School Holidays 2026: As New Year 2026 begins, one of the most searched and awaited updates for students, parents, and teachers is the complete school holidays list for 2026. From national holidays and religious festivals to seasonal vacations, the holiday calendar plays a crucial role in academic planning.
Advance information about school closures and holidays helps families plan travel, revision schedules, exams, and personal commitments better. In this article, we bring you a well-researched and updated School Holidays List 2026. We have provided a month-wise School Holidays List 2026, covering gazetted (G) and restricted (R) holidays, along with state-wise school closures and major observances across India. You can also download the complete 2026 School Holiday Calendar in PDF format for easy reference, planning, and printing.
📌 Please note: Holiday implementation may vary slightly from state to state and between government and private schools. We are carefully observing official notifications and will update this article promptly if there are any changes or corrections.
School Holidays in India 2026: What to Expect
In 2026, schools across India will observe holidays on account of:
-
National festivals
-
Religious and cultural celebrations
-
Seasonal vacations (summer & winter)
-
State-specific observances
Most schools follow a mix of Gazetted Holidays (mandatory closures) and Restricted Holidays (optional or region-based).
National & Gazetted School Holidays in 2026
The following gazetted school holidays in 2026 are applicable across most Indian states; however, final implementation depends on state government and school-level notifications.:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Festival |
| January 26 | Monday | Republic Day |
| March 4 | Wednesday | Holi |
| March 21 | Saturday | Ramzan Id (Tentative) |
| March 26 | Thursday | Rama Navami |
| March 31 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 1 | Friday | Buddha Purnima |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Bakrid (Tentative) |
| June 26 | Friday | Muharram/Ashura (Tentative) |
| August 15 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| August 26 | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi (Tentative) |
| September 4 | Friday | Janmashtami |
| October 2 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| October 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| November 8 | Sunday | Diwali |
| November 24 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas |
Restricted Holidays & Festival-Based School Closures (2026)
Schools may remain closed in specific states or regions on the following Restricted Holidays, depending on local government orders:
| Month | Date | Holiday / Festival |
| January | January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| January 14 | Makar Sankranti / Magha Bihu / Pongal | |
| January 23 | Sri Panchami, Basant Panchami | |
| February | February 1 | Guru Ravi Das's Birthday |
| February 12 | Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati | |
|
| February 15 | Maha Shivaratri |
| February 19 | Shivaji Jayanti | |
| March | March 3 | Holika Dahana / Dolyatra |
| March 19 | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padava/ Ugadi/ Cheti Chand | |
| March 20 | Jamat- Ul- Vida | |
| April | April 5 | Easter Day |
| April 14 | Vaisakhi / Ambedkar Jayanti / Vishu / Meshadi (Tamil New Year's Day) | |
| April 15 | Vaisakhadi (Bengal) / Bahag Bihu (Assam) | |
| May | May 9 | Birthday of Guru Rabindranath Tagore |
| July | July 16 | Rath Yatra |
| August | August 15 | Parsi New Year's day/ Nauraj |
| August 26 | Onam | |
| August 28 | Raksha Bandhan | |
| September | September 14 | Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi |
| October | October 18 | Maha Saptami |
| October 19 | Maha Ashtami | |
| October 26 | Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday | |
| October 29 | Karaka Chaturthi (Karwa Chouth) | |
| November | November 8 | Naraka Chaturdasi |
|
| November 9 | Govardhan Puja |
| November 11 | Bhai Duj | |
| November 15 | Chhath Puja | |
| November 24 | Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day | |
| December | December 23 | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve |
Indian School Holidays 2026: Month-wise List (Gazetted & Restricted)
Below is the consolidated calendar of major Gazetted (G) and Restricted (R) school holidays in 2026. Final observance may vary by states and school authorities.
