Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia's Biggest School Fair Returns to Kuala Lumpur This Weekend
The 24th Private and International School Fair opens at Mid Valley on 16 May, bringing together K–12 providers across every major curriculum in a single, two-day event for families weighing their options.
Families considering a move into private or international education in Malaysia have a concentrated opportunity this weekend. The 24th Private and International School Fair (PISF) opens on Friday 16 May and runs through Saturday 17 May at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, according to The Star, which described the event as a platform giving parents "direct access to K–12 education pathways, curriculum insights and guidance on admissions."
Organised by Mint Communications, the PISF has been running since the early 2000s and was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest international school fair in the country in 2025. This year's edition is the 24th in the series and the first to be held at Mid Valley in the May window, a timing shift that aligns it more closely with the main August intake cycle for British and IB-curriculum schools.
What is on show
The fair brings together international schools, enrichment centres and specialist education providers under one roof. Confirmed participants include schools affiliated with International Schools Partnership, among them Tenby Schools and Straits School Rawang, alongside a range of preschools and learning centres offering academic support and enrichment programmes. Boarding school operators will also have a presence, allowing families considering residential options to compare campus life and pastoral care arrangements directly.
The timing is practical for families navigating the annual admissions window. Most British and IB schools in Kuala Lumpur operate on a Northern Hemisphere calendar with a primary August intake, and May sits at the point where first-round offers have typically been issued and families on waiting lists are making final decisions. The fair gives late-deciding families a chance to benchmark options before places close.
A market under scrutiny
The PISF arrives at a moment when Malaysia's international school fee landscape is attracting fresh attention. The government introduced a service tax on international school fees in 2026, and the Association of International Schools Malaysia has been in dialogue with the Ministry of Finance over the administrative mechanics of the levy. For families already enrolled, or about to enrol, the fair will also offer an informal gauge of which schools have absorbed the new cost and which have passed it through to published tuition schedules.
Admission to the fair is free and open to the public across both days.