The Central Government has released the 2026 holiday calendar, detailing how many holidays government employees will receive in the new year.

Central Government Holiday List: The Central Government has released the 2026 holiday calendar, which details the number of holidays employees will receive in the new year. Check out the list.

Central Government Holiday List: If you work in a government job, planning for the new year will now be a little easier. The Central Government has released the 2026 holiday calendar. It details which holidays will be mandatory across the country and which will be available for employees to choose as per their preference. All central offices will follow the same framework.

However, offices outside Delhi will have the option to choose three optional holidays based on their location. Employees will also have the option to choose two holidays from the restricted leave list. Simply put, the 2026 holiday calendar is quite organised and flexible, allowing people to better manage their time during festivals and with family. Check out the complete list of holidays.

Mandatory Holidays for 2026 Applicable to All Central Offices

Republic Day
Independence Day
Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday
Buddha Purnima
Christmas Day
Dussehra
Diwali
Good Friday
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Zuha
Mahavir Jayanti
Muharram
Eid-e-Milad

Optional Holidays for 2026

The Ministry will decide three holidays for Central Offices located in Delhi. Offices outside Delhi will select three days in consultation with their Coordination Committee.

Additional Day of Dussehra
Holi
Janmashtami
Ram Navami
Maha Shivaratri
Ganesh Chaturthi
Makar Sankranti
Rath Yatra
Onam
Pongal
Shri Panchami / Basant Panchami

Vishu / Vaisakhi / Bihu / Ugadi / Chaitra Shukla Diwas / Cheti Chand / Gudi Padwa / First Navratri / Naurj / Chhath Puja / Karva Chauth

Restricted Holidays 2026

• New Year's Day – January 1, Thursday
• Hazrat Ali's Birthday – January 13, Tuesday
• Makar Sankranti – January 14, Wednesday
• Magh Bihu / Pongal – January 15, Thursday
• Shri Panchami / Basant Panchami – January 16, Friday
• Guru Ravidas Jayanti – February 12, Thursday
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti – February 26, Thursday
• Maha Shivaratri – February 26, Thursday
• Holika Dahan – March 3, Tuesday
• Dol Yatra – March 3, Tuesday
• Chaitra Shukla Diwas / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi – March 19, Thursday
• Ram Navami – Tuesday, March 31
• Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 5
• Tamil New Year/Vishu – Wednesday, April 15
• Vaisakhari (Bengali New Year) – Wednesday, April 15
• Puthuvarsham (Malayalam New Year) – Wednesday, April 15
• Guru Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti – Friday, May 8
• Rath Yatra – Thursday, July 16
• Parsi New Year/Navroz – Saturday, August 15
• Onam/Thiru Onam – Wednesday, August 6
• Raksha Bandhan – Wednesday, August 26
• Ganesh Chaturthi – Sunday, September 14
• Dussehra (Saptami) – Sunday, October 18
• Dussehra (Maha Ashtami) – Monday, October 19
• Dussehra (Mahanavami) – Tuesday, October 20
• Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti – Wednesday, October 22
• Karwa Chauth – Thursday, October 30
• Narak Chaturdashi – Monday, November 17
• Govardhan Puja – Monday, November 17
• Bhai Dooj – November 18 Tuesday
• Chhath Puja – Wednesday, November 19
• Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day – Monday, November 24
• Hazrat Ali's Birthday – Wednesday, December 23
• Christmas Eve – Thursday, December 24