This year the Penang State Christmas Celebration moves to the mainland. It takes place on Saturday 12 December 2026 from 3pm to 10pm at the Minor Basilica of St. Anne in Bukit Mertajam, according to the Penang Global Tourism events calendar. The organisers are the Penang Chapter of the Christian Federation of Malaysia and the Penang Harmony Corporation (HARMONICO), the state agency for interfaith and community harmony.
The 2026 theme is "Peace and Goodwill", and the event is pitched as a celebration of harmony across Penang's communities rather than a purely church occasion. HARMONICO's Christmas 2026 page lists three parts to the programme: a Christmas Parade, a Christmas Market and Christmas Performances.
Registration is currently open for groups who want to march in the parade, run a stall at the market, perform on stage or volunteer. Sign-ups go through the HARMONICO website. If you're a church choir, school band, dance group or small food or craft seller, it's worth applying early. Deadlines were not stated when we checked.
St. Anne's is one of the best-known landmarks in Bukit Mertajam, and its grounds are used to big crowds from the annual St. Anne's Feast in July. For visitors, an afternoon-to-evening slot means you can browse the market in daylight and stay for the performances and lights after dark. Admission details, the parade route and the performance line-up have not yet been published, so we'll update this page when they are.
Who it's for: families, mainland residents who usually head to the island for Christmas events, and anyone who enjoys a festive community event. Tip: parking in central Bukit Mertajam fills up quickly on busy days, so arrive early or carpool, and bring cash for the market stalls.
Highlights
- State-level Christmas celebration on the mainland
- Christmas parade, Christmas market and live performances
- Registration open for parade groups, vendors, performers and volunteers
Tips
- Groups wanting to take part should register via HARMONICO
- Arrive early for parking in Bukit Mertajam
- Bring cash for market stalls
Not yet confirmed by the organiser: venue street address, admission, parade route, performance line-up, registration deadlines, parking. We'll update this page when details are published.
How to get there
Minor Basilica of St. Anne. Open in Google Maps or open in Waze.
More festivals in Penang · What's on in Bukit Mertajam · Penang festive events from Deepavali to Chinese New Year
Information from Penang Global Tourism event listing, HARMONICO – Christmas 2026 (official). Last verified .
Details change — confirm with the organiser before you go. Spotted an error? Tell us.
