Planning your year in advance can make a world of difference whether you’re an HR professional creating your office holiday calendar, an employee mapping out their leave schedule, or a traveler organizing their next getaway.
The year 2026 brings a diverse mix of national holidays, gazetted holidays, restricted holidays, and bank holidays celebrated across India. Having a clear 2026 holiday calendar not only helps employees plan their vacations efficiently but also allows HR teams to manage attendance, payroll, and operations more effectively.
Whether you’re planning your leaves or curating your company’s annual HR calendar, here’s a complete overview of India’s public holidays 2026 to help you stay ahead and make every break count.
List of National Holidays in India 2026
India observes three official national holidays every year that are celebrated across all states and union territories.
On these days, government offices, banks, schools, and most private organizations remain closed nationwide.
Date | Day | Holiday |
January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
October 2, 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
Complete Holiday List 2026
Find below the complete list of holidays in India for 2026, including gazetted, public, and restricted holidays. This updated calendar helps you stay informed and plan your year better.
Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Restricted Holiday |
Jan 03 | Saturday | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday | Restricted Holiday |
Jan 14 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Magha Bihu | Public/Gazetted Holiday |
Jan 23 | Friday | Basant Panchami / Vasant Panchami | Restricted Holiday |
Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National/Gazetted Holiday |
Feb 01 | Sunday | Guru Ravi Das’s Birthday | Restricted Holiday |
Feb 12 | Thursday | Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati | Restricted Holiday |
Feb 15 | Sunday | Maha Shivratri | Restricted Holiday |
Feb 19 | Thursday | Shivaji Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
Mar 03 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan | Restricted Holiday |
Mar 04 | Wednesday | Holi | Gazetted Holiday |
Mar 19 | Thursday | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi | Restricted Holiday |
Mar 20 | Friday | Jamat-Ul-Vida | Restricted Holiday |
Mar 21 | Saturday | Idu’l Fitr (Ramzan Id) | Gazetted Holiday |
Mar 26 | Thursday | Ram Navami | Gazetted Holiday |
Mar 31 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazetted Holiday |
Apr 05 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Restricted Holiday |
Apr 14 | Tuesday | Vaisakhi / Meshadi (Tamil New Year’s Day) | Restricted Holiday |
Apr 15 | Wednesday | Bahag Bihu (Assam) | Restricted Holiday |
May 01 | Friday | Buddha Purnima | Public Holiday |
May 09 | Saturday | Birthday of Guru Rabindranath Tagore | Restricted Holiday |
May 27 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Gazetted Holiday |
Jun 26 | Friday | Muharram | Gazetted Holiday |
Jul 16 | Thursday | Rath Yatra | Restricted Holiday |
Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National/Gazetted Holiday |
Aug 26 | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi (Id-e-Milad) | Gazetted Holiday |
Aug 26 | Wednesday | Onam / Thiru Onam Day | Restricted Holiday |
Aug 28 | Friday | Raksha Bandhan | Restricted Holiday |
Sep 04 | Friday | Janmashtami | Gazetted Holiday |
Sep 14 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi | Restricted Holiday |
Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National/Gazetted Holiday |
Oct 18 | Sunday | Maha Saptami (Dussehra) | Restricted Holiday |
Oct 19 | Monday | Maha Ashtami (Dussehra) | Restricted Holiday |
Oct 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Vijay Dashami) | Gazetted Holiday |
Oct 26 | Monday | Maharishi Valmiki’s Birthday | Restricted Holiday |
Oct 29 | Thursday | Karaka Chaturdasi (Karwa Chauth) | Restricted Holiday |
Nov 08 | Sunday | Diwali / Deepavali | Gazetted Holiday |
Nov 09 | Monday | Govardhan Puja | Restricted Holiday |
Nov 11 | Wednesday | Bhai Duj | Restricted Holiday |
Nov 15 | Sunday | Chhath Puja (Pratihar Shashthi / Surya Shashthi) | Restricted Holiday |
Nov 24 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Gazetted Holiday |
Nov 24 | Tuesday | Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day | Restricted Holiday |
Dec 23 | Wednesday | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday | Restricted Holiday |
Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Restricted Holiday |
Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Gazetted Holiday |
List of Bank Holidays in India 2026
Here’s the complete list of bank holidays in India for the year 2026. These holidays include national and major religious festivals when banks across most states remain closed.
