Year 2026 Public Holidays, Discretionary Holidays & Bank Holidays in India – Full List & PDF Download (Updated Guide)
India is a country of festivals, cultures, languages, and traditions. Every year, the Government issues an official list of Public Holidays, Restricted/Discretionary Holidays, and Bank Holidays for all states and union territories. For students, employees, government staff, and corporate workers, knowing the 2026 holiday calendar helps in planning travel, exams, leaves, and personal activities much better.
This article provides a complete, state-wise friendly, SEO-optimized guide to:
- ✔ 2026 Public Holidays (Gazetted Holidays)
- ✔ 2026 Discretionary / Restricted Holidays (Optional Holidays)
- ✔ 2026 Bank Holidays (As per RBI guidelines)
- ✔ Month-wise calendar for 2026 holidays
- ✔ Most important festivals and national events
- ✔ PDF-style compiled list (you can ask me to convert into PDF)
What Are Public, Discretionary & Bank Holidays?
Before checking the list, it’s important to understand the types of holidays announced in India.
1. Public Holidays (National/Gazetted Holidays)
These are mandatory holidays for government offices, schools, banks, and most private organizations.
Example: Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti.
2. Discretionary Holidays (Restricted or Optional Holidays)
Employees can choose a few holidays from this list based on their personal beliefs or festivals.
Example: Raksha Bandhan, Onam, Chhath Puja, Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
3. Bank Holidays
Announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Includes national holidays + regional festivals + second/ fourth Saturdays and all Sundays.
Year 2026 Public Holidays in India – Complete List
Here is the tentative India-wide holiday list for 2026, based on festival dates and government patterns from previous years.
(Some festival dates may change based on the lunar calendar.)
| Date | Day | Holiday Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 14 January 2026 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti / Pongal |
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day (National Holiday) |
| 27 February 2026 | Friday | Maha Shivratri |
| 4 March 2026 | Wednesday | Holi |
| 20 March 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti / Tamil New Year |
| 15 April 2026 | Wednesday | Vishu / Bengali New Year |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Ram Navami |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day (May Day) |
| 23 May 2026 | Saturday | Buddha Purnima |
| 16 June 2026 | Tuesday | Bakrid / Eid al-Adha* |
| 27 June 2026 | Saturday | Rath Yatra |
| 27 July 2026 | Monday | Muharram* |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day (National Holiday) |
| 5 September 2026 | Saturday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 25 September 2026 | Friday | Milad-un-Nabi* |
| 26 September 2026 | Saturday | Vishwakarma Puja |
| 18 October 2026 | Sunday | Durga Puja – Maha Ashtami |
| 19 October 2026 | Monday | Mahanavami |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali |
| 9 November 2026 | Monday | Vikram Samvat New Year (Gujarati New Year) |
| 11 November 2026 | Wednesday | Bhai Dooj |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
(*Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting.)
Year 2026 Discretionary / Optional Holidays (Restricted Holidays)
Restricted holidays are optional holidays that employees can take based on their preference.
| Date | Day | Restricted Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | Friday | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti |
| 12 February 2026 | Thursday | Basant Panchami |
| 28 February 2026 | Saturday | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday |
| 9 March 2026 | Monday | Shab-e-Barat |
| 28 March 2026 | Saturday | Chaitra Navratri Begins |
| 1 April 2026 | Wednesday | Year-End Closing (Govt Banks Working Day) |
| 13 June 2026 | Saturday | Purnima / Vat Savitri Vrat |
| 7 July 2026 | Tuesday | Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra |
| 28 August 2026 | Friday | Onam |
| 4 September 2026 | Friday | Teej |
| 17 September 2026 | Thursday | Vishwakarma Day |
| 20 September 2026 | Sunday | Anant Chaturdashi |
| 30 October 2026 | Friday | Chhath Puja |
| 31 December 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Eve (Optional) |
These vary by state; for example, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra have their own additional restricted holidays.
