The 2026 festival list in India includes major religious, cultural and national occasions observed throughout the year. From Makar Sankranti and Maha Shivaratri to Holi, Eid, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Christmas, the Indian calendar has festivals spread across every month.
However, there is an important distinction between a festival date and an official holiday. Not every festival is a public holiday across India. Central government offices, state governments, schools, banks and private employers can follow different holiday calendars.
Festival dates can also vary between locations or traditions, particularly when they are calculated using lunar calendars. Therefore, this list is best used as a general 2026 festival reference, while important leave, travel or institutional decisions should be checked against the applicable official calendar.
2026 Festival Calendar at a Glance
| Month | Major festivals and occasions |
|---|---|
| January | Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Vasant Panchami, Republic Day |
| February | Maha Shivaratri |
| March | Holika Dahan, Holi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami |
| April | Hanuman Jayanti, Akshaya Tritiya, Parashurama Jayanti, Good Friday |
| May | Buddha Purnima, Vat Savitri, Ganga Dussehra, Bakrid |
| June | Nirjala Ekadashi, Vat Purnima |
| July | Jagannath Rath Yatra, Devshayani Ekadashi, Guru Purnima |
| August | Onam, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami-related observances |
| September | Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Visarjan, Anant Chaturdashi |
| October | Navratri, Durga Ashtami, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth |
| November | Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| December | Gita Jayanti, Dattatreya Jayanti, Christmas |
January 2026 Festivals
January begins with the Gregorian New Year, followed by several important Indian observances.
- January 14 — Makar Sankranti
- January 14 — Pongal
- January 23 — Vasant Panchami
- January 26 — Republic Day
Makar Sankranti and Pongal fall on January 14 in the 2026 calendars consulted. Republic Day is a national holiday and is listed as a gazetted holiday in the 2026 government calendar.
February 2026 Festivals
The major festival in February is:
- February 15 — Maha Shivaratri
The 2026 Hindu festival calendar lists Maha Shivaratri on February 15.
March 2026 Festivals
March is one of the busiest festival months of 2026.
- March 3 — Holika Dahan
- March 4 — Holi
- March 19 — Ugadi
- March 19 — Gudi Padwa
- March 19 — Chaitra Navratri begins
- March 21 — Eid-ul-Fitr
- March 26 — Ram Navami
- March 31 — Mahavir Jayanti
The 2026 government holiday calendar lists Holi on March 4, Id-ul-Fitr on March 21, Ram Navami on March 26 and Mahavir Jayanti on March 31.
Regional Hindu calendars also place Ugadi, Gudi Padwa and Chaitra Navratri on March 19.
April 2026 Festivals
Important April dates include:
- April 2 — Hanuman Jayanti
- April 3 — Good Friday
- April 14 — Mesha Sankranti / Solar New Year
- April 19 — Akshaya Tritiya
- April 19 — Parashurama Jayanti
- April 23 — Ganga Saptami
- April 25 — Sita Navami
- April 30 — Narasimha Jayanti
The exact date of some Hindu festivals can vary by location. The location-specific calendar used for this guide lists Hanuman Jayanti on April 2.
Good Friday is listed as a gazetted holiday in the government calendar.
May 2026 Festivals
Major May observances include:
- May 1 — Buddha Purnima
- May 2 — Narada Jayanti
- May 16 — Vat Savitri Vrat
- May 16 — Shani Jayanti
- May 25 — Ganga Dussehra
- May 27 — Bakrid / Eid-ul-Adha
Buddha Purnima is included among the 2026 gazetted holidays. The official government holiday schedule also lists Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) on May 27, with lunar-observation conditions applying to Islamic dates.
June 2026 Festivals
June has fewer widely recognized nationwide festivals, but important religious observances include:
- June 11 — Parama Ekadashi
- June 25 — Nirjala Ekadashi
- June 29 — Vat Purnima Vrat
These dates come from the 2026 Hindu festival calendar consulted for this guide.
July 2026 Festivals
Important July dates include:
- July 10 — Yogini Ekadashi
- July 16 — Jagannath Rath Yatra
- July 25 — Devshayani Ekadashi
- July 29 — Guru Purnima
Jagannath Rath Yatra and Guru Purnima are among the notable July observances in the 2026 Hindu calendar.
August 2026 Festivals
August includes several major celebrations:
- August 15 — Hariyali Teej
- August 17 — Nag Panchami
- August 26 — Onam
- August 28 — Raksha Bandhan
- August 28 — Varalakshmi Vrat
Raksha Bandhan falls on August 28 in the 2026 calendar consulted.
August 15 is also Independence Day, while the central-government holiday list includes Milad-un-Nabi on August 26.
September 2026 Festivals
September contains several major Hindu festivals:
- September 4 — Janmashtami
- September 14 — Hartalika Teej
- September 14 — Ganesh Chaturthi
- September 15 — Rishi Panchami
- September 17 — Vishwakarma Puja
- September 19 — Radha Ashtami
- September 25 — Ganesh Visarjan / Anant Chaturdashi
- September 27 — Pitru Paksha begins
Janmashtami on September 4 is listed as a gazetted holiday in the 2026 government calendar, while Ganesh Chaturthi is listed among important restricted/regional holidays in several official calendars.
October 2026 Festivals
October is one of the most important festival months of the year.
