If you’re already planning your 2026 travel, family functions, exams, or office leave strategy, this post will make your job easier. The Public Holiday List 2026 is one of those practical things people search for at the last minute, but honestly, it’s best used early so you can lock in long weekends and avoid surprise working days. The biggest thing to understand right away is that India doesn’t run on a single, uniform holiday calendar. Yes, there are a few national holidays that apply almost everywhere, but a large part of your actual time off depends on your state’s regional holidays and your workplace policy. That’s why searching only “holiday list” isn’t enough you need the state-wise angle too.
The Public Holiday List 2026 works like a master framework for planning. First you have the big, widely observed public holidays. Then you have state-specific holidays that vary by region. And finally, for many government and large organizations, there’s another layer of restricted or optional holidays where employees can choose a few days from a list.
Public Holiday List 2026
| Month | Date (2026) | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26 Jan | Monday | Republic Day | National Public Holiday |
| March | 4 Mar | Wednesday | Holi | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| March | 21 Mar | Saturday | Eid ul Fitr | Public Holiday (Date may vary) |
| March | 26 Mar | Thursday | Ram Navami | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| March | 31 Mar | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| April | 3 Apr | Friday | Good Friday | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| May | 1 May | Friday | Buddha Purnima | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| May | 27 May | Wednesday | Eid ul Zuha Bakrid | Public Holiday (Date may vary) |
| June | 26 Jun | Friday | Muharram | Public Holiday (Date may vary) |
| August | 15 Aug | Saturday | Independence Day | National Public Holiday |
| August | 26 Aug | Wednesday | Id e Milad | Public Holiday (Date may vary) |
| September | 4 Sep | Friday | Janmashtami | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| October | 2 Oct | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | National Public Holiday |
| October | 20 Oct | Tuesday | Dussehra | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| November | 8 Nov | Sunday | Diwali Deepavali | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| November | 24 Nov | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
| December | 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day | Public Holiday (Widely Observed) |
List Of Public And Government Holidays In 2026
Now let’s talk about what most people actually mean when they search for the Public Holiday List 2026 the days when government offices, many banks, and a good portion of institutions are likely to remain closed.
Here’s the practical truth: even if a holiday is “well known,” it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get a day off. Private companies often follow a company-defined calendar, while government offices follow official lists. Schools and universities may create a separate academic calendar, and banks follow banking guidelines plus state-level closures.
So when you’re mapping your year, use this approach:
- Use the holiday list as your base.
- Verify with your office or school notice.
- If you run a business, treat the list as an expectation guide for customer behavior and workforce planning.
Also, don’t ignore where the holiday falls. In 2026, some major holidays land near weekends. That’s where smart planning can give you 3 to 4 day breaks without burning too many casual leaves.
Non Gazetted Restricted Holidays In India In 2026
This section matters a lot, especially if you work in a structured corporate environment or any setup that follows an HR holiday circular.
Restricted (or optional) holidays are not automatically off for everyone. Instead:
- Your organization provides a list.
- You choose a limited number of holidays from that list.
- Approval may depend on workload, team coverage, and policy.
Why it’s useful:
- People from different regions and communities can take leave for what matters to them.
- The organization can maintain productivity without shutting down for every observance.
- Employees can create long weekend combos by selecting optional holidays that sit next to weekends or public holidays.
How to use restricted holidays like a pro:
- Identify 2–3 clusters in the year where a restricted holiday can extend a break.
- Don’t spend optional leaves on dates that already have low work pressure unless you’re building a longer block.
- If you travel, pick optional holidays that align with cheaper travel windows (often avoiding peak festival rush).
Complete List Of Indian Public And Regional Holidays 2026
This is the state-wise part that makes the Public Holiday List 2026 truly useful.
Regional holidays depend on:
- State government declarations
- Local festivals and cultural events
- Birth anniversaries or regional observances
- Local administrative decisions
That’s why one person in Delhi may have a normal working day while someone in another state might have a full public holiday.
If you’re trying to build a state-wise calendar for yourself, do this:
- Step 1: Write down the national holidays (these are common anchors).
- Step 2: Add the widely observed festival holidays you know your workplace typically gives.
- Step 3: Add your state’s regional holidays (this is where your final calendar becomes accurate).
- Step 4: Add optional/restricted holidays if your organization has them.
This planning becomes even more important if:
- You manage a distributed team across multiple states
- You have customers across different regions
- You run a store or service business where closures impact revenue
- You’re booking flights and trains around peak holiday dates
How To Plan Long Weekends Using Holiday List 2026
Even if you don’t get every holiday off, you can still use the Public Holiday List 2026 to build smart breaks.
A simple long-weekend strategy:
- Look for a public holiday that falls on Friday or Monday.
- Add 1 leave day near a weekend to create a 4-day break.
- Prefer clusters where two holidays are close together in the same week.
A realistic approach for working professionals:
- Keep 2–3 casual leaves for emergencies.
- Use 4–6 leaves strategically around fixed public holidays.
- Don’t use too many leaves in one quarter if your company has leave caps or blackout periods.
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Important Notes For 2026 Holiday Calendar
Before you finalize travel or event planning, keep these points in mind:
- Lunar calendar holidays can shift, so don’t book non-refundable plans too early without reconfirmation.
- Some holidays are observed differently based on regional practices.
- Banks, courts, post offices, and government departments may have slightly different closure rules even within the same state.
- Private companies can decide to keep offices open on a public holiday and give compensatory offs later, depending on policy.
If your goal is zero surprises, always verify your office circular and your local state notification once it’s released.
FAQs on Public Holiday List 2026
What Is the Best Way to Use Public Holiday List 2026 For Planning?
Start with national holidays, add the common public holidays your workplace typically observes, then add state-wise regional holidays and optional holidays to build your final calendar.
Are All Holidays in Public Holiday List 2026 Applicable In Every State?
No. National holidays are widely applicable, but regional holidays vary by state, and optional holidays depend on your organization’s policy.
Why Do Some 2026 Holiday Dates Show as Tentative?
Some holidays depend on lunar calendars and may change based on moon sighting and local announcements, so the final date can vary.
Will Banks Be Closed on Every Public Holiday?
Not always. Bank closures depend on state-level rules, national holidays, and banking regulations. It’s best to check your bank’s holiday schedule for your state.