Year 2026 Bank Holidays in India (RBI Calendar)
Besides national and regional festivals, banks in India are closed on:
- All Sundays
- Second Saturdays
- Fourth Saturdays
Major Bank Holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January | Monday | Republic Day |
| 4 March | Wednesday | Holi |
| 20 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 14 April | Tuesday | Ambedkar Jayanti |
| 1 May | Friday | Labour Day |
| 23 May | Saturday | Buddha Purnima |
| 16 June | Tuesday | Bakrid |
| 15 August | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 5 September | Saturday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 20 October | Tuesday | Vijaya Dashami |
| 8 November | Sunday | Diwali |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas |
Bank holidays differ by state due to regional festivals like:
- Ugadi – Karnataka, AP, Telangana
- Bihu – Assam
- Onam – Kerala
- Gudi Padwa – Maharashtra
- Saka New Year – Delhi, Goa
- Nuakhai – Odisha
You can ask me to prepare a state-wise PDF such as:
✔ Gujarat Bank Holidays 2026
✔ Maharashtra Bank Holidays 2026
✔ Tamil Nadu Bank Holidays 2026
✔ West Bengal Government Holidays 2026
and so on.
Month-Wise Holiday Calendar for 2026 (India)
Here is an easy month-by-month breakdown.
January 2026 Holidays
- New Year’s Day – 1 Jan
- Guru Govind Singh Jayanti – 2 Jan (RH)
- Makar Sankranti / Pongal – 14 Jan
- Republic Day – 26 Jan
Total Holidays: 4
February 2026 Holidays
- Basant Panchami – 12 Feb (RH)
- Guru Ravidas Jayanti (Varies by state)
- Maha Shivratri – 27 Feb
Total Holidays: 2–3
March 2026 Holidays
- Holi – 4 Mar
- Good Friday – 20 Mar
- Chaitra Navratri Begins – 28 Mar (RH)
April 2026 Holidays
- Ram Navami – 20 Apr
- Ambedkar Jayanti – 14 Apr
- Tamil/Bengali New Year – 14–15 Apr
- Mahavir Jayanti (Date TBA)
May 2026 Holidays
- Labour Day – 1 May
- Buddha Purnima – 23 May
June 2026 Holidays
- Bakrid – 16 Jun
- Rath Yatra – 27 Jun
July 2026 Holidays
- Muharram – 27 Jul
August 2026 Holidays
- Independence Day – 15 Aug
- Raksha Bandhan – 24 Aug (RH)
- Janmashtami – 27 Aug
September 2026 Holidays
- Ganesh Chaturthi – 5 Sep
- Milad-un-Nabi – 25 Sep
- Vishwakarma Puja – 26 Sep
October 2026 Holidays
- Durga Puja (Ashtami, Navami) – 18–19 Oct
- Dussehra – 20 Oct
November 2026 Holidays
- Diwali – 8 Nov
- New Year (Gujarati) – 9 Nov
- Bhai Dooj – 11 Nov
- Chhath Puja – 30 Oct/Nov (Date varies)
December 2026 Holidays
- Christmas – 25 Dec
- New Year’s Eve (RH) – 31 Dec
States With Maximum Holidays in 2026
Some states get comparatively more holidays based on regional culture:
1. Tamil Nadu
Pongal, Tamil New Year, Ayudha Puja, Karthigai Deepam.
2. Kerala
Onam, Vishu, Thiruvonam, Sabarimala festivals.
3. West Bengal
Durga Puja is a major holiday season.
4. Maharashtra
Gudhi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ambedkar Jayanti.
5. Gujarat
Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan), Navratri, Gujarati New Year, Rath Yatra.
Each state issues its own GAZETTED HOLIDAY LIST which can be prepared by me upon request.
Why Holiday List 2026 Is Important?
- Students can plan exam preparation
- Companies can schedule annual activities
- Employees can apply for leaves in advance
- Families can set travel and celebration plans
- Government offices prepare work calendars
- Banks manage their financial operations
This list helps in efficient life planning and avoiding confusion.
Holiday Planning Tips for 2026
Here are some smart travel and leave-planning tips:
✔ Combine weekends + public holidays
Example:
20 March (Friday) – Good Friday
→ 21–22 March weekend
Perfect for a 3-day trip.
✔ Use discretionary holidays wisely
Pick optional holidays based on your cultural and personal preferences.
✔ Track lunar-based festival dates
Holi, Diwali, Eid, Chhath Puja vary every year—check updates.
✔ Book travel early
Long-weekends will cause higher flight and hotel prices.
Conclusion
The 2026 Indian Holiday Calendar gives a perfect mix of national pride, cultural diversity, and traditional celebrations. With Public Holidays, Discretionary Holidays, and RBI Bank Holidays clearly mapped out, individuals and institutions can plan the year more efficiently.
If you want, I can provide:
- ✔ PDF download of this holiday list
- ✔ State-wise holiday list (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, etc.)
- ✔ Thumbnail image for your website/blog
- ✔ Short social media captions for promotion
