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Indian Holidays Calendar 2026

Browse all national and public holidays in India for 2026, with month-wise list and upcoming holidays.

Indian Holidays 2026 lists all national, gazetted, and regional public holidays across India. Browse holidays by month or see what is coming up next. India has 3 mandatory national holidays: Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti. The dates are 26 January, 15 August, and 2 October. Central government offices observe over 20 additional gazetted holidays each year. State-specific holidays for Pongal, Onam, and other regional festivals vary by state.

Browse by month

All Holidays 2026

New Year's Day

Thursday, 1 January

Gazetted

Makar Sankranti / Pongal

Wednesday, 14 January

Gazetted

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti

Friday, 23 January

Gazetted

Republic Day

Monday, 26 January

National

Maha Shivaratri

Sunday, 15 February

Gazetted

Holika Dahan

Tuesday, 3 March

Gazetted

Holi

Wednesday, 4 March

Gazetted

Eid ul-Fitr

Saturday, 21 March

Gazetted

Ram Navami

Thursday, 26 March

Gazetted

Good Friday

Friday, 3 April

Gazetted

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti

Tuesday, 14 April

Gazetted

Vaisakhi

Tuesday, 14 April

Regional

Labour Day (May Day)

Friday, 1 May

Gazetted

Buddha Purnima

Friday, 1 May

Gazetted

Eid ul-Adha (Bakrid)

Wednesday, 27 May

Gazetted

Muharram

Friday, 26 June

Gazetted

Independence Day

Saturday, 15 August

National

Milad-un-Nabi (Prophet's Birthday)

Wednesday, 26 August

Gazetted

Janmashtami

Friday, 4 September

Gazetted

Ganesh Chaturthi

Monday, 14 September

Gazetted

Gandhi Jayanti

Friday, 2 October

National

Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)

Tuesday, 20 October

Gazetted

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)

Sunday, 8 November

Gazetted

Govardhan Puja

Monday, 9 November

Gazetted

Bhai Dooj

Wednesday, 11 November

Gazetted

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Tuesday, 24 November

Gazetted

Christmas Day

Friday, 25 December

Gazetted
National (mandatory)
Gazetted (govt offices)
Regional (select states)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many national holidays are there in India in 2026?
India has 3 national holidays in 2026: Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti. The dates are 26 January, 15 August, and 2 October. All government offices, banks, and most private organisations observe these three days mandatorily. Factories registered under the Factories Act must also give these three as paid holidays.
What is the difference between national and gazetted holidays in India?
National holidays are mandatory for all organisations across India. Only 3 exist: Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti. Gazetted holidays are declared by the central government and observed by central government offices and banks. Private employers choose from an approved list of about 14 gazetted and 4 restricted holidays each year.
What are the bank holidays in India in 2026?
Bank holidays include the 3 national holidays plus gazetted holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Banks close on Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Eid ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, Good Friday, Dussehra, Diwali, and Guru Nanak Jayanti. Ambedkar Jayanti and Christmas are also observed. State-specific bank holidays apply additionally.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali in 2026 falls on 8 November. The date is based on Amavasya (new moon) of the Kartika month in the Hindu calendar. The five-day celebration includes Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. The dates run 6 to 11 November.
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi in 2026 falls on 4 March. Holika Dahan (the bonfire ritual) is observed on the evening of 3 March. Holi marks the full moon (Purnima) of the Phalguna month. Primarily observed in North India, the holiday is gazetted in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
When is Eid ul-Fitr in 2026?
Eid ul-Fitr in 2026 is expected around 20 March, subject to moon sighting. The exact date may shift by one day based on the announcement by the central moon-sighting committee. Eid marks the end of Ramadan and is a gazetted holiday observed across India by central government offices and banks.
Are Indian holiday dates different for state governments?
Yes. Each state government publishes its own list of gazetted and restricted holidays. Pongal is a major holiday in Tamil Nadu, Onam in Kerala, and Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra. The central government list applies everywhere, but states can add 10 to 15 more days. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka often have the longest state-level lists.

What is Indian Holidays Calendar 2026?

Indian Holidays 2026 is a reference calendar listing all public holidays for India in 2026. The calendar covers national holidays, gazetted holidays observed by central government offices, and major regional festivals.

India organises holidays into three tiers. National holidays are mandatory for every employer in the country. Gazetted holidays apply to central government offices, banks, and public sector units. Restricted holidays are optional: employees pick a fixed number from an approved state-specific list each year.

How does it work?

Select a month from the grid to see holidays in that period. The upcoming section at the top shows the next four holidays from today's date. Each holiday shows its date, weekday, and type: national, gazetted, or regional.

Festival dates for Diwali, Holi, and Eid depend on the lunar calendar and shift each year. Dates shown here are confirmed or calculated based on astronomical records. Moon-sighting-based festivals like Eid and Muharram may shift by one day from the listed date depending on the official announcement.

Indian Holidays Calendar in India

India's three national holidays are the only ones where no exemptions apply. The Industrial Disputes Act and the Negotiable Instruments Act govern which days are mandatory for factories and banks respectively.

The Ministry of Personnel publishes an annual circular listing gazetted and restricted holidays for central government employees. Each state government issues a parallel list for state employees. Banks follow the RBI holiday calendar, which differs slightly from the central government list and also varies by state.

Private employers in most states must give the three national holidays as paid leave. Beyond that, the holiday list follows each state's Shops and Establishments Act. Major employers often follow central gazetted holidays and allow employees to pick restricted holidays from a pre-approved list.

Tips to get the best results

  • Check both the national list and your state's holiday list before planning leave. A gazetted holiday in Delhi may not be a holiday in Bengaluru.
  • For Eid, Muharram, and Milad-un-Nabi, the listed dates are estimates. Confirm with your employer one day before, since moon sighting can shift them.
  • Banks close on more days than private offices. Check the RBI state-specific bank holiday list when planning financial transactions around a festival.
  • Three long weekends stand out in 2026. Holi falls on Friday, 13 March. Republic Day is Monday, 26 January. Christmas is Friday, 25 December.