October 2026 is set to bring a mix of national and state-specific school holidays across India, with students getting breaks for Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and other regional festivals. However, there is no uniform holiday schedule for all schools.

The duration of the break depends on the state education department, school board, and, in some cases, the individual institution.

For students and parents planning travel or other activities, the key dates to keep in mind are:

  • October 2, 2026, Friday: Gandhi Jayanti. Schools observing the national holiday will remain closed. Since it falls on a Friday, students following a five-day school week could get a long weekend.
  • October 19, 2026, Monday: Several states and schools observe holidays linked to Maha Ashtami, Ayudha Pooja or Mahanavami.
  • October 20, 2026, Tuesday: Dussehra or Vijayadashami. School closures on this day will depend on the applicable state or school calendar.
  • October 21, 2026, Wednesday: Vijayadasami-related holiday in Kerala, while Durga Puja holidays continue in West Bengal.
  • October 26, 2026, Monday: Lakshmi Puja holiday in West Bengal and Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti in some holiday calendars.

State-wise school holiday schedule for October 2026

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is among the states with an extended Dasara vacation.

  • Dasara vacation: October 10 to October 21
  • Dussehra/Vijayadashami: October 20

Schools are expected to reopen after the Dasara break according to the state academic calendar.

The extended vacation means students in the state will get considerably more time off than schools that observe only the festival day.

Telangana

Telangana has another extended Dasara break in October.

  • Dasara vacation: October 10 to October 22
  • Saddula Bathukamma: October 18
  • Maha Navami: October 19
  • Vijayadashami: October 20
  • School reopening: October 23, subject to the applicable school calendar

The break covers the major Bathukamma and Dasara celebrations in the state.

West Bengal

West Bengal has one of the most extensive festive school breaks in October because of Durga Puja.

According to the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education holiday list:

  • Gandhi Jayanti: October 2
  • Durga Puja holidays: October 15 to October 26
  • Maha Chaturthi: October 15
  • Maha Ashtami: October 19
  • Maha Navami: October 20
  • Dashami: October 21
  • Additional Durga Puja holidays: October 22 and 23
  • Lakshmi Puja: October 26

The Council's official holiday calendar confirms the October 15 to October 26 Durga Puja holiday period.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu follows a different schedule because October begins immediately after the quarterly examination break.

  • Quarterly examination break: September 26 to October 4
  • Schools reopen: October 5
  • Ayudha Pooja: October 19
  • Vijayadashami: October 20

Therefore, students in Tamil Nadu will have the early October post-examination break, followed by two important festival holidays later in the month.

Karnataka

Karnataka is also expected to have an extended Dasara break.

  • Dasara vacation: October 10 to October 21
  • Dussehra/Vijayadashami: October 20

The exact reopening date can differ depending on the school or board following the state calendar.

Kerala

Kerala's October school holidays include Gandhi Jayanti and the Pooja festival period.

  • Gandhi Jayanti: October 2
  • Mahanavami: October 20
  • Vijayadasami/Vidyarambham: October 21
  • Schools are expected to reopen: October 22

Some institutions may also remain closed on October 19 for Maha Ashtami/Ayudha Pooja.

The Kerala General Education Department's October calendar records 20 working days and 11 holidays for the month, with Pooja holidays among the key closures.

Delhi

Delhi's October holidays include Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra-related closures.

  • Gandhi Jayanti: October 2
  • Dussehra-related holidays: October 18 to October 20, depending on the applicable school calendar
  • Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti: October 26

Individual Delhi schools can have different autumn-break arrangements, so parents should check their institution's calendar before planning travel.

Odisha

Odisha's October holiday calendar includes several Durga Puja and Dussehra-related dates.

  • Gandhi Jayanti: October 2
  • Maha Saptami: October 17
  • Maha Ashtami: October 18
  • Mahanavami: October 19
  • Vijaya Dasami: October 20

The Odisha government holiday calendar lists these festival dates, although individual school calendars may determine the actual closure period.

What about Diwali holidays?

Diwali does not fall in October this year.

Diwali/Deepavali: November 8, 2026

Therefore, Diwali-related school holidays will largely fall in November, rather than October.

What students and parents should check

The dates above provide a state-wise guide, but parents should not assume that every school in a state will follow the same schedule. Private schools, CBSE schools, ICSE schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and state-board institutions can have different academic calendars.

Before booking travel or making plans, students and parents should check:

  • The school's official holiday calendar
  • State education department notifications
  • Board-specific academic schedules
  • School reopening dates

Any examination or assessment scheduled around the festive break

In short, October 2026 will bring substantial festive breaks for students in several parts of India, but the number of holidays varies sharply by state.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and West Bengal have extended festive breaks, while states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala follow their own combinations of examination and festival holidays.