Holiday 2026 List: As 2025 wraps up, government workers are looking forward to the holiday schedule for next year. The central government has now unveiled the full holiday calendar for 2026. This list makes it clear which holidays are set in stone, which ones are optional, and which festival dates might change later.
Central Government Holidays (2026)
Applicable to all central government offices across India
– Republic Day
– Independence Day
– Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary
– Buddha Purnima
– Christmas Day
– Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
– Diwali (Deepawali)
– Good Friday
– Guru Nanak Jayanti
– Eid al-Fitr
– Eid-ul-Adha
– Mahavir Jayanti
– Muharram
– Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Eid-e-Milad)
Alternative holidays (2026)
In Delhi, 3 holidays are determined by DOPT, while outside the state, the Coordination Committee makes the decisions.
List of 12 optional holidays
– Additional holiday for Dussehra
– Holi
– Janmashtami (Vaishnavite)
– Ram Navami
– Maha Shivratri
– Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi
– Makar Sankranti
– Rath Yatra
– Onam
– Pongal
– Shri Panchami / Basant Panchami
– Vishu / Vaisakhi / Vaisakhadi / Bhag Bihu / Mashadi Ugadi / Chaitra Shukladi / Chaitra Moon / Gudi Padwa / First Navratri / Navroz / Chhath Puja / Karva Chauth
Holidays like Eid and Muharram are based on the moon sighting, so their dates aren’t predetermined. For offices in Delhi/New Delhi, official updates about any date changes will come later. In other states, holiday dates are modified according to the state governments’ decisions.
In 2026, Diwali lands on a Sunday. Some states celebrate Diwali on Naraka Chaturdashi. If a state announces a public holiday on that day, central government offices might also take the day off. All in all, the 2026 holiday calendar gives employees a chance to plan ahead. Whether the holidays are mandatory or optional, everyone will have the opportunity to celebrate according to their own traditions and convenience.
