Holiday 2026 List: The list of government holidays for 2026 has been released. Along with the 14 fixed holidays applicable nationwide, several optional and limited holidays have also been provided. Moon-based dates such as Eid and Muharram are subject to change at a later date. See the full list.
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Holiday 2026 List: The year 2025 is about to end. Government employees eagerly await the next year’s holiday list. Now, the central government has released the complete holiday calendar for 2026. This list clearly outlines which holidays are confirmed, which are optional, and which festivals’ dates may be changed later.
Central Government Holidays (2026)
Applicable to all central government offices across India
- Republic Day
- Independence Day
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
- Buddha Purnima
- Christmas Day
- Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
- Diwali (Deepawali)
- Good Friday
- Guru Nanak Jayanti
- Eid al-Fitr
- Eid al-Adha
- Mahavir Jayanti
- Muharram
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Eid-e-Milad)
Optional Holidays (2026)
In Delhi, the DOPT selects three holidays, while outside the state, the Coordination Committee selects them.
List of 12 Optional Holidays
- Additional holidays for Dussehra
- Holi
- Janmashtami (Vaishnav)
- Ram Navami
- Maha Shivaratri
- Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi
- Makar Sankranti
- Rath Yatra
- Onam
- Pongal
- Shri Panchami / Basant Panchami
Vishu / Vaisakhi / Vaisakhadi / Bhag Bihu / Mashadi Ugadi / Chaitra Shukla Paksha / Chaiti Chand / Gudi Padwa / First Navratri / Navroz / Chhath Puja / Karva Chauth
Restricted Holidays – 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Thursday |
| Hazrat Ali’s Birthday | 13 January | Tuesday |
| Makar Sankranti | 14 January | Wednesday |
| Magh Bihu/Pongal | 15 January | Thursday |
| Shri Panchami / Basant Panchami | 16 January | Friday |
| Guru Ravidas Jayanti | 12 February | Thursday |
| Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | 26 February | Thursday |
| Maha Shivratri | 26 February | Thursday |
| Holika Dahan | March 3 | Tuesday |
| Dole Yatra | March 3 | Tuesday |
| Chaitra Shukla Diwas / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi | March 19 | Thursday |
| Ram Navami | March 31 | Tuesday |
| Easter Sunday | 5 April | sunday |
| Tamil New Year / Vishu | 15th April | Wednesday |
| Vaisakhadi (Bengali New Year) | 15th April | Wednesday |
| Puthuvarsham (Malayalam New Year) | 15th April | Wednesday |
| Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary | 8 May | Friday |
| Rath Yatra | 16 July | Thursday |
| Parsi New Year / Navroz | August 15 | Saturday |
| Onam / Thiru Onam Day | 6 August | Wednesday |
| Raksha Bandhan | 26 August | Wednesday |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | September 14 | sunday |
| Dussehra (Saptami) | 18 October | sunday |
| Dussehra (Mahashtami) | 19 October | monday |
| Dussehra (Mahanavami) | 20 October | Tuesday |
| Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | 22 October | Wednesday |
| Karwa Chauth | 30 October | Thursday |
| Naraka Chaturdashi | 17 November | monday |
| Govardhan Puja | 17 November | monday |
| Bhai Dooj | 18 November | Tuesday |
| Chhath Puja | 19 November | Wednesday |
| Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day | 24 November | monday |
| Hazrat Ali Birthday | 23 December | Wednesday |
| Christmas Eve | 24 December | Wednesday |
Holiday dates for Eid, Muharram, and Diwali may change.
Festivals like Eid and Muharram depend on the sighting of the moon, so their dates are not fixed in advance. For offices in Delhi/New Delhi, official notifications regarding the date change are issued later. In other states, holiday dates are adjusted based on the decision of the respective state government.
In 2026, Diwali falls on a Sunday. In some states, people celebrate Diwali on Naraka Chaturdashi. If a state declares a public holiday on the same day, central government offices may also observe the holiday on that date.
Overall, the 2026 holiday calendar offers employees the opportunity to plan ahead. Whether it’s mandatory or limited, each employee will be able to celebrate the festival according to their convenience and tradition.
