Holiday Calendar 2026: Month-Wise List of Public Holidays in India and Long Weekends
With 2026 around the corner, smart leave planning can help you turn public holidays into long weekends. Here’s a month-wise list of long weekends in India. Major national holidays like Independence Day and Diwali fall on weekends this year.
Mumbai, December 29: With 2026 on the horizon, the official public holiday calendar has been solidified, offering a roadmap for both public administration and personal vacation planning. The schedule for the upcoming year is characterized by a favorable distribution of mid-week and weekend-adjacent holidays, potentially creating several "bridge" opportunities for extended breaks. With 2026 around the corner, smart leave planning can help you turn public holidays into long weekends. Here’s a month-wise list of long weekends in India.
Month-Wise List of Public Holidays in India
- Republic Day: January 26 (Monday)
- Holi: March 4 (Wednesday)
- Good Friday: April 3 (Friday)
- Independence Day: August 15 (Saturday)
- Gandhi Jayanti: October 2 (Friday)
- Dussehra: October 20 (Tuesday)
- Diwali: November 8 (Sunday)
- Christmas: December 25 (Friday)
While major national holidays like Independence Day and Diwali fall on weekends this year, the calendar compensates with several holidays landing on Mondays and Fridays, automatically creating three-day weekends. Maharashtra Holidays 2026: Devendra Fadnavis-Led Government Announces 24 Public Holidays for All Govt Offices in State; Check Full List Here.
Maximizing Long Weekends
For those looking to maximize their time off, March and October stand out as the most flexible months. Holi on Wednesday, March 4, presents an opportunity for a five-day break if leave is taken on the preceding Monday and Tuesday. Later that month, Ram Navami (March 26) falls on a Thursday, followed by a potential bridge day on Friday.
In October, Dussehra falls on Tuesday, October 20. By taking Monday off, employees can secure a four-day weekend. Similarly, Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, will provide a natural long weekend to conclude the year. Happy New Year 2026: Mumbai Metro-3 Aqua Line To Run All Night on New Year’s Eve, Check Timings and Other Details.
Religious and Lunar Observances
Many holidays in 2026 are determined by lunar cycles, meaning dates for Islamic and certain Hindu festivals remain tentative until confirmed by religious authorities.
Eid-ul-Fitr is expected around March 21 (Saturday), while Eid-ul-Adha is projected for May 27 (Wednesday). Muharram is slated for June 26 (Friday), providing another potential long weekend.
Regional festivals, such as Pongal (January 14), Onam (August 26), and Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14), will be observed as restricted or state-specific holidays depending on the local government’s notification.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2025 07:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).