Planning your vacations, bank work, school schedule or office leave for next year? This article gives you the most accurate projected List of Holidays in India 2026, including national holidays, central gazetted holidays, bank holiday rules, restricted/optional holidays, and long weekends for travel planning.
Important: The official 2026 holiday notifications from the Government of India and state governments are
not yet released. Fixed-date holidays are final, but lunar-based festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Bakrid (Eid al-Adha), and Muharram remain tentative and will be confirmed closer to the date based on moon sighting and government announcements.
These three National Holidays are compulsory across all Indian states, schools, banks and government offices.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 2 October 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
The following projected list of Central Government Gazetted Holidays for 2026 is prepared using Indian Panchang references, global holiday databases and historical DoPT patterns.
Some dates, especially for Islamic and lunar festivals, may shift by a day or two.
Note: This is a tentative working calendar. Final dates will be confirmed in the official DoPT Holiday List 2026 and state-wise government notifications.
| Date | Day | Holiday & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 14 January 2026 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Uttarayan (fixed solar festival) |
| 15–16 February 2026 | Sunday–Monday | Maha Shivaratri (date may vary slightly by Panchang and region) |
| 3–4 March 2026 | Tuesday–Wednesday | Holi – Holika Dahan on 3 March; main Holi on 4 March 2026 (regional variations possible) |
| 25–26 March 2026 | Wednesday–Thursday | Ram Navami (most regions will observe on 26 March; some may follow 25 March as per local calendars) |
| 20 or 21 March 2026 | Friday–Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id) – tentative, depends on moon sighting and official announcement |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Ambedkar Jayanti + major regional New Year festivals (Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, etc. depending on state) |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Buddha Purnima / Labour Day in some states |
| 26 or 27 May 2026 | Tuesday–Wednesday | Bakrid / Eid al-Adha – tentative lunar date; subject to moon sighting |
| 25 or 26 June 2026 | Thursday–Friday | Muharram (Ashura) – tentative; will be finalized based on Hijri calendar and moon sighting |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra / Vijayadashami |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali / Deepavali (main Lakshmi Puja day in most regions) |
| 9 November 2026 | Monday | Guru Nanak Jayanti (date may vary slightly based on Nanakshahi calendar) |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Bank holidays in 2026 are governed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules plus state notifications.
Tip: For sensitive work like loans, locker access or large transactions, always check your
official state-wise RBI holiday list for 2026 when it is released.
Central and state government employees usually get a fixed number of Restricted Holidays (RH)
to choose from, depending on their office policy. The actual RH list will be notified officially, but commonly includes festivals like:
Note: The exact list and count of RH options depends on the DoPT RH list and respective state government notifications.
Long weekends are perfect for short trips, family functions and destination weddings.
Below is a month-wise list of long weekends in India for 2026, along with “take one leave” suggestions to extend your break.
Some dates may vary by state and festival observance.
Taking leave on Monday or Tuesday can extend this into a longer festive break.
This long weekend list is indicative and will be refined once official Government holiday notifications for 2026 are published.
No. Fixed-date holidays like Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Christmas, etc. are final. However, lunar and Islamic festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Bakrid and Muharram are tentative and will be confirmed only after moon sighting and official government notifications.
The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India, publishes the central government holiday list each year. State governments then issue their own state-specific holiday notifications based on this and regional requirements.
Typically, the official government holiday list for the next year is released in the last quarter of the current year (around November–December). For 2026, it is expected around late 2025, but the exact date can vary.
In most cases, yes. Schools, colleges and universities usually follow the central/state government holiday list, with some additional institution-specific holidays (for exams, annual day, local events, etc.). Always refer to your institution’s academic calendar 2025–26 for final dates.
Most major Central Government Gazetted Holidays are bank holidays, but bank holidays are ultimately governed by the RBI and state-level notifications. There may be minor differences between government office holidays and bank holidays in a few states.
Private companies generally follow the spirit of the government holiday list, especially for national holidays and major festivals, but they have flexibility.
Your exact holiday count will depend on your company’s HR policy and state labour laws.
Depending on your state and office calendar, you can expect around 8–10 practical long weekend opportunities in 2026,
especially around Republic Day, Holi, Good Friday, Ambedkar Jayanti, Diwali, Dussehra and Christmas.
Some may require you to take 1 day of leave to convert into a 3–4 day break.
No. Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) and Muharram follow the Hijri lunar calendar. Dates provided here are best estimates based on current calculations, but final dates will be declared by the government and religious authorities after moon sighting.
Always treat this as a reference holiday calendar and your state’s official notification as the final authority. If there is any conflict, follow the official state government holiday list 2026 and your employer’s circular.
Use the long weekend list to pre-plan vacations, train/flight bookings and hotel stays. Look for 3-day and 4-day stretches (for example: 24–26 Jan, 3–5 Apr, 7–9 Nov, 25–27 Dec) and book early, as prices tend to rise near popular holiday periods.
Based on projected holidays, November 2026 is one of the best travel months with Diwali and related festivals creating multiple long-weekend options. January, April, October and December 2026 are also strong months for short trips.
This list is prepared using reliable calendar data and panchang sources, but it is still a tentative informational guide.
For legal, HR or compliance purposes, always rely on the official DoPT notification, state government orders,
RBI circulars and your company’s HR policy.
This article is prepared using publicly available calendar data, Indian Panchang references and global holiday repositories.
Lunar and Islamic festival dates may vary by a day or two — always confirm with official government notifications,
RBI circulars and your organization’s holiday list before finalizing travel or leave plans.
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