Indian Festivals 2026 - Complete 2026 Calendar with Holidays
India’s cultural identity is deeply rooted in its festivals, religious observances, and temple traditions.
The Indian Festivals 2026 calendar offers a complete overview of major Hindu festivals, regional celebrations, and national holidays observed across the country.
This detailed 2026 calendar with holidays includes both gazetted holidays and optional holidays, helping devotees, travelers, students, and working professionals plan temple visits, vrats, pilgrimages, and family celebrations in advance.
Many Indian festivals follow the Hindu lunar calendar, while others are based on solar transitions. Because of this, festival dates change every year. In 2026, important celebrations such as Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Navratri, and Diwali will be observed with traditional rituals, special poojas, and temple ceremonies throughout India.
At TemplePedia.in, our goal is to provide an accurate and easy-to-read Indian festival calendar 2026 that connects spiritual traditions with practical planning.
January 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Jan (Thu) | New Year’s Day | Optional |
| 13 Jan (Tue) | Lohri | Optional |
| 14 Jan (Wed) | Makar Sankranti | Optional |
| 14 Jan (Wed) | Magh Bihu | Optional |
| 14 Jan (Wed) | Pongal | Optional |
| 23 Jan (Fri) | Basant Panchami | Optional |
| 26 Jan (Mon) | Republic Day | Gazetted |
February 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Feb (Sun) | Thaipusam | Optional |
| 15 Feb (Sun) | Maha Shivaratri | Gazetted |
| 19 Feb (Thu) | Shivaji Jayanti | Optional |
| 23 Feb (Mon) | Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti | Optional |
March 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 03 Mar (Tue) | Holika Dahan | Optional |
| 04 Mar (Wed) | Holi | Gazetted |
| 19 Mar (Thu) | Ugadi / Gudi Padwa / Cheti Chand | Optional |
| 26 Mar (Thu) | Rama Navami | Gazetted |
| 31 Mar (Tue) | Mahavir Jayanti | Gazetted |
April 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 02 Apr (Thu) | Hanuman Jayanti | Optional |
| 14 Apr (Tue) | Vishu / Vaisakhi / Tamil New Year | Optional |
| 19 Apr (Sun) | Akshaya Tritiya | Optional |
May 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 01 May (Fri) | Buddha Purnima | Optional |
| 09 May (Sat) | Maharana Pratap Jayanti | Optional |
June 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun (Sun) | International Yoga Day | Optional |
July 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 16 July (Thu) | Jagannath Rathyatra | Optional |
| 29 July (Wed) | Guru Purnima | Optional |
August 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug (Sat) | Independence Day | Gazetted |
| 28 Aug (Fri) | Raksha Bandhan | Optional |
September 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 04 September (Fri) | Janmasthami | Gazetted |
| 14 Sep (Mon) | Paryushan Samvatsari | Optional |
| 14 Sep (Mon) | Ganesh Chaturthi | Optional |
October 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 02 Oct (Fri) | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | Gazetted |
| 11 Oct (Sun) | Navratri | Optional |
| 19 Oct (Mon) | Durga Ashtami | Optional |
| 20 Oct (Tue) | Dussehra | Gazetted |
| 29 Oct (Thu) | Karwa Chauth | Optional |
November 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 06 Nov (Fri) | Dhanteras | Optional |
| 08 Nov (Sun) | Diwali / Deepavali | Gazetted |
| 10 Nov (Tue) | Govardhan Puja | Optional |
| 11 Nov (Wed) | Bhaiya Dooj | Optional |
| 15 Nov (Sun) | Chhath Puja | Optional |
December 2026 Festivals & Holidays
| Date | Festival | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec (Wednesday) | Dhanu Sankranti | Optional |
| 20 Dec (Sunday) | Geeta Jayanti | Optional |
Difference Between Gazetted Holidays and Optional Holidays
While looking the Indian Festivals 2026 calendar, you may notice that holidays are marked as either Gazetted or Optional. Understanding the difference helps in better planning for work schedules, travel, and temple visits.
What is a Gazetted Holiday?
A Gazetted Holiday is an official public holiday declared by the Government of India. These holidays are published in the Government Gazette and are observed across the country. On gazetted holidays, most government offices, banks, schools, and public institutions remain closed.
- Applicable nationwide across India
- Mandatory holiday for government offices
- Common examples include Republic Day, Independence Day, Diwali, and Gandhi Jayanti
What is an Optional Holiday?
An Optional Holiday, also known as a General Holiday, allows individuals to choose holidays based on personal, regional, or religious preferences. Employees can usually select a limited number of optional holidays from an approved list each year.
- Choice-based holiday depending on personal preference
- Depends on company policy or state government rules
- Examples include Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchami, and Karva Chauth
In the 2026 calendar with holidays, both gazetted and optional holidays are included to give a complete picture of India’s festival landscape. Even on optional holidays, temples often remain active with special poojas and regional celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Indian Festivals 2026
What are the major Indian festivals in 2026?
Major Indian festivals in 2026 include Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. These festivals are widely celebrated across India with temple rituals and cultural traditions.
What is the Indian Festivals 2026 calendar?
The Indian Festivals 2026 calendar is a month-wise list of religious festivals, regional celebrations, and national holidays observed in India during the year 2026.
What is meant by “2026 calendar with holidays”?
The 2026 calendar with holidays includes gazetted holidays, optional holidays, and major religious festivals, helping people plan travel, office leave, and temple visits.
What is a Gazetted Holiday?
A Gazetted Holiday is an official public holiday declared by the Government of India. On these days, government offices, banks, and schools generally remain closed nationwide.
What is an Optional Holiday?
An Optional Holiday, also known as a Restricted Holiday, allows individuals to choose holidays based on personal, religious, or regional preference.
What is the difference between Gazetted and Optional Holidays?
Gazetted holidays are mandatory and observed across India, whereas optional holidays are choice-based and depend on organization or state policy.
Are banks and government offices closed on optional holidays?
In most cases, banks and government offices remain open on optional holidays, unless a specific state notification declares otherwise.
Are temples open on gazetted and optional holidays?
Yes, temples generally remain open on both gazetted and optional holidays. Many festivals marked as optional holidays still involve special poojas and rituals at temples.
Why do Indian festival dates change every year?
Most Indian festivals follow the Hindu lunar calendar or solar transitions. Because these calendars differ from the Gregorian calendar, festival dates change every year.
Do festival dates vary by state in India?
Yes, while major festivals are celebrated nationwide, public holiday status and observance may vary by state and region.
Is this calendar useful for temple and travel planning?
Yes, the Indian Festivals 2026 calendar is useful for planning temple visits, pilgrimages, and festival-based travel.
Where can I find temple-specific festival details?
For temple-wise festival dates, darshan timings, and pooja schedules, visit individual temple pages on TemplePedia.in.