School Holidays in January 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day | (R) |
| Jan 14 | Makar Sankranti / Magha Bihu / Pongal | (R) |
| Jan 23 | Sri Panchami / Basant Panchami | (R) |
| Jan 26 | Republic Day | (G) |
School Holidays in February 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1 | Guru Ravi Das's Birthday | (R) |
| Feb 12 | Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati | (R) |
| Feb 15 | Maha Shivaratri | (R) |
| Feb 19 | Shivaji Jayanti | (R) |
School Holidays in March 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 3 | Holika Dahana / Dolyatra | (R) |
| Mar 4 | Holi | (G) |
| Mar 19 | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padava / Ugadi / Cheti Chand | (R) |
| Mar 20 | Jamat-Ul-Vida | (R) |
| Mar 21 | Ramzan Id (Tentative) | (G) |
| Mar 26 | Rama Navami | (G) |
| Mar 31 | Mahavir Jayanti | (G) |
School Holidays in April 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 3 | Good Friday | (G) |
| Apr 5 | Easter Day | (R) |
| Apr 14 | Vaisakhi / Ambedkar Jayanti / Vishu / Meshadi (Tamil New Year’s Day) | (R) |
| Apr 15 | Vaisakhadi (Bengal) / Bahag Bihu (Assam) | (R) |
School Holidays in May 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | Buddha Purnima | (G) |
| May 9 | Birthday of Guru Rabindranath Tagore | (R) |
| May 27 | Bakrid (Tentative) | (G) |
School Holidays in June 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 | Muharram/Ashura (Tentative) | (G) |
School Holidays in July 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 16 | Rath Yatra | (R) |
School Holidays in August 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 15 | Independence Day | (G) |
| Aug 15 | Parsi New Year’s Day / Nauraj | (R) |
| Aug 26 | Milad-un-Nabi (Tentative) | (G) |
| Aug 26 | Onam | (R) |
| Aug 28 | Raksha Bandhan | (R) |
School Holidays in September 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 4 | Janmashtami | (G) |
| Sep 14 | Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi | (R) |
School Holidays in October 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | (G) |
| Oct 18 | Maha Saptami | (R) |
| Oct 19 | Maha Ashtami | (R) |
| Oct 20 | Dussehra | (G) |
| Oct 26 | Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday | (R) |
| Oct 29 | Karaka Chaturthi (Karwa Chouth) | (R) |
School Holidays in November 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 8 | Diwali | (G) |
| Nov 8 | Naraka Chaturdasi | (R) |
| Nov 9 | Govardhan Puja | (R) |
| Nov 11 | Bhai Duj | (R) |
| Nov 15 | Chhath Puja | (R) |
| Nov 24 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | (G) |
| Nov 24 | Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day | (R) |
School Holidays in December 2026
| Date | Holiday / Festival | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 23 | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday | (R) |
| Dec 24 | Christmas Eve | (R) |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | (G) |
Download Complete 2026 School Holiday Calendar (PDF)
You can download the full month-wise Indian School Holiday List 2026 in PDF format for easy printing and sharing.
Download School Holiday List 2026 PDF |
Summer & Winter Vacations in Schools (2026)
Summer Vacation 2026
The summer vacation in schools across India is expected to fall between May and June 2026, though the exact duration and start dates will vary by region and education board. Schools in North, Central, and Western India usually observe longer summer breaks due to extreme heat, while southern and hill states may have slightly adjusted schedules based on local climate conditions.
Winter Vacation 2026
Winter vacations are generally scheduled in late December and extend into the first or second week of January each year, especially in cold-affected states. During the 2025–26 session, most North Indian states declared winter breaks to protect students from severe cold and dense fog.
Key Highlights:
- Winter vacations usually begin in the last week of December
- Delhi, Haryana, Noida/NCR started breaks around December 31
- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan announced earlier closures due to cold waves
- Southern states may have shorter or no winter vacations
Check latest updates here: Winter Vacation 2025-2026 Dates: State-Wise School Closing & Reopening Schedule
👉 Important Note: The exact dates for summer and winter vacations are officially announced by the respective State Education Departments and school boards (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards). Parents and students are advised to regularly check official school circulars and board notifications for confirmed schedules.
State-Wise School Holidays in 2026
Below are the links to state-wise school holiday lists in 2026, where you can check detailed calendars for each state, including gazetted holidays, restricted holidays, and regional festival closures.
Note: We will add holiday list for other states shortly.
Important Note for Students & Parents
-
Holiday dates marked “Tentative” depend on moon sightings
-
Private schools may modify holiday lists
-
Always cross-check with school circulars or state education department websites
This School Holidays List 2026 offers a comprehensive overview of gazetted and restricted school holidays across India, helping students, parents, and teachers plan academics, exams, and vacations efficiently. Since some festival and state-wise holidays may change based on official notifications, this article will be updated regularly with the latest school holiday changes and announcements. Bookmark this page to stay informed about 2026 school holidays in India.
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation