Government Holidays 2026 in India: Your Complete Year-Planner
Ever caught yourself wondering “When’s the next holiday?” or “Can I plan a trip without taking leave?” You’re not alone. I’ve been there — and that’s exactly why knowing the Indian government holidays 2026 feels like having a secret travel hack.
From national celebrations to gazetted breaks, this guide gives you the dates you’ll actually care about.
What These Government Holidays Really Mean to You
Government holidays aren’t just days off. They’re your chance to reconnect with family, explore new places, or even rest without guilt.
Some holidays are national and fixed — the kind that don’t change. Others shift based on the lunar calendar or government notifications.
And yes — I’ll help you plan before the crowd books all tickets.
National & Gazetted Holidays You Must Know
These are the big ones that apply across most states and central government offices:
📅 2026 Core Holiday Dates
Republic Day – January 26, Monday — One of the biggest national holidays.
Holi – March 4, Wednesday — Colourful festivities across India.
Id-ul-Fitr – March 21, Saturday (Tentative) — Based on moon sighting.
Ram Navami – March 26, Thursday — Celebrated with devotion and processions.
Mahavir Jayanti – March 31, Tuesday — A key Jain festival.
Good Friday – April 3, Friday — Observed by Christian communities.
Buddha Purnima – May 1, Friday — Peaceful celebrations nationwide.
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) – May 27, Wednesday (Tentative) — Eid celebrations.
Muharram – June 26, Friday (Tentative) — Important Islamic observance.
Independence Day – August 15, Saturday — India’s freedom celebration.
These gazetted holidays are typically observed across government offices and many private workplaces.
Fixed National Celebrations Everyone Looks Forward To
Some dates are so iconic that missing them feels odd:
🎉 Annual Highlights
Gandhi Jayanti – October 2 — Honours Mahatma Gandhi’s birth and legacy.
Diwali / Deepavali – November (tentative date) — The grand festival of lights.
Christmas Day – December 25 — Celebrated widely across communities.
These are either national holidays or widely recognized public holidays across multiple states.
Optional & Restricted Holidays (Pick What Matters)
Beyond fixed holidays, there’s a list of optional or restricted holidays that many organizations adopt:
New Year’s Day – January 1 — Often a restricted holiday.
Makar Sankranti / Pongal – January 14 — Harvest festival celebrated with joy.
Vasant Panchami – January 23 — Spring festival in several states.
Guru Ravi Das Jayanti – February 1 — Cultural observance.
Maha Shivratri – February 15 — Major Hindu festival.
And more — these give you flexibility to plan holidays beyond the big ones.
State-Specific Holidays: What You Should Know
While the central government list is useful, states often add their own holidays.
For instance:
Tamil Nadu schools get Pongal breaks around mid-January.
Uttar Pradesh declared January 15 as a Makar Sankranti public holiday.
Telangana announced more than 50 holidays for 2026 for government employees.
Andhra Pradesh has released an official calendar with around 24 holiday dates.
👉 If you’re planning travel or family events, always check your specific state holiday list too. (For reference, try searching your state + “government holiday list 2026”.)
How to Use This Holiday List to Plan Better
Here’s where it becomes practical:
🎒 Plan vacations without burnout. 📆 Stack holidays with weekends. 🛫 Score travel deals when demand is lower. 🎯 Organize personal goals around breaks.
You can even take 1–2 paid leaves and enjoy multiple long weekends. That’s holiday strategy 101.