National Holidays in India 2026– Complete List of Indian Holidays

January begins with New Year celebrations, followed by harvest festivals that occur in different states across the country. Banks and public offices remain closed on national holidays in India such as Republic Day.

February features several regional observances and the celebration of Maha Shivaratri, which often falls in the middle of the month. This list helps you spot potential long weekends by combining regional holidays with weekends.

March is a vibrant month in the calendar due to the widely celebrated festival of Holi and several regional New Year celebrations. Tracking every national holiday in India for this month helps you manage your festive expenses and plan your family visits without any last-minute stress.

The Indian holiday schedule for April typically includes Good Friday and Ambedkar Jayanti, which provide significant breaks for most employees across the country. Ensuring that your financial planning accounts for these bank holidays will help you avoid delays in processing your travel-related payments.

May includes Buddha Purnima, which serves as a major public holiday in India and offers a quiet mid-summer break for many travellers.

June usually does not include any national holiday in India, but it marks the start of the monsoon season, making it a great time for you to explore the lush greenery of the Western Ghats.

The Indian holiday schedule for July is relatively quiet, but you can still find local events like Rath Yatra in specific states like Odisha. Every regional break during this month represents a chance for you to take a budget-friendly trip while avoiding the primary tourist crowds.

August is a notable month marked by Independence Day, which is observed as a compulsory national holiday across all sectors in India. You can also consider festivals such as Milad-un-Nabi* and Onam, along with Raksha Bandhan, to plan potential long weekends.

September brings the grand celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, which is a major event, especially in the western and southern regions of the country.

October marks a period of national significance and vibrant cultural celebrations, often coinciding with the peak of the autumn festive season. With Gandhi Jayanti falling on Friday (2nd October), the month begins with a 3-day long weekend. Further, by taking leave on Monday (19th October), you can combine the weekend with Dussehra on Tuesday (20th October) to enjoy an extended 4-day break.

November is largely centred around the festival of lights, Diwali, which is observed as a gazetted holiday across many parts of India. Celebrated nationwide, it often calls for careful financial planning to manage festive shopping and travel expenses simultaneously.

The calendar year concludes with Christmas celebrations and year-end festivities that are popular in many parts of the country.

Festive Indian holidays are often the best time to plan short trips and family breaks. Even when a festival is not marked as a national holiday in India, many offices and schools still observe it. This list works as a practical guide to spotting travel-friendly dates and possible long weekends. Final observance can differ by state, so checking official holiday notifications before planning travel is recommended.

Holidays in India fall into different categories based on who observes them and their importance. Understanding these types helps you plan better, especially for bank work, travel, or official tasks. Here is a clear breakdown of how national holidays in India differ from public, bank, and regional holidays.

India has three national holidays observed across all states. Public (gazetted) holidays are declared by the government and apply to most institutions. Bank holidays are declared as per RBI guidelines and the Negotiable Instruments Act, and may vary by state. Regional holidays depend on state-specific festivals and local events.

Here are the key differences between these holiday types: