No school on these days? Check September 2026 holiday list
Schools across India will observe several festival-linked and regional holidays during September 2026. The major occasions include Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vishwakarma Puja, Samvatsari, Anant Chaturdashi and other state-specific observances.
There is no single holiday calendar applicable to all schools in the country. CBSE, ICSE and state-board schools may follow different academic calendars, while individual schools can also have separate schedules.
Students and parents should therefore check the latest circular or academic calendar issued by their school before treating any date as a confirmed holiday.
State-wise school holiday list
| Date | State/region | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| September 4 | Several states and regions | Janmashtami |
| September 5 | Punjab | Baba Jiwan Singh Ji's birthday |
| September 12 | Punjab | First Prakash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Saragarhi Day |
| September 14 | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other regions | Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chavithi |
| September 17 | Bihar, Assam and parts of Gujarat | Vishwakarma Puja |
| September 18 | Gujarat | Samvatsari |
| September 21 | Kerala, Rajasthan | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi; Ramdev Jayanti/Teja Dashami |
| September 23 | Haryana | Shaheedi Diwas |
| September 25 | Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and selected regions | Anant Chaturdashi/Ganesh Visarjan |
| September 28 | Punjab | S. Bhagat Singh Ji's birthday |
Major festival holidays
- September 4, Friday – Janmashtami:
Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna, will be observed as a school holiday in several states and regions. In Kerala, the corresponding regional observance is Sreekrishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini).
- September 14, Monday – Ganesh Chaturthi:
Ganesh Chaturthi will bring a holiday to schools in several western and southern states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Some schools, particularly in Maharashtra, may have additional days off around the festival.
- September 17, Thursday – Vishwakarma Puja:
Schools in Bihar, Assam and parts of Gujarat may observe a holiday for Vishwakarma Puja, which honours Lord Vishwakarma, traditionally regarded as the divine architect and craftsman.
- September 25, Friday – Anant Chaturdashi/Ganesh Visarjan:
Several regions, including Maharashtra, Bihar and Gujarat, may observe a holiday for Anant Chaturdashi and Ganesh Visarjan, marking the conclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
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Kerala school holidays
Kerala has several notable regional observances during September.
- September 4: Sreekrishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini)
- September 21: Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day
- September 26: Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi, listed as a restricted or optional holiday in the referenced schedule
- The September 21 holiday is a state holiday for schools and certain institutions.
Weekends in September
Schools following a Monday-to-Saturday schedule will generally remain closed on the four Sundays in September:
- September 6
- September 13
- September 20
- September 27
September 12 is the second Saturday, while September 26 is the fourth Saturday. Whether these Saturdays are holidays for students depends on the school's weekly schedule.
Will schools have long breaks?
The length of festival breaks will vary considerably between schools.
Maharashtra schools may receive additional holidays around Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Visarjan. Some institutions may provide a longer Ganpati break rather than closing only on the main festival dates.
Schools in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh may continue regular classes or hold examinations during September before their longer Dasara or quarterly breaks.
In West Bengal, schools are expected to continue regular academic activities in September before the larger Durga Puja and autumn vacation period in October.
Check your school's official calendar
The dates listed above bring together common, regional and state-specific holidays, but they should not be treated as a universal school calendar.
Private schools may follow different schedules even when a particular date is declared a state holiday. Students and parents should check the latest school circular, state education department notification or relevant board calendar before making travel plans or assuming that classes will be suspended.
September 2026 is likely to have several single-day festival holidays rather than one uniform nationwide school break. The biggest variations are expected around Ganesh Chaturthi, where schools in Maharashtra and some southern states may follow institution-specific vacation schedules.
For students, the key point is that a state holiday does not automatically guarantee a holiday at every private or board-affiliated school. School managements may adjust calendars around examinations, local festivals and longer seasonal breaks.