List of Government Holidays 2026

Government holidays, also known as public holidays, are days off declared by the Government of India for observing events/festivals having national, cultural or religious significance. 

During these days, the employees and employers give a break to their normal work/business. If you want to check out the list of government holidays 2026, then you are on the right page!

Gazetted Holidays and Restricted Holidays 2026

The public holiday calendar 2026 by the Government of India includes gazetted and restricted holidays. Below, we have provided you with two separate lists for gazetted holidays and restricted holidays in 2026. :-

List of Gazetted Holidays 2026

Gazetted holidays are mandatory public holidays. On these days, all the central government holidays remain shut. Here is the list of gazetted holidays 2026. :-

List of Restricted Holidays 2026

Restricted holidays are optional. During the year, the central government employees may avail any of such two holidays, depending on their personal/religious preference. Here is the restricted holidays list 2026. :-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are mandatory national holidays 2026?

A. The mandatory national holidays 2026 are Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). Apart from these holidays, there are also several other national holidays (gazetted and restricted) that vary by state and community.

Q2. Is there a bank holiday on Republic Day 2026?

A. Yes, there is a bank holiday on Republic Day 2026.

Q3. Is there a government holiday on 4 March 2026?

A. Yes, there is a government holiday on 4 March 2026 on the account of Holi.

Q4. Can private sector employees take leave on central government holidays?

A. Many private sector companies observe these holidays, but this varies based on internal company policies. It’s best to confirm with your employer.

Q5. Is 1 January 2026 a public holiday?

A. 1 January 2026 is observed as New Year’s Day. It is not a mandatory gazetted holiday. It is a restricted holiday but many organizations stay closed on this day. 

Q6. Are gazetted holidays mandatory?

A. Yes, the gazetted holidays are mandatory holidays across government offices. However, for private companies, observance of gazetted holidays depends on the organization’s internal policies as well as state labour laws.

Q7. Are restricted holidays mandatory or optional?

A. The restricted holidays are optional, not mandatory. 

Q8. Is New Year’s day a government holiday in India?

A. Yes, it is a government restricted holiday, meaning it isn’t a compulsory holiday.

Q9. Is there a public holiday on Maha Shivratri 2026?

A. It is an optional/restricted public holiday, and not a mandatory public holiday. Therefore, some organizations will remain open on this day while others will remain closed.

Q10. Will public banks remain open on Good Friday 2026?

A. The public banks will likely remain closed on Good Friday, on 3 April 2026, since it is a gazetted holiday.

Q11. How many government holidays are there in 2026?

A. For the central government offices, there are 17 government gazetted holidays in 2026. Additionally, there are 29 government restricted holidays that are optional.

Q12. What are the public holidays in 2026?

A. They include Republic Day (26 January), Holi (4 March), Id-ul-Fitr (21 March/Tentative), Ram Navami (26 March), Mahavir Jayanti (31 March), Janmasthami (4 September) and Dussehra (20 October) among others.

Q13. Is there a government holiday on Rakshabandhan 2026?

A. Rakshabandhan 2026 (observed on 28 August) is an optional, restricted government holiday. This means, some offices will remain open and operate as usual while certain others will remain closed. 

Q14. Is there a public holiday on Buddha Purnima 2026?

A. There is a gazetted public holiday on Buddha Purnima, which will be observed on 1 May 2026. This means the government offices will remain closed on this day. However, offices in the private sector may or may not remain open, based on their internal policies and state laws.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.