Government Holidays 2026

By REPAKA PAVAN ADITYA

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Updated on: Dec 12th, 2025

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8 min read

The Central Government of India's holiday calendar for 2026 includes a mix of gazetted and optional restricted holidays for all central offices nationwide. This simple guide lists all the public holidays for 2026, so employees and teams can easily plan time off and work schedules.

Gazetted and Restricted Central Government Holidays in 2026

Gazetted holidays are mandatory public holidays declared by the Government of India. All central government offices remain closed on these days. Restricted holidays are optional — central government employees may avail any two of these during the year as per their personal or religious preferences.

Gazetted Holidays 2026

The following table lists all Gazetted Central Government holidays 2026, which are mandatory holidays observed by all Central Government offices across India:

Month

Date

Day

Holiday Name

January26 JanMondayRepublic Day
March4 MarWednesdayHoli
March21 MarSaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Tentative)
March26 MarThursdayRama Navami
March31 MarTuesdayMahavir Jayanti
April3 AprFridayGood Friday
May1 MayFridayBuddha Purnima
May27 MayWednesdayId-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (Tentative)
June26 JunFridayMuharram (Tentative)
August15 AugSaturdayIndependence Day
August26 AugWednesdayId-e-Milad (Tentative)
September4 SepFridayJanmashtami
October2 OctFridayMahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October20 OctTuesdayDussehra
November8 NovSundayDiwali (Deepavali)
November24 NovTuesdayGuru Nanak Jayanti
December25 DecFridayChristmas Day

Restricted Holidays 2026

Below is the list of Restricted (Optional) government holidays for Central Government employees in 2026:

Month

Date

Day

Holiday Name

January1 JanThursdayNew Year's Day
January3 JanSaturdayHazarat Ali's Birthday
January14 JanWednesdayPongal / Makar Sankranti
January23 JanFridayVasant Panchami
February1 FebSundayGuru Ravidas Jayanti
February12 FebThursdayMaharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
February15 FebSundayMaha Shivaratri
February19 FebThursdayShivaji Jayanti
March3 MarTuesdayHolika Dahan
March19 MarThursdayUgadi / Gudi Padwa
March20 MarFridayJumat-ul-Vida
April5 AprSundayEaster Sunday
April14 AprTuesdayVaisakhi / Mesadi
April15 AprWednesdayBahag Bihu
May9 MaySaturdayRabindranath Tagore Jayanti
July16 JulThursdayRath Yatra
August26 AugWednesdayOnam
August28 AugFridayRaksha Bandhan
September14 SepMondayGanesh Chaturthi
October18 OctSundayMaha Saptami
October19 OctMondayMaha Ashtami
October26 OctMondayMaharishi Valmiki Jayanti
October29 OctThursdayKarva Chauth
November9 NovMondayGovardhan Puja
November11 NovWednesdayBhai Dooj
November15 NovSundayChhath Puja
November24 NovTuesdayGuru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day
December23 DecWednesdayHazarat Ali's Birthday
December24 DecThursdayChristmas Eve

The Central Government of India's holiday list for 2026 is a must-have for all employees and departments under the national government. It spreads out gazetted and optional holidays throughout the year, making it easier to plan time off and work schedules.

Related 2025 Articles:
1. Government Holidays 2025
2. Bank Holidays List 2025 
3. Long Weekends in 2025

Related Articles:
1. Tamil Nadu Government Holidays 2026
2. Karnataka Government Holidays List 2026
3. Telangana Government Holidays List 2026
4. Maharashtra Government Holiday​s List 2026
5. Punjab Government Holidays List 2026
6. Haryana Government Holidays List 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Central Government holidays in 2026?

The Central Government holidays for 2026 include national holidays like Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti, along with a list of additional public holidays recognised for government employees across various states.

How many official holidays are there in 2026?

There are 17 gazetted holidays and a list of restricted holidays (employees can avail up to 2) declared by the Central Government for 2026.

Can I take leave on Central Government holidays if I work in the private sector?

Yes, many private sector organisations observe these holidays, but it depends on company policy. It's advisable to check with your employer.

Are the Central Government holidays in 2026 the same for all states?

The gazetted holidays are uniform across India for central offices, but states may declare additional regional holidays.

What are the Central Government holidays in January 2026?

Gazetted Holidays – January 2026

  • Republic Day – Monday, January 26

Restricted Holidays – January 2026

  • New Year's Day – Thursday, January 1
  • Hazarat Ali's Birthday – Saturday, January 3
  • Pongal / Makar Sankranti – Wednesday, January 14
  • Vasant Panchami – Friday, January 23
Which holiday is on 26 January 2026?

Republic Day falls on Monday, January 26, 2026, and is a Gazetted Holiday.

About the Author
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REPAKA PAVAN ADITYA

Stocks and Mutual Funds Research Analyst
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I manifest my zeal in financial quantitative & quantitative research and have been instrumental in creating a robust process for the evaluation and monitoring of mutual funds. I’m responsible for Equity and Mutual Funds Research while creating instrumental mathematical models for portfolio construction after evaluating funds, and I play an integral role in analyzing changes in mutual funds, micro, and macro-economic indicators, and equity market events and trends. My views on asset classes which are integral in creating an investment strategy for any profile. Read more

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