusam, our guide to Batu Caves explains what to expect, and the Borneo culture guide covers Kaamatan and Gawai in more depth.

Where to go during Visit Malaysia 2026

The campaign’s sun bear icon points to one of its themes: nature and wildlife. In Sabah, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre at Sepilok in Sandakan sits next to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and the two are easily visited together. Sarawak’s Semenggoh Nature Reserve near Kuching is another reliable place to see semi-wild orangutans.

For a first trip, a classic route of Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi covers city, food and beach. Add Melaka for heritage, Cameron Highlands for cooler air, or Borneo for rainforest, wildlife and Mount Kinabalu. Our 2-week Malaysia itinerary combines the peninsula and Borneo, and our guide to the best time to visit Malaysia explains the monsoon seasons.

If you want to see the sun bear itself, Tourism Malaysia’s own campaign material also points visitors to wildlife parks around the country, including Zoo Negara near Kuala Lumpur, Zoo Taiping and Night Safari in Perak, and Lok Kawi Wildlife Park near Kota Kinabalu. These suit families who want an easy wildlife day without a jungle trek.

Is it a good time to visit Malaysia?

Yes, with the usual caveats. The campaign period simply adds energy to a country that is already easy to travel: visa-free entry for many nationalities, good-value hotels, excellent food and simple domestic transport. The bigger factor in your timing should be the weather, since the monsoons decide when the east coast islands are open and when Langkawi and Penang are at their best. Plan around the season first, then look for campaign events that fit your dates.

Practical tips for travelling in 2026 and 2027

• Book early around holidays. School holidays, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya are the busiest times for domestic travel, and campaign promotion adds to demand.
• Compare promotions. Campaign-branded deals are not always the cheapest option, so check regular fares too.
• Get a local SIM or eSIM for Grab and bookings; see our Malaysia SIM card guide.
• Respect local customs. Dress modestly at mosques and temples, and ask before photographing people, especially at religious festivals.
• Check official sources for event dates and any ticketing, rather than relying on reposted lists.