📅 India Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 2026 · Mon | Republic Day (गणतंत्र दिवस) | Public |
| 4 Mar 2026 · Wed | Holi (होली) | Public |
| 21 Mar 2026 · Sat | Eid al-Fitr (ईद-उल-फ़ित्र) | Public |
| 26 Mar 2026 · Thu | Ram Navami (राम नवमी) | Public |
| 31 Mar 2026 · Tue | Mahavir Jayanti (महावीर जयंती) | Public |
| 3 Apr 2026 · Fri | Good Friday (गुड फ्राइडे) | Public |
| 1 May 2026 · Fri | Buddha Purnima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा) | Public |
| 27 May 2026 · Wed | Eid al-Adha (ईद-उल-ज़ुहा) | Public |
| 26 Jun 2026 · Fri | Muharram (मुहर्रम) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2026 · Sat | Independence Day (स्वतंत्रता दिवस) | Public |
| 26 Aug 2026 · Wed | Milad-un-Nabi (मिलाद-उन-नबी) | Public |
| 4 Sep 2026 · Fri | Janmashtami (जन्माष्टमी) | Public |
| 2 Oct 2026 · Fri | Gandhi Jayanti (गांधी जयंती) | Public |
| 20 Oct 2026 · Tue | Dussehra (दशहरा) | Public |
| 8 Nov 2026 · Sun | Diwali (दीवाली) | Public |
| 24 Nov 2026 · Tue | Guru Nanak Jayanti (गुरु नानक जयंती) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (क्रिसमस) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 2027 · Tue | Republic Day (गणतंत्र दिवस) | Public |
| 6 Mar 2027 · Sat | Maha Shivaratri (महाशिवरात्रि) | Public |
| 10 Mar 2027 · Wed | Eid al-Fitr (ईद-उल-फ़ित्र) | Public |
| 22 Mar 2027 · Mon | Holi (होली) | Public |
| 26 Mar 2027 · Fri | Good Friday (गुड फ्राइडे) | Public |
| 19 Apr 2027 · Mon | Mahavir Jayanti (महावीर जयंती) | Public |
| 17 May 2027 · Mon | Eid al-Adha (ईद-उल-ज़ुहा) | Public |
| 20 May 2027 · Thu | Buddha Purnima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा) | Public |
| 15 Jun 2027 · Tue | Muharram (मुहर्रम) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2027 · Sun | Independence Day (स्वतंत्रता दिवस) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2027 · Sun | Milad-un-Nabi (मिलाद-उन-नबी) | Public |
| 25 Aug 2027 · Wed | Janmashtami (जन्माष्टमी) | Public |
| 2 Oct 2027 · Sat | Gandhi Jayanti (गांधी जयंती) | Public |
| 10 Oct 2027 · Sun | Dussehra (दशहरा) | Public |
| 29 Oct 2027 · Fri | Diwali (दीवाली) | Public |
| 14 Nov 2027 · Sun | Guru Nanak Jayanti (गुरु नानक जयंती) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (क्रिसमस) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
India runs several festival calendars at once, so most dates move from year to year while only three are fixed nationwide: Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Government offices, banks and schools close on the gazetted holidays below, while shops, markets and most restaurants stay open — often busier than usual. Each state also publishes its own list, so a holiday in one region can be an ordinary Tuesday two hundred kilometres away. Treat these dates as your planning backbone and then check the local picture for wherever you land.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Holi — 4 March 2026 (Wed)
Holi is the day everyone throws coloured powder at everyone else, and mornings are calmer than afternoons. Join an organised hotel or community event rather than an anonymous street crowd, oil your hair beforehand and carry glasses rather than contact lenses. Mathura and Vrindavan are the wildest versions; Delhi and Jaipur are easier to enjoy and easier to leave.
Diwali — 8 November 2026 (Sun)
Diwali is the festival of light: rows of oil lamps, paper lanterns, sweets and, for several noisy hours, fireworks from every street corner. Trains and buses on the three days either side of the holiday sell out weeks in advance, so fix your transport first. Varanasi, Jaipur and Delhi are the most atmospheric places to be, but expect heavy traffic and smoky air.
Dussehra — 20 October 2026 (Tue); Durga Puja in Kolkata runs roughly 17–20 October
In Kolkata the five days before Dussehra are Durga Puja, when hundreds of temporary pandals open across the city and everyone goes hopping between them late into the night. Mysore celebrates with a palace procession and floodlit buildings, while much of north India burns giant effigies on the night itself. Hotels in both cities should be booked at least two months ahead.
Republic Day (India) — 26 January 2026 (Mon)
The Republic Day parade runs down Kartavya Path in New Delhi with military regiments, state tableaux and a fly-past, watched from ticketed enclosures rather than open pavements. Security is tight: expect bag checks, road closures from before dawn and restrictions on what you can carry. A rehearsal usually takes place a few days earlier, which is an easier way to see it.
💡 Quick Tips
- Banks and government offices close on gazetted holidays, but markets, malls and most restaurants stay open and often stay busy.
- Reserve trains and long-distance buses before anything else; seats around Diwali and Holi disappear well before the hotel does.
- Festival dates are set by the lunar calendar and confirmed only weeks ahead, so keep two or three days of slack around them.
- Expect heavy traffic, higher hotel rates and longer check times anywhere within reach of a major festival.
⚡ Pro Tips
- Choose a hotel-organised Holi celebration if you want the photographs without unknown powders on your skin.
- Travel into Delhi and Kolkata two days before the major festival, not on the day itself, when every train is standing room only.
- Check whether the same festival falls on a different day in the neighbouring state; India frequently spreads a holiday over several days.
📋 Summary
The main gazetted holidays in India for 2026 and 2027, plus the four festivals worth building a whole trip around: Holi, Diwali, Dussehra and the Republic Day parade in Delhi. Includes guidance on celebrating safely, when train tickets disappear and how dates shift from one year to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops and banks open on Indian public holidays?
Banks, post offices and government offices close on gazetted holidays, and many smaller family businesses shut for a day or two around Diwali. Malls, markets, tourist sites and most restaurants stay open, often with extended hours. Alcohol sales are restricted on dry days such as Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.
Why do the dates of Indian festivals change every year?
Most Indian festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they drift against the Gregorian calendar by about eleven days each year. Muslim festivals move for the same reason on the Islamic calendar, and dates are usually confirmed only after the moon is sighted. Only Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti fall on the same date every year.
How far ahead should I book trains and hotels for Diwali?
Book trains as soon as your window opens, because the days immediately before and after Diwali are the busiest travel days of the year. Hotels in Varanasi, Jaipur and Delhi cost considerably more and should be held one to two months ahead. Build your itinerary around the confirmed train tickets rather than the other way round.
