Holidays in India, 2026

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 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 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 often sees 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 significant month that features Independence Day, which remains a mandatory public holiday in India for all sectors. You can also track festivals such as Milad-un-Nabi* and Onam to plan potential long weekends with Raksha Bandhan.

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

October is a significant month for both national pride and major cultural festivities, often marking the peak of the autumn festival season. Since Gandhi Jayanti falls on a Friday (2nd October), you have a 3-day long weekend right at the start of the month. Additionally, if you take a leave on Monday (19th October), you can combine the weekend with Dussehra on Tuesday (20th October) for a 4-day break.

November is dominated by the festival of lights, Diwali, which is observed as a national holiday in 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 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.