List of Holidays in India 2026 – Government, Public, Bank & Long Weekends

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.

National Holidays of India 2026 (Confirmed)

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

Central Government Gazetted Holidays 2026 (Projected / Tentative)

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 India 2026

Bank holidays in 2026 are governed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules plus state notifications.

All Sundays are bank holidays in India.
Second & Fourth Saturdays of every month are bank holidays, as per RBI rules.
National holidays and most central gazetted holidays are bank holidays.
Each state may declare additional bank holidays for regional festivals (e.g., Onam, Bihu, local New Year, etc.).

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.

Restricted / Optional Holidays 2026 (Tentative RH List)

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:

1 January – New Year’s Day
Basant Panchami / Vasant Panchami
Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Puthandu / Vishu
Onam (Kerala)
Karwa Chauth
Chhath Puja
Govardhan Puja
Bhai Dooj

Note: The exact list and count of RH options depends on the DoPT RH list and respective state government notifications.

Long Weekends in India 2026 – Month-wise Travel Planner

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.

Republic Day Long Weekend: 24–26 Jan 2026 (Sat–Mon)
Good Friday Long Weekend: 3–5 Apr 2026 (Fri–Sun)
Diwali Weekend: 7–9 Nov 2026 (Sat–Mon, depending on regional holidays)

January 2026 Long Weekends

24–26 January 2026 (Saturday–Monday)
Republic Day on 26 January (Monday) creates a natural 3-day weekend – ideal for a short winter getaway.

March 2026 Long Weekends

1–4 March 2026 (Saturday–Tuesday)
Holi celebrations in early March:
- Holika Dahan: 3 March
- Holi: 4 March (varies slightly by region)
Taking leave on Monday or Tuesday can extend this into a longer festive break.
26–29 March 2026 (Thursday–Sunday)
Ram Navami around 26 March in most regions.
Tip: Take leave on 27 March (Friday) for a comfortable 4-day weekend.

March–April 2026 Long Weekend

3–5 April 2026 (Friday–Sunday)
Good Friday on 3 April gives a ready-made 3-day long weekend – a popular time for travel.

April 2026 (Regional New Year Variations)

12–14 April 2026 (Sunday–Tuesday)
Many regions observe Baisakhi, Vishu, Tamil New Year or Ambedkar Jayanti on 14 April.
Take leave on 13 April (Monday) to enjoy a 3- or 4-day weekend, depending on your state’s holiday pattern.

May 2026 Long Weekend

1–3 May 2026 (Friday–Sunday)
Buddha Purnima and/or Labour Day in some states make this a strong long-weekend candidate for summer travel.

June 2026 (Tentative, Islamic Calendar)

25–28 June 2026 (Thursday–Sunday) — Muharram tentative
If Muharram is officially declared on Friday in your state, this can create a 3-day or even 4-day weekend.

October 2026 Long Weekend

17–20 October 2026 (Saturday–Tuesday)
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is projected on 20 October 2026.
Take leave on 19 October (Monday) to enjoy a festive 4-day break.

November 2026 Long Weekends (Best Travel Month)

7–9 November 2026 (Saturday–Monday)
Diwali weekend in most states (main Lakshmi Puja on 8 November).
Optional: Take 6 November (Friday) off for a 4-day getaway.
14–16 November 2026 (Saturday–Monday)
Govardhan Puja / Bhai Dooj variations create another potential long weekend, depending on your state.

December 2026 Long Weekend

25–27 December 2026 (Friday–Sunday)
Christmas Day on Friday gives a perfect year-end long weekend – ideal for family trips or staycations.

This long weekend list is indicative and will be refined once official Government holiday notifications for 2026 are published.

Difference Between National, Gazetted & Restricted Holidays

National Holidays: Compulsory holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti)
observed across all states, schools, banks and government offices.
Gazetted Holidays: Official holidays declared by the Central Government.
Central government offices close on these days; many state and private institutions also follow them.
Restricted Holidays (RH): Optional holidays. Employees can choose a fixed number from the RH list
(for example, for regional or religious festivals) based on their personal preference and office rules.

FAQs — India Government Holidays & Bank Holidays 2026

1. Are these India Government Holidays 2026 dates final?

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.

2. Who publishes the official India Government Holiday List 2026?

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.

3. When will the official 2026 government holiday list be released?

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.

4. Will schools and colleges follow the same 2026 holiday calendar?

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.

5. Are all gazetted holidays also bank holidays in India?

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.

6. Do private companies have to follow the same 2026 government holiday list?

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.

7. How many long weekends are there in India in 2026?

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.

8. Are Eid and Islamic holiday dates confirmed for 2026?

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.

9. What should I do if my state holiday list for 2026 differs from this one?

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.

10. How can I use this 2026 holiday list for travel planning?

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.

11. Which month is best for travel in India in 2026 based on holidays?

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.

12. Is this India Government Holidays 2026 list enough for legal or HR use?

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.

References & Sources Used for This 2026 Holiday Projection

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.