Events in Malaysia for 2013

Malaysia Events

Most of the events in Malaysia are packed with another fascinating year of exciting events and colourful celebrations as a the run-up to the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014). 

Regardless of the month of visit, Malaysia promises visitors something special and unique to make them time here truly memorable and enjoyable!

Events in January 2013

Join in the grand celebration of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 promotion campaign from 18 to 20 January at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur. 

This will be the biggest tourism carnival ever in the country with a myriad of colours showcasing the various cultures and races from around Malaysia. 

Ponggal is a Hindu Thanksgiving event that takes place on the 14th of January and is celebrated nationwide. It is not a public holiday but something not to be missed if you love the Hindu culture. 


Thaipusam is a must-experience celebration where a dazzling chariot procession pulls into the Batu Caves temple on 27 January morning after making a 15 kilometre, 12-hour journey from the heart of Kuala Lumpur. 

Millions of devotees and travellers are expected at this world-renowned event. This also takes place in Penang Island on the same day.

11th Royal Langkawi International The regatta will take place from 7 to 12 January at Langkawi Island. Sail lovers will love this as it is an exciting sailing and racing event you won’t want to miss.

Events in February 2013



Chinese New Year celebrations which falls on the 10th and 11th Feb is a great time to catch a glimpse of the 15-day-long festival celebrated with a joyous reunion, fabulous food, colourful lion and dragon dances and ethnic tradition. You can catch the Chinese New Year Celebrations throughout Malaysia.

Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival  will be held in Johor from 20 to 24 February, which promises to fill up the sky with colourful and innovative kite designs from international participants.

BMW Malaysian Open is held from 25 February to 3 March at the Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, where you can catch some of the world’s leading women tennis players.

Le Tour de Langkawi takes place from the 21st Feb till 2nd March where cyclist race through seven states in Malaysia.

Events in March 2013

The Malaysian Grand Prix takes place at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from 22 to 24 March for the race fans. Also, take advantage of the retail discounts during the Malaysia GP Sale from 8 March to 14 April throughout Malaysia.

LIMA is held in Langkawi for one of the largest International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition from 26 to 30 March. Guests and travellers are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

Matta Fair takes place at PWTC KL from 7 to 9 March where you can get the best travel deals. Get your best airline, cruise, ground and even Halal Packages from the largest travel fair in Malaysia.

Events in April 2013

Malaysia Water Festival falls on 26-28 April and is celebrated in Langkawi, Labuan, and Port Dickson – all major seaside towns in Malaysia. 

A must-visit for families with children where you can take part in this splashing event where you can participate in all kinds of water activities.

Regatta Lepa in Sabah takes place from 22 – 24 April. This one of a kind regatta race is bound to have you mesmerized with the stunning colours and cultures of the land and sea Bajau of east Sabah Borneo.

Malaysia International Shoe The Festival is also held from 5 to 7 April in Kuala Lumpur. Catch world-renowned celebrity shoemaker Jimmy Choo at this event.

Events in May 2013

Colours of 1Malaysia celebrations will happen on 25 May in Kuala Lumpur. See various races and cultures take part in this massive street carnival at Dataran Merdeka, KL.

Sabah Fest (4 to 5 May) takes place in the city of KK. Tadau Kaamatan, the local harvest festival, will be a month-long celebration where the finals are held in KK city from 30 to 31 May. You can see what happened at last year's theme called Adventures of Ngarayang for Sabah Fest.

World Harvest Festival in Sarawak (3 to 5 May) is another celebration not to be missed. The local Gawai 2013 Celebrations promises lots of colour and activities in this part of Malaysia Borneo.

Wesak Day falls on 24 May, and Buddhists all over the country will pay homage to Buddha. Catch this colourful celebration at various temples around Malaysia.

Events in June 2013

Gawai Dayak falls on 1st and 2nd June all over Sarawak. This harvest festival celebration can be witnessed at local villages, while the Sarawak Cultural Village offers the Gawai Special Package for tourists.  
 
Jazz festival in Kota Kinabalu
KK Jazz Festival happens on 14-15 June. Catch local and international musicians perform in this two-day festival in Sabah Borneo.

