Centre notifies the 2026 public holiday calendar with 17 fixed holidays and a detailed list of restricted holidays from which staff may choose any two.
New Delhi: The Central government on Wednesday issued the official notification listing public holidays for 2026, confirming 17 gazetted holidays for all central government offices across the country.
The list includes key national and religious observances such as Republic Day, Holi, Good Friday, Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid), Independence Day, and Christmas.
As per the notification, each government employee may avail any two holidays from the Restricted Holidays (RH) list, which comprises festivals and regional observances celebrated across India.
Read below to find out the Indian government's holiday list 2026.
List of public holidays:
- 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: Christmas Day
Restricted Holidays List 2026
- January 1 (Thursday): New Year’s Day
- January 3 (Saturday): Hazarat Ali’s Birthday
- January 14 (Wednesday): Makar Sankranti
- January 14 (Wednesday): 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
- March 3 (Tuesday): 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
The government will also release state-wise holiday lists that may include additional regional festivals, depending on local importance.
Published: 03 Dec 2025, 02:57 pm IST
Related Topics
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.
