Public Holidays in India 2026: Complete Guide for UK Travellers

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India is one of the most rewarding destinations for UK travellers, but its calendar of public holidays works very differently from the bank holidays we know at home. The world’s most populous country recognises just three national holidays, yet layers on top of them a rich patchwork of gazetted, restricted and state-specific holidays that can close offices, shift transport timetables and transform whole cities into a blaze of colour. If you are planning a trip in 2026 — whether it is a first visit to the Golden Triangle, a beach break in Goa or a journey to see family — knowing when these public holidays fall will help you avoid closures, anticipate crowds and, in some cases, deliberately time your visit to catch a once-a-year celebration.

Public Holidays in India 2026 — Full List

The Government of India publishes an annual list of gazetted holidays that apply to central government offices nationwide. There are 17 gazetted public holidays in 2026, three of which are the country’s official national holidays. The table below sets out the full central list. Note that several Islamic festival dates depend on the sighting of the moon and may shift by a day.

*Islamic holidays are determined by the lunar calendar and the local sighting of the moon; the actual observed date may differ by a day from the published gazette. Always reconfirm closer to the date.

Long Weekends in India 2026

What’s Open and Closed on Public Holidays

On the major gazetted holidays — especially Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali and Holi — expect the rhythm of the country to change noticeably.

Banks and government offices close on gazetted holidays, and bank closures are governed separately by the Reserve Bank of India under the Negotiable Instruments Act, so they can vary by state. Shops, malls and markets in tourist areas generally stay open, and India’s culture of small independent retailers means you will rarely be stuck for essentials, though local bazaars may shut on the biggest festival days. Restaurants and hotels remain open and are often at their liveliest during festivals. Museums and historic monuments such as the Taj Mahal keep their own schedules — the Taj is closed every Friday year-round, which catches many visitors out — while some sites have free-entry or restricted days around national holidays. Public transport (trains, metros, domestic flights) runs on holidays but books up fast, and intercity trains around Diwali and Holi are among the busiest of the year.

How India Public Holidays Compare with UK Bank Holidays

The contrast in structure is striking. The UK runs on a small, fixed set of secular bank holidays; India layers a handful of national days over dozens of religious and regional observances.

One practical consequence: an Indian holiday you read about may not actually be observed in the state you are visiting. A festival that closes everything in Mumbai might be an ordinary working day in Chennai. If you want the full picture of how the UK system works, see our guide to the list of UK bank holidays, and our overview of long weekends in 2026 for planning your own breaks.

Key Cultural Holidays Explained

Diwali (Deepavali), Sunday 8 November 2026. The festival of lights is the most important holiday in the Hindu calendar and the single best-known Indian celebration abroad. Homes, streets and temples are lit with oil lamps and fairy lights, families exchange sweets, and the night sky fills with fireworks. It marks the triumph of light over darkness and, in many traditions, the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. For travellers, Diwali is unforgettable but intense — cities are crowded, air quality in the north can suffer from fireworks, and accommodation is at a premium.

Holi, Wednesday 4 March 2026. The exuberant spring festival of colours sees people throw brightly coloured powder and water at one another in the streets. It is joyful and inclusive, though visitors should wear old clothes, protect cameras and phones, and be aware that the atmosphere can become boisterous.

Republic Day, Monday 26 January 2026. This commemorates the day India’s constitution came into force in 1950. The centrepiece is the spectacular parade along the Kartavya Path in New Delhi, with military displays, regional floats and a flypast — one of the most impressive state ceremonies travellers can witness anywhere.

Planning Your Trip Around Public Holidays

The cool, dry months from October to March are the classic window for UK visitors, and they happen to coincide with India’s festival season — Dussehra, Diwali and Republic Day all fall within it. Timing a trip to catch a festival can be the highlight of a lifetime, but it pays to plan around the practicalities. Aim to arrive a few days before a major holiday and settle into your accommodation before the rush; avoid attempting long overland or rail journeys on the festival day itself, when transport is heaving.

If your priority is sightseeing rather than celebration, consider travelling in the quieter weeks between the big festivals, when monuments are calmer and prices softer. Either way, book accommodation and any guided tours well in advance for the Diwali and Holi periods — hotels in Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur and Varanasi fill months ahead, and reputable experiences such as a sunrise Taj Mahal tour or a Delhi Republic Day viewing sell out early. Securing your hotels and key excursions before you fly removes most of the stress from travelling during India’s busiest weeks. Many UK itineraries reach India via a stopover hub, so it is worth checking the public holidays in Turkey too if you are routing through Istanbul.

FAQ

How many public holidays does India have in 2026?
The central government recognises 17 gazetted holidays in 2026, of which three — Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti — are national holidays. Individual states add their own holidays on top, so the total observed in any given state is higher.

What are India’s three national holidays?
Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). These are observed across the entire country regardless of state or religion.

When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Because it lands on a weekend, it does not create an extended long weekend that year, but the days around it are extremely busy for travel.

When is Holi in 2026?
Holi, the festival of colours, is on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

Does India move public holidays to a Monday like the UK?
No. India does not shift a holiday to a substitute weekday when it falls on a weekend. The holiday simply remains on its calendar date.

Will shops and attractions be open on Indian public holidays?
Most shops, restaurants, hotels and major monuments stay open, though banks and government offices close. Remember that the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday year-round, independent of holidays.

Do Islamic holiday dates ever change?
Yes. Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha (Bakrid), Muharram and Milad-un-Nabi follow the lunar calendar and depend on the sighting of the moon, so the observed date can shift by a day from the published gazette.

Sources & Last Verified

This guide cross-references the official Government of India gazetted holiday list with the python-holidays dataset and UK travel-press reporting. Islamic festival dates are subject to lunar confirmation.

• Government of India — List of Gazetted Holidays 2026 (Department / Ministry circulars)
• python-holidays library (India 2026 dataset) — date cross-check
• UK travel press — festival timing and traveller guidance
• Last verified: 17 June 2026
• Author: Bank Holidays UK Editorial Team