Holidays in India 2026: Complete Central and State-Wise Public Holiday Calendar

The Central Government has released the official holiday calendar for 2026 for all central offices across India. The list features gazetted holidays, restricted holidays, and optional holidays that employees can choose based on personal, cultural, or regional preferences.

According to the notification, central government employees may avail any two holidays from the restricted holiday list. For central offices located outside Delhi/New Delhi, staff can additionally select any three optional holidays from a set of 12, along with the mandatory gazetted holidays.
Alongside the national list, employees can also refer to state-wise holiday schedules for 2026 to plan ahead.

Gazetted Holidays in India — 2026

January 26 (Monday): Republic Day March 4 (Wednesday): Holi March 21 (Saturday): Id-ul-Fitr March 26 (Thursday): Ram Navami March 31 (Tuesday): Mahavir Jayanti April 3 (Friday): Good Friday May 1 (Friday): Budha Purnima May 27 (Wednesday): Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) June 26 (Friday): Muharram August 15 (Saturday): Independence Day August 26 (Wednesday): Id-e-Milad September 4 (Friday): Janmashtami October 2 (Friday): Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti October 20 (Tuesday): Dussehra November 8 (Sunday): Diwali November 24 (Tuesday): Guru Nanak Jayanti December 25 (Friday): Christmas Day

Restricted Holidays for 2026 (Delhi/New Delhi)

These apply mainly to central offices in Delhi. State coordination committees may curate separate lists reflecting local observances.

January 1: New Year’s Day January 3: Hazrat Ali Birthday January 14: Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Magha Bihu January 23: Basant Panchami February 1: Guru Ravidas Birthday February 12: Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti February 15: Maha Shivratri February 19: Shivaji Jayanti March 3: Holika Dahan / Dolyatra March 19: Gudi Padava / Ugadi March 20: Jamat-Ul-Vida April 5: Easter Sunday April 14: Vaisakhi April 15: Vaisakhadi / Bahag Bihu May 9: Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti July 16: Rath Yatra August 15: Parsi New Year / Navroz August 26: Onam August 28: Raksha Bandhan September 14: Ganesh Chaturthi October 18: Saptami October 19: Mahashtami October 20: Mahanavami October 26: Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti October 29: Karwa Chauth November 8: Naraka Chaturdashi November 9: Govardhan Puja November 11: Bhai Dooj November 15: Chhath Puja November 24: Guru Teg Bahadur Martyrdom Day December 23: Hazrat Ali Birthday December 24: Christmas Eve

List of 12 Optional Holidays

Employees may choose from the following list (in addition to restricted holidays, where applicable):

Additional Dussehra Day Holi Janmashtami (Vaishnavi) Ram Navami Maha Shivratri Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayak Chaturthi Makar Sankranti Rath Yatra Onam Pongal Sri Panchami / Basant Panchami Vishu / Vaisakhi / Vaisakhadi / Bahag Bihu / Ugadi / Gudi Padava / Chaitra Sukladi / Cheti Chand / Navroz / Chhath Puja / Karwa Chaut

State-Wise Holiday Lists for 2026

Below are highlights of holidays notified by select states:

Maharashtra Holidays 2026

January 26: Republic Day (National Day) February 15: Mahashivratri February 19: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti March 3: Holi (Second Day) March 19: Gudhi Padwa March 21: Ramzan-Id / Id-Ul-Fitr / Shawal-1 (End of Ramadan) March 26: Ram Navmi March 31: Mahavir Janmakalyanak April 1: Annual Accounts Closing (Bank Holiday) April 3: Good Friday April 14: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti May 1: Buddha Pournima May 1: Maharashtra Day May 28: Bakri Id / Id-Uz-Zuha (Feast of Sacrifice) June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day August 15: Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi) August 26: Id-e-Milad (Prophet’s Birthday) September 14: Ganesh Chaturthi October 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday October 20: Dasara November 8: Diwali Amavasya (Laxmi Pujan) November 10: Diwali (Bali Pratipada) November 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti December 25: Christmas

West Bengal Holidays 2026 (Negotiable Instruments Act)

January 1: New Year’s Day January 12: Birthday of Swami Vivekananda January 23: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Birthday January 23: Saraswati Puja (Sree Panchami) January 26: Republic Day March 3: Doljatra March 21: Eid-Ul-Fitr March 26: Ram Navami March 31: Mahavir Jayanti April 1: Yearly closing of bank accounts (Banks only) April 3: Good Friday April 14: Birthday of Dr B. R. Ambedkar April 15: Bengali New Year’s Day (Nababarsha) May 1: May Day May 1: Buddha Purnima May 9: Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore May 27: Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day September 4: Janmashtami October 2: Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi October 10: Mahalaya October 19: Durga Puja – Maha Ashtami October 20: Durga Puja – Maha Navami October 21: Durga Puja – Dashami November 11: Bhratridwitiya November 24: Birthday of Guru Nanak December 25: Christmas Day