Sabah Dragon Boat Race is on the 15-16 June where participants from all over Southeast Asia race in their traditional boats.

Malaysia International Tourism Night Floral Parade in Putrajaya from 22 to 30 June and witness the dazzling spectacle of lighted-up boats cruising along the lake.

Local ethnic artist at the RWMF in Sarawak
Rainforest World Music Festival takes place in Sarawak from 28 to 30 June. The RWMF 2013 promises an exciting lineup held at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, Kuching.

Events in July 2013


The Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival takes place from 14 June to 1 Sep for those who love shopping and is celebrated throughout Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur Festival will be from 1 to 31 July around the city of KL. Catch various activities and performances at selected places around the city.

Art in Malaysia
Malaysian art
Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism The Festival takes place from 2 July to 30 September, and guests will have a chance to meet some of Malaysia’s talented artists and purchase their artworks.


Ramadan starts on July 8th where an entire month observed by Muslims by way of fasting from dawn to dusk. 

Visit the many Bazaar Ramadan stalls around Malaysia and will be amazed by the array of food prepared for the breaking of the fast each evening.

Events in August 2013

Malaysia Hari Raya
Hari Raya in Malaysia
Hari Raya celebrations in Malaysia start on the 8th August, where open houses and feasting on local delights are the norms. 

Malaysia National Day falls on 31 August and a nationwide public holiday where parades occur in selected cities.

Events in September 2013

Malaysia Day Celebration falls on 16 September and celebrated in various parts of the country. This is a local public holiday where various activities take place to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963.

Malaysia Lantern Tourism Festival on 19 September, where one can admire the procession of beautiful Chinese lanterns. This festival, also known as the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated throughout most cities with a strong Chinese population around the country.

Matta Fair September promises locals and foreigners fantastic travel promotions at the PWTC. Get airline tickets, holiday packages and more from this massive three-day event in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Events in October 2013

A three-month Fabulous Food Malaysia dining feast is celebrated at the beginning of October – enjoy fine dining in October, ASEAN food in November and delicious street food in December which happens throughout the country.

Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon happens from 19-20 October. Dubbed the World’s Toughest Mountain Race, participants from the world over take place in this stunning race held in Sabah Borneo.

Events in November 2013

Monsoon Cup takes place in Terengganu, where international yacht racing teams battle the monsoon weather and the South China Sea for a chance to lift the prestigious cup.

Souvenirs at Central Market
Malaysian souvenirs at Central Market
Malaysia Year End Sale (YES) starts from 8 November to 5 January 2014 for all shopping fanatics. Look out for all kinds of discounts and bargains at shopping malls and even stores.

Deepavali or Divali celebrations fall on the 3rd November where you can explore and experience a true festival of lights celebrated throughout Malaysia.

Events in December 2013

Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dance Tourism Carnival takes place in KL. Learn the various Malaysian cultural dances ranging from traditional dances like Joget, Zapin, Sewang, Ngajat, Indian, Chinese and many other ethnicities.

Fabulous Food 1Malaysia Carnival is ongoing from October where tourists and locals can enjoy Malaysian street food delights served up during the last month of the year and various places around the country.

Christmas in Malaysia is something different where you can also enjoy the experience of a tropical Christmas during the whole of December. Most shopping malls and hotels light up around the country, offering local and western cuisines.

Photo of Malaysia Truly Asia
Malaysia Truly Asia
For those who are planning to visit Malaysia anytime, you should check out the calendar for those special events as the dates may move around to meet the weekend.

Sometimes travelling during festive periods can be tedious and hectic, so it is advised to book your flights, bus tickets and hotels well ahead.

Local school holidays also take place during the major festive seasons, so if you are driving, be prepared for some heavy traffic congestion in major cities.

For those looking to visit the country the following year, you can also plan for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Final Thoughts on Events in Malaysia

As Malaysia offers various types of tourism, you can enjoy the best of Eco-Tourism, Luxury Tourism, Food and Shopping and many more in one visit.

All you need to do is plan your holiday or trip carefully by checking which of the celebrations you would like to experience in the list of events in Malaysia.

Malaysia Asia

Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school. Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards). After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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