2026 is shaping up to be one of the best years for long weekends in Malaysia. With smart planning, you can turn limited annual leave into 50+ days of travel. But here’s the part most guides miss
👉 How you travel matters just as much as when you travel.
This guide combines:
✅ Official Malaysia Public Holidays 2026
✅ Strategic long-weekend leave planning
✅ Why renting a car makes more sense than using your own
Perfect if you’re planning family trips, balik kampung, short road trips, or airport runs.
Using your own car during peak holidays means:
❌ Service due right after a long drive
❌ Wear & tear, tyres, brakes, engine oil
❌ Road tax, insurance, unexpected repairs
❌ Stress if something breaks mid-trip
Renting a car means:
✅ Fixed cost, no surprises
✅ Well-maintained, road-ready vehicles
✅ Pick the right car for the trip (small, big, MPV, SUV)
✅ Peace of mind — just drive, return, done
For long weekends, mental bandwidth is precious. Renting a car takes all the “logistics noise” out of your holiday planning.
Here are the best travel windows in 2026 — optimised for minimum leave, maximum rest.
🧨 New Year Break
1 Jan (Thu)
Take leave: Fri, 2 Jan
Off: 1–4 Jan (4 days)
Perfect for
🪔 Thaipusam & Federal Territory Day
31 Jan – 2 Feb (Sat–Mon)
Leave needed: None
Off: 3 days
Ideal for
🧧 Chinese New Year
17–18 Feb (Tue–Wed)
Take leave: Mon, 16 Feb
Off: 14–18 Feb (5 days)
⚠️ Peak travel period
👉 Renting helps you avoid pushing your own car during the busiest highway days of the year.
🌙 Hari Raya Aidilfitri
21–22 Mar (Sat–Sun)
Replacement: Mon, 23 Mar
Take leave: Tue, 24 Mar
Off: 21–24 Mar (4 days)
Why rent?
🛠 Labour Day
1 May (Fri)
Off: 1–3 May (3 days)
Great for
Wesak Day + Agong’s Birthday
31 May (Sun) → 1 Jun (Mon)
Off: 30 May – 1 Jun (3 days)
Smart move
🐄 Hari Raya Aidiladha
27 May (Wed)
Take leave: Mon–Tue OR Thu–Fri
Off: 3 days either way
Why this matters
🌙 Awal Muharram
17 Jun (Wed)
Take leave: 15–16 Jun OR 18–19 Jun
Off: 5 days
Perfect for
Slower, scenic drives (rent something comfortable)
🎉 Merdeka Day
31 Aug (Mon)
Off: 29–31 Aug (3 days)
High demand period
👉 Rental avoids last-minute servicing panic on your own car.
🇲🇾 Malaysia Day
16 Sep (Wed)
Take leave: 14–15 Sep OR 17–18 Sep
Off: 5 days
Best for
🪔 Deepavali
8 Nov (Sun)
Replacement: Mon, 9 Nov
Off: 7–9 Nov (3 days)
🎄 Christmas Super Break
25 Dec (Fri)
Take leave: 21–24 Dec
Off: 19–27 Dec (9 days)
🎯 This is the biggest win of 2026
Renting here is almost a no-brainer:
| Using Own Car | Renting a Car |
|---|---|
| Service planning | No servicing worries |
| Wear & tear | Zero depreciation |
| Tyres & brakes | Included |
| Road tax & insurance | Not your problem |
| Stress if breakdown | Support provided |
| One car fits all | Choose per trip |
Think of it this way:
You already outsource cleaning, food delivery, flights — why not long-distance driving risk?
📅 Book early for CNY, Raya & Christmas
🚗 Match car to trip (MPV for family, compact for city)
🧠 Use rental to reduce mental load, not just cost
📍 Pick-up near home or airport = less coordination stress
Final Thought: Travel Light, Mentally
Public holidays are meant for rest, family, and memories — not worrying about:
“Service overdue?”
“Can this tyre last another 600km?”
“What if something breaks?”
In 2026, plan your long weekends smartly and travel smartly.
Rent the car. Keep your own one fresh.
Arrive relaxed — not exhausted.
Owned By FTE Car Rental Sdn Bhd Reg No: (967813W)