Holidays In West Bengal 2026

January 22: Day before Saraswati Puja February 4: Shab-e-Barat February 14: Birthday of Thakur Panchanan Barma March 4: Holi (day after Doljatra) March 17: Birthday of Shri Shri Harichand Thakur (Madhu Krishna Trayodashi Tithi) March 20: Day before Eid-Ul-Fitr May 26: Day before Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) July 13: Birthday of poet Bhanu Bhakt (Darjeeling and Kalimpong only) July 16: Rathayatra August 26: Fateha-Dwaz-Daham August 28: Rakhi Bandhan September 17: Viswakarma Puja October 15: Durga Puja – Maha Chaturthi October 16: Durga Puja – Maha Panchami October 17: Durga Puja – Maha Shashthi October 22: Additional day for Durga Puja October 23: Additional day for Durga Puja October 24: Additional day for Durga Puja October 26: Additional day for Lakshmi Puja November 9: Additional day for Kali Puja November 10: Additional day for Kali Puja November 12: Day after Bhratridwitiya November 16: Additional day for Chhath Puja

Bihar Holidays 2026

January 23: Basant Panchami February 1: Sant Ravidas Jayanti February 4: Shab-e-Barat February 15: Maha Shivratri March 26: Samrat Ashok Ashtami April 23: Veer Kunwar Singh Jayanti April 25: Janaki Navami June 29: Kabir Jayanti August 4: Chehlum October 17: Durga Puja (Saptami) November 10: Chitragupt Puja / Bhai Dooj

Telangana Holidays 2026

January 14: Pongal / Makar Sankranti January 26: Republic Day March 19: Ugadi March 21: Id-Ul-Fitr March 31: Mahavir Jayanti April 3: Good Friday May 1: Budha Purnima May 27: Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day August 26: Milad-un-Nabi / Id-e-Milad September 14: Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi October 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday October 20: Dussehra November 8: Diwali (Deepavali) November 24: Guru Nanak’s Birthday December 25: Christmas Day

Tamil Nadu Holidays 2026

January 1: New Year’s Day January 15: Pongal January 16: Thiruvalluvar Day January 17: Uzhavar Thirunal January 26: Republic Day February 1: Thai Poosam March 19: Telugu New Year’s Day March 21: Ramzan (Id-ul-Fitr) March 31: Mahaveer Jayanthi April 1: Annual Closing of Accounts (Banks only) April 3: Good Friday April 14: Tamil New Year / Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday May 1: May Day May 28: Bakrid (Id-ul-Azha) June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day August 26: Milad-un-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday) September 4: Krishna Jayanthi September 14: Vinayagar Chaturthi October 2: Gandhi Jayanthi October 19: Ayudha Pooja October 20: Vijayadasami November 8: Deepavali December 25: Christmas Day

Uttar Pradesh Holidays 2026

January 1: New Year’s Day January 3: Hazrat Ali’s Birthday January 26: Republic Day February 15: Maha Shivratri March 3: Holi March 21: Id-ul-Fitr / Ramadan festival begins (varies) March 27: Ram Navami March 31: Mahavir Jayanti April 1: Annual Closing of Accounts April 3: Good Friday April 14: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti May 1: Buddha Purnima May 27: Bakrid / Eid al-Adha June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day August 25: Eid-e-Milad (Tentative) August 28: Raksha Bandhan September 4: Janmashtami October 2: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti October 20: Maha Navami October 21: Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra November 8: Diwali / Deepavali November 9: Govardhan Puja / Deepavali Holiday November 11: Bhai Dooj November 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti December 23: Hazrat Ali Jayanti December 25: Christmas Day

Gujarat Holidays 2026

April 3: Good Friday April 14: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti May 1: Buddha Purnima May 27: Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) June 26: Muharram August 15: Independence Day August 25: Eid-e-Milad (Prophet’s Birthday) August 28: Raksha Bandhan September 4: Janmashtami October 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday October 20: Maha Navami / Dussehra November 8: Diwali November 9: Govardhan Puja November 11: Bhai Dooj November 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti December 23: Hazrat Ali Jayanti December 25: Christmas Day

Madhya Pradesh Holidays 2026

January 26: Republic Day February 15: Maha Shivratri March 4: Holi March 21: Id-ul-Fitr March 31: Mahavir Jayanti April 3: Good Friday April 19: Maharshi Parasuram Jayanti May 1: Buddha Purnima May 27: Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid) June 26: Muharram July 16: Rath Yatra August 15: Independence Day August 25: Eid-e-Milad September 4: Janmashtami October 2: Gandhi Jayanti October 20: Dussehra October 26: Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti November 8: Deepavali / Diwali December 25: Christmas Day

Rajasthan Holidays 2026

January 25: Devnarayan Jayanti January 26: Republic Day February 15: Maha Shivaratri March 2: Holika Dahan March 3: Dhulandi / Holi March 20: Cheti Chand March 21: Eid-ul-Fitr March 26: Ram Navami March 31: Mahavir Jayanti April 3: Good Friday April 11: Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti April 14: Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti April 19: Parshuram Jayanti May 28: Eid-ul-Zuha / Bakrid June 17: Maharana Pratap Jayanti June 26: Muharram August 9: World Tribal Day August 15: Independence Day August 26: Barawafat / Eid-e-Milad August 28: Raksha Bandhan September 4: Krishna Janmashtami September 21: Ramdev Jayanti / Teja Dashmi October 2: Gandhi Jayanti October 11: Navratri Sthapana October 19: Durga Ashtami October 20: Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra November 8: Deepawali November 9: Govardhan Puja November 11: Bhai Dooj November 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti December 25: Christmas Day.

Bottom Line

With a comprehensive mix of national, cultural, and regional observances, the 2026 holiday calendar helps employees plan vacations, festivals, and personal time well in advance. Central and state-level schedules together ensure flexibility while honoring India’s diverse traditions.