Christmas Eve Masses, a public holiday on Fri 25 December, and the midnight fireworks over George Town on New Year's Eve.
Christmas in Penang is a church festival first. Parishes hold Masses in English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and Fri 25 December is a public holiday. The oldest church is St George's on Lebuh Farquhar, which hosted the state Christmas celebration and parade in December 2025. On the mainland, St Anne's in Bukit Mertajam draws thousands on Christmas Day.
A week later, New Year's Eve (Thu 31 December) brings crowds to the Esplanade in George Town and fireworks at midnight, seen from The Top at KOMTAR. Malls, hotels and bars run their own countdowns. New Year's Day is a public holiday in Penang.
Parishes publish their Christmas Mass times in December. Event details on this page are from past seasons, with the year given.
Hari Krismas jatuh pada 25 December 2026 (Friday) dan merupakan cuti umum kebangsaan. Misa Krismas diadakan dalam bahasa Inggeris, Melayu, Tamil dan Mandarin; semak jadual Krismas paroki anda untuk waktu Misa. Malam Tahun Baharu disambut di Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama), dan 1 Januari ialah cuti umum di Pulau Pinang.
Mass times and countdown programmes are published nearer the date.
Christmas Eve: Thu 24 December
Not a public holiday. Vigil Masses through the evening, the last one late at night. Each parish sets its own times.
Christmas Day: Fri 25 December
A national public holiday. Morning services across Penang. In 2025, worshippers were at St Anne's in Bukit Mertajam from 7am.
New Year's Eve: Thu 31 December
Crowds at the Esplanade from about 8pm, fireworks at midnight, and countdowns run by malls, hotels and bars.
New Year's Day: Fri 1 January
A public holiday in Penang, so banks and government offices are closed.
Three churches and one place to see in the new year.
Lebuh Farquhar, George Town
Completed in 1818 and widely described as the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia. On 6 December 2025 it hosted the Penang State Christmas Celebration, with worship, music and the first Christmas parade in Penang since 2000: 10 floats.
Directions in Google Maps
Jalan Masjid Negeri (Green Lane), George Town
The cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Penang, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses in more than one language. Times change each year: the parish posts its Christmas schedule in its December bulletins.
The parish's Christmas schedule Directions in Google Maps
Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai
The mainland's big Christmas church. More than 5,000 people came for Christmas services on 25 December 2025, from 7am, with Masses in Mandarin and English and services in Tamil and Malay. It was proclaimed Malaysia's first minor basilica in 2023.
Directions in Google Maps
Padang Kota Lama and Jalan Penang, George Town
Where George Town sees in the new year. On New Year's Eve 2024, hundreds of people, tourists among them, came to the Esplanade from 8pm with food and drinks, and about 700 waited on The Top at KOMTAR for the midnight fireworks.
Directions in Google MapsMalls put up Christmas displays through December. Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon on Gurney Drive were among the Malaysian malls in a 2025 round-up of Christmas decorations. Many churches hold carol services in the weeks before Christmas: visitors are welcome, and modest dress is expected.
Late December is peak season. A room in George Town puts St George's and the Esplanade within walking distance on New Year's Eve.
Compare Penang hotelsAddresses, history and visiting tips for St George's, the Church of the Assumption and more.
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Yes. Christmas Day, Fri 25 December 2026, is a national public holiday in Malaysia. Christmas Eve is not a holiday. New Year's Day, Fri 1 January 2027, is a public holiday in Penang.
Each parish sets its own times and publishes them in its December bulletins, so check your parish's Christmas schedule for 2026. The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Green Lane posts its bulletins at holyspiritcathedral.com.
In 2025, yes. The Penang State Christmas Celebration on 6 December at St George's Church on Lebuh Farquhar brought back the Christmas parade after about 25 years, with 10 floats. It was organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia Penang Chapter and the state government.
The Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) is where crowds gather, and The Top at KOMTAR opens for a view of the midnight fireworks. The state has not always run its own countdown, so most events are run by malls, hotels and bars. Programmes are announced in December.
Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday and New Year's Eve is a Thursday. In 2027, Christmas Day is a Saturday.
Yes. Late December is peak season for Penang hotels, with year-end school holidays at home and abroad. Book a room early, and for New Year's Eve stay within walking distance of the Esplanade if you plan to be there at midnight.
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