📅 Bank Holidays 2026 in India — Full Calendar & Planning Guide
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Planning your banking activities, transactions, bill payments, or travel around the year? Knowing the Bank Holidays 2026 in advance helps avoid last-minute inconvenience and ensures seamless financial planning. In 2026, banks in India will remain closed not only on regular weekends and national holidays but also on festival and region-specific holidays announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and state governments. (Business Today)
🏛️ Why Bank Holidays Matter
Bank holidays are days when banks and financial institutions close operations including cash counters and clearing houses. While digital services (UPI, net banking, mobile apps) often work normally, branch-based services like cheque deposits, passbook updates, and cash transactions will not be available on these holidays.
Planning your banking before these dates can save time, avoid penalties for late payments, and ensure business continuity.
📆 Bank Holidays 2026 — Month-Wise List
Below is a consolidated list of major bank holidays for 2026 in India. Note that some states observe additional holidays depending on local festivals and cultural celebrations — state-wise calendars should be checked for complete lists.
🟦 January 2026
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day / Gaan-Ngai |
| Jan 2 | New Year Celebration / Mannam Jayanthi |
| Jan 3 | Birthday of Hazrat Ali |
| Jan 12 | Swami Vivekananda Jayanti |
| Jan 14 | Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu |
| Jan 15 | Pongal / Uttarayana Punyakala |
| Jan 16 | Thiruvalluvar Day |
| Jan 17 | Uzhavar Thirunal |
| Jan 23 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti / Saraswati Puja |
| Jan 26 | Republic Day |
Banks remain closed on several festival days and special observances across regions.
🟢 February 2026
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Feb 18 | Losar |
| Feb 19 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti |
| Feb 20 | Statehood Day (Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh) |
Includes regional holidays observed by banks in specific states.
🟨 March 2026
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Mar 2 | Holika Dahan |
| Mar 3 | Holi |
| Mar 4 | Dhuleti / Yaosang |
| Mar 13 | Chapchar Kut |
| Mar 17 | Shab-i-Qadr |
| Mar 19 | Gudhi Padwa / Ugadi |
| Mar 20 | Eid-ul-Fitr |
| Mar 21 | Ramzan-Id (Id-ul-Fitr) |
| Mar 26 | Ram Navami |
| Mar 31 | Mahavir Jayanti |
Holi, Eid and Ram Navami are some key festival holidays.
🟪 April 2026
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Apr 1 | Banks Annual Closing |
| Apr 2 | Maundy Thursday |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday |
| Apr 14 | Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti / Vaisakhi |
| Apr 15 | Bengali New Year / Vishu |
| Apr 20 | Basava Jayanti / Akshaya Tritiya |
April’s holidays include both religious and heritage observances.
🟫 May 2026
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| May 1 | Labour Day / May Day |
| May 9 | Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti |
| May 16 | Sikkim State Day |
| May 26 | Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti |
| May 27 | Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri Eid) |
| May 28 | Bakri Eid (continuation) |
May combines national holidays with cultural and religious dates. (Business Today)
🟧 June — December 2026 (Highlight Reel)
✔ June: Raja Sankranti, regional tribal festivals
✔ August 15: Independence Day holiday nationwide
✔ October 2: Gandhi Jayanti
✔ Mid-October: Durga Puja / Vijayadashami
✔ November 9 & 10: Diwali / Deepavali celebrations
✔ December 25: Christmas Day
These holidays reflect a blend of cultural, regional, and national observances observed by banks in India, with some variation depending on state notifications.
🧭 Tips to Use This Bank Holiday List
✅ Plan branch visits at least 2 business days before major holidays.
✅ Schedule auto-payments and standing instructions ahead of closures.
✅ Check state-specific calendars for local observances unique to your region.
✅ Digital services like UPI often remain functional on holidays.
🛠️ State-Wise Variations
While the RBI issues a core holiday framework, state governments periodically announce additional bank holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. This means banks may close for regional festivals not listed in the national RBI calendar.
👉 For example, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have state-specific lists that banks in those states follow — including Tamil New Year and Onam celebrations.
📌 Conclusion
Bank holidays in 2026 in India offer a rich tapestry of national unity, cultural festivities, and regional celebrations. Whether you’re paying bills, handling cash deposits, or planning travel and leisure, understanding the full calendar helps you optimize your time and avoid avoidable hassles.