- October 2 — Gandhi Jayanti
- October 11 — Sharad Navratri begins
- October 17 — Durga Puja festivities begin
- October 19 — Durga Ashtami / Maha Navami
- October 20 — Dussehra / Vijayadashami
- October 25 — Sharad Purnima
- October 29 — Karwa Chauth
The official government holiday calendar lists Dussehra on October 20. The Hindu festival calendar places the beginning of Sharad Navratri on October 11.
November 2026 Festivals
November contains the Diwali festival period and several important celebrations.
- November 1 — Ahoi Ashtami
- November 5 — Govatsa Dwadashi
- November 6 — Dhanteras
- November 7 — Kali Chaudas
- November 8 — Diwali / Lakshmi Puja
- November 8 — Narak Chaturdashi
- November 9 — Govardhan Puja
- November 11 — Bhai Dooj
- November 15 — Chhath Puja
- November 20 — Devutthana Ekadashi
- November 21 — Tulasi Vivah
- November 24 — Guru Nanak Jayanti / Kartika Purnima
The official 2026 government holiday calendar lists Diwali on November 8 and Guru Nanak’s Birthday on November 24.
December 2026 Festivals
December has fewer major nationwide Indian festivals, but several religious observances remain important:
- December 1 — Kalabhairav Jayanti
- December 14 — Vivah Panchami
- December 20 — Gita Jayanti
- December 20 — Mokshada Ekadashi
- December 23 — Dattatreya Jayanti
- December 25 — Christmas
Christmas Day is a gazetted holiday in the 2026 government holiday schedule.
Major Official Holidays in India in 2026
A separate official holiday list is important because not every festival is a universal public holiday.
The 2026 gazetted holiday schedule published by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing includes:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 26 | Republic Day |
| March 4 | Holi |
| March 21 | Id-ul-Fitr |
| March 26 | Ram Navami |
| March 31 | Mahavir Jayanti |
| April 3 | Good Friday |
| May 1 | Buddha Purnima |
| May 27 | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| June 26 | Muharram |
| August 15 | Independence Day |
| August 26 | Milad-un-Nabi |
| September 4 | Janmashtami |
| October 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| October 20 | Dussehra |
| November 8 | Diwali |
| November 24 | Guru Nanak’s Birthday |
| December 25 | Christmas |
This is an official institutional/government holiday schedule, not a universal list of every holiday applicable to every Indian resident.
Are Festival Dates the Same Across India?
Not always.
Many Indian festivals are calculated using lunar or lunisolar systems. As a result, dates can vary according to location, calendar tradition and religious practice.
For example, Hindu festival calendars are location-sensitive because sunrise, sunset and other astronomical calculations can affect observance dates. Drik Panchang specifically notes that Hindu festival dates can differ between cities.
Islamic festival dates can also require lunar confirmation. The official 2026 government holiday schedule marks relevant Islamic dates with a note that they depend on moon sighting.
Which Major Festivals Are Still Ahead in 2026?
As of September 22, 2026, the major upcoming festival period includes:
- September 25 — Ganesh Visarjan / Anant Chaturdashi
- October 11 — Sharad Navratri begins
- October 20 — Dussehra
- October 29 — Karwa Chauth
- November 6 — Dhanteras
- November 8 — Diwali
- November 9 — Govardhan Puja
- November 11 — Bhai Dooj
- November 15 — Chhath Puja
- November 24 — Guru Nanak Jayanti
- December 25 — Christmas
These dates should still be checked against the applicable state or institutional calendar when they affect leave, travel or official closures.
Bottom Line
The 2026 festival list in India covers a wide range of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and regional celebrations. Major dates include Holi on March 4, Janmashtami on September 4, Dussehra on October 20, Diwali on November 8, Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 24 and Christmas on December 25 according to the government holiday schedule used for this guide.
For everyday planning, this month-wise calendar provides a useful overview. For school closures, government offices, bank holidays, travel or workplace leave, readers should verify the specific state or institution’s official holiday notification, because India does not operate one identical holiday schedule for every organization.
FAQ
What is the 2026 festival list in India?
The 2026 festival list includes major Indian celebrations such as Holi, Eid, Ram Navami, Buddha Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Christmas.
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi is on March 4, 2026, according to the 2026 government holiday calendar.
When is Dussehra in 2026?
Dussehra is on October 20, 2026, according to the official holiday schedules consulted.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali is on November 8, 2026, according to the 2026 government holiday calendar and Hindu festival calendar consulted.
When is Janmashtami in 2026?
Janmashtami is on September 4, 2026, according to the 2026 government holiday schedule.
When is Raksha Bandhan in 2026?
Raksha Bandhan falls on August 28, 2026, in the Hindu festival calendar consulted.
Are all Indian festivals public holidays?
No. India has many religious and regional festivals that are not universal public holidays. Government offices, states, schools and private organizations can follow different holiday schedules.
Why can festival dates differ between calendars?
Many Indian festivals depend on lunar, lunisolar or location-specific astronomical calculations. Different traditions and locations can therefore produce different observance dates.
DISCLAIMER
Festival dates and official holiday schedules can vary by state, institution, religious tradition and calendar method. Islamic dates may depend on moon sighting, while some Hindu festival dates are location-sensitive. Verify important travel, leave, school and workplace dates with the relevant official authority before making plans.