Date | Day | Holiday |
January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
February 15, 2026 | Sunday | Maha Shivaratri |
March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Holi |
March 20, 2026 | Friday | Id-ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
March 27, 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami |
April 2, 2026 | Thursday | Mahavir Jayanti |
April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
May 25, 2026 | Monday | Buddha Purnima |
June 27, 2026 | Saturday | Bakrid / Eid al-Adha |
July 26, 2026 | Sunday | Muharram |
August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | Janmashtami |
September 16, 2026 | Wednesday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
October 2, 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) |
November 8, 2026 | Sunday | Diwali (Deepavali) |
November 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
*Disclaimer*
While every effort has been made to provide accurate dates, holiday schedules may vary depending on state notifications, regional customs, and banking regulations.
Please confirm with your local bank branch before planning financial transactions or official activities.
How Public Holidays List Benefits Organizations
A well-organized holiday calendar plays a vital role in both professional and personal planning. Here’s how different groups can benefit from it:
For HR Teams
HR professionals use the annual holiday list to design official leave calendars, manage employee schedules, and ensure compliance with government norms. It’s also a key part of HR operations, affecting attendance tracking, leave management, and payroll processing.
For Employees
Employees can make the most of their time off by aligning leaves around long weekends and major festivals using the festival calendar 2026. Smart leave planning improves work-life balance and ensures they return to work refreshed.
For Travelers
Travelers can use this list to plan trips during public holidays or extended weekends, helping them avoid peak prices and crowded destinations. It’s an excellent guide for anyone looking to turn short breaks into memorable adventures.
Bonus Section for You: Long Weekends in 2026
When it comes to time off, long weekends are everyone’s favorite. Many people specifically want to know “long weekends 2026 India” to plan vacations, weddings, or family reunions.
Here’s a month-wise snapshot of some long weekends you can look forward to in 2026:
Date Range | Days Off | Occasion | Notes |
Jan 1 – Jan 4 | Thu – Sun (4 days) | New Year’s Day + Weekend | Take Jan 2 (Fri) as optional leave for a 4-day break. |
Jan 24 – Jan 26 | Sat – Mon (3 days) | Basant Panchami + Republic Day | Republic Day (Mon) gives a natural long weekend. |
Mar 21 – Mar 23 | Sat – Mon (3 days) | Eid-ul-Fitr + Holiday Extension | Mar 21 (Sat) Eid; add Mar 23 (Mon) leave for extended break. |
Apr 3 – Apr 5 | Fri – Sun (3 days) | Good Friday + Easter Sunday | Perfect long weekend across India. |
May 1 – May 3 | Fri – Sun (3 days) | Buddha Purnima + Weekend | National holiday on Friday. |
May 23 – May 25 | Sat – Mon (3 days) | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Falls on Wed (27th); if adjusted leave taken, extended break possible. |
Jun 26 – Jun 28 | Fri – Sun (3 days) | Muharram + Weekend | Nationally observed in many states. |
Aug 15 – Aug 17 | Sat – Mon (3 days) | Independence Day | Combine Sat holiday with Monday leave. |
Oct 2 – Oct 4 | Fri – Sun (3 days) | Gandhi Jayanti + Weekend | Perfect national long weekend. |
Oct 18 – Oct 20 | Sun – Tue (3 days) | Durga Puja / Dussehra | Major festive long weekend (many offices close multiple days). |
Nov 7 – Nov 9 | Sat – Mon (3 days) | Diwali + Govardhan Puja | One of the biggest long weekends of the year. |
Dec 25 – Dec 28 | Fri – Mon (4 days) | Christmas + Weekend + Optional Leave | Take Mon (28th) off for extended break. |
Plan your annual leave calendar around these weekends to make the most of your vacations without using too many leave days.
Conclusion
In summary, having a clear view of the 2026 holiday calendar gives you a strategic advantage on whether you are mapping out your HR calendar, planning your personal leave, or organizing a travel break. Every date listed here – from national to gazetted, restricted and bank holidays – serves as a building block for smoother leave management, better work-life balance, and smarter travel planning. Use this list as your reference for the year ahead and make each break count.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many holidays are there for 2026?
For central government offices in Delhi/New Delhi, there are 17 compulsory (gazetted) holidays announced for 2026. Additionally, there is a list of restricted holidays (optional) from which employees may choose.
What is the holiday calendar for 2026?
The holiday calendar includes:
- A list of mandated holidays (gazetted) such as major national and festival days.
- A list of restricted or optional holidays from which employees may pick some days.
- Additional holidays vary by states, union territories and banks.
What are the festivals in the Hindu calendar 2026?
Some major Hindu festivals in 2026 include:
- Holi on March 4.
- Ram Navami on March 26.
- Janmashtami is on September 4.
These are included among the list of holidays observed; the exact category (gazetted or restricted) may vary.
What national holidays are in January 2026?
In January 2026 the recognised national holiday (for the central government list) is: Republic Day is on January 26 (Monday).
