Central Government Announces Public Holiday List for 2026

Updated on: 3 Dec 2025, 7:19 pm IST

The government releases the 2026 holiday calendar with 17 public holidays and a list of restricted holidays for employees to choose from.

Central Government Announces Public Holiday List for 2026

The Central government has issued a notification announcing the public holidays for 2026. The official holiday calendar includes 17 fixed holidays such as Republic Day, Holi, Bakrid, Good Friday and Christmas.

List of Public Holidays for 2026

January 26, Monday: Republic Day
March 4, Wednesday: Holi
March 21, Saturday: Id-ul-Fitr
March 26, Thursday: Ram Navami
March 31, Tuesday: Mahavir Jayanti
April 3, Friday: Good Friday
May 1, Friday: Budha Purnima
May 27, Wednesday: Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)
June 26, Friday: Muharram
August 15, Saturday: Independence Day
August 26, Wednesday: Id-e-Milad
September 4, Friday: Janmashtami
October 2, Friday: Mahatma Gandhi Birthday
October 20, Tuesday: Dussehra
November 8, Sunday: Diwali
November 24, Tuesday: Guru Nanak Birthday
December 25, Friday: Christmas Day

List of Restricted Holidays

January 1, Thursday: New Year’s Day
January 3, Saturday: Hazarat Ali Birthday
January 14, Wednesday: Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Magha Bihu
January 23, Friday: Basant Panchami
February 1, Sunday: Guru Ravi Das Birthday
February 12, Thursday: Swami Dayananda Birthday
February 15, Sunday: Maha Shivratri
February 19, Thursday: Shivaji Jayanti
March 3, Tuesday: Holika Dahan / Dolyatra
March 19, Thursday: Gudi Padava / Ugadi
March 20, Friday: Jamat-Ul-Vida
April 5, Sunday: Easter Sunday
April 14, Tuesday: Vaisakhi
April 15, Wednesday: Vaisakhadi / Bahag Bihu
May 9, Saturday: Rabindranath Tagore Birthday
July 16, Thursday: Rath Yatra
August 15, Saturday: Parsi New Year / Nauraj
August 26, Wednesday: Onam
August 28, Friday: Raksha Bandhan
September 14, Monday: Ganesh Chaturthi
October 18, Sunday: Saptami
October 19, Monday: Mahashtami
October 20, Tuesday: Mahanavmi
October 26, Monday: Maharishi Valmiki Birthday
October 29, Thursday: Karwa Chouth
November 8, Sunday: Naraka Chaturdasi
November 9, Monday: Govardhan Puja
November 11, Wednesday: Bhai Duj
November 15, Sunday: Chhat Puja
November 24, Tuesday: Guru Teg Bahadur Martyrdom Day
December 23, Wednesday: Hazarat Ali Birthday
December 24, Thursday: Christmas Eve

Flexibility and Cultural Inclusivity

The holiday structure reflects India’s cultural diversity by combining fixed national holidays with optional restricted holidays. This approach ensures that employees from different regions and communities can celebrate their traditions without disrupting official work schedules.

Conclusion

The Central government’s 2026 holiday calendar provides a balanced mix of national and regional observances. With 17 fixed holidays and the option to select two restricted holidays, employees enjoy flexibility while maintaining uniformity in public administration. T

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Published on: Dec 3, 2025, 1:49 PM IST