Representative image of 2026 calender.
Credit: iStock Photo
The Union government has released the list of holidays for the year 2026 and all the central governement offices will remain closed on these dates. As per the circular released by the Centre, the employees can choose any two holidays from the list of restricted holidays, apart from compulsory holidays.
For employees working outside Delhi/New Delhi, the government has made it mandatory for them to take 14 national-level holidays. Along with this, they must also pick any three additional holidays from the list of 12 optional holidays.
List of central government holidays across India in 2026
Republic Day
Independence Day
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
Buddha Purnima
Christmas Day
Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi)
Diwali (Deepavali)
Good Friday
Guru Nanak’s Birthday
Idu’l Fitr
Idu’l Zuha
Mahavir Jayanti
Muharram
Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday (Id-e-Milad)
Optional holidays in 2026
Three optional hoiliday are choosen for the employees working in government offices in Delhi/New Delhi by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). For offices located in other parts of India, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in each state capital finalises three holidays from the list of optional holidays given below:
Additional day for Dussehra
Holi
Janamashtami (Vaishnavi)
Ram Navami
Maha Shivratri
Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayak Chaturthi
Makar Sankranti
Rath Yatra
Onam
Pongal
Sri Panchami / Basant Panchami
Festivals such as Vishu, Vaisakhi, Bhag Bihu, Ugadi variants, Cheti Chand, Gudi Padava, 1st Navratra, Naoraz, Chhath Puja, Karva Chauth
The Centre has also realeased the list of gazetted holidays in Delhi/New Delhi for the year 2026.
| S.No | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic Day | Jan 26 | Monday |
| 2 | Holi | Mar 4 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Id-ul-Fitr | Mar 29 | Sunday |
| 4 | Ram Navami | Mar 31 | Tuesday |
| 5 | Mahavir Jayanti | Apr 1 | Wednesday |
| 6 | Good Friday | Apr 3 | Friday |
| 7 | Buddha Purnima | May 31 | Sunday |
| 8 | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | June 26 | Friday |
| 9 | Muharram | June 26 | Friday |
| 10 | Independence Day | Aug 15 | Saturday |
| 11 | Janmashtami | Sep 4 | Friday |
| 12 | Milad-un-Nabi / Id-e-Milad | Sep 24 | Thursday |
| 13 | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday | Oct 2 | Friday |
| 14 | Dussehra | Oct 21 | Wednesday |
| 15 | Diwali | Nov 21 | Saturday |
| 16 | Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Nov 29 | Sunday |
| 17 | Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Friday |
Restricted holidays – 2026 (Delhi/New Delhi)
Employees of central government offices in Delhi/New Delhi can choose any two holidays from the restricted holiday list released of the Centre. The coordination committees at the state capitals can draw up a separate list of restricted holidays based on local festivals.
| S.No. | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Thursday |
| 2 | Makar Sankranti | Jan 14 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Basant Panchami | Jan 16 | Friday |
| 4 | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Feb 12 | Thursday |
| 5 | Maha Shivratri | Feb 26 | Thursday |
| 6 | Holika Dahan | Mar 3 | Tuesday |
| 7 | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi | Mar 19 | Thursday |
| 8 | Easter Sunday | Apr 5 | Sunday |
| 9 | Tagore Jayanti | May 8 | Friday |
| 10 | Onam / Thiru Onam | Aug 26 | Wednesday |
| 11 | Raksha Bandhan | Aug 26 | Wednesday |
| 12 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Sep 14 | Sunday |
| 13 | Dussehra (Saptami, Ashtami, Navami) | Oct 18–20 | - |
| 14 | Karva Chauth | Oct 30 | Thursday |
| 15 | Chhath Puja | Nov 19 | Wednesday |
| 16 | Christmas Eve | Dec 24 | Thursday |
Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad dates
In case the dates of Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad change based on moon sighting in the national capital and other states, the government/departments will notify the revisions seperately.