Bank holidays in India are notified under the Negotiable Instruments Act and vary by state. While some holidays are observed nationwide, others depend on regional, religious, or cultural significance. Below is a consolidated overview of the major bank holidays in 2026 that affect banking operations across different parts of the country.
National and Widely Observed Bank Holidays (2026)
These holidays are observed by banks across most states and union territories.
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 26 – Republic Day
- March 6 – Holi (observed in most states)
- April 3 – Good Friday
- May 1 – Labour Day / Maharashtra Day (banks closed in several states)
- August 15 – Independence Day
- October 2 – Gandhi Jayanti
- October 24 – Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami, widely observed)
- November 12 – Diwali (Laxmi Puja, most states)
- December 25 – Christmas Day
In addition, banks remain closed on all Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
Major State-Specific and Regional Bank Holidays
These holidays apply only in selected states, depending on local government notifications.
January
- January 14 – Makar Sankranti (multiple states)
- January 15 – Pongal, Thiruvalluvar Day (Tamil Nadu)
- January 23 – Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (West Bengal)
February
- February 16 – Basanta Panchami / Saraswati Puja (eastern states)
- February 19 – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti (Maharashtra)
March
- March 20 – Parsi New Year (Navroz, Maharashtra and Gujarat)
- March 29 – Ram Navami (several states)
April
- April 10 – Mahavir Jayanti
- April 14 – Dr Ambedkar Jayanti
- April 14 – Vishu, Bohag Bihu, Tamil New Year (southern and northeastern states)
May
- May 25 – Buddha Purnima (most states)
June
- June 17 – Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid, subject to moon sighting)
July
- July 29 – Muharram (subject to moon sighting, varies by state)
August
- August 29 – Onam (Kerala)
September
- September 18 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka)
October
- October 20 – Durga Puja (Saptami, West Bengal)
- October 21 – Durga Puja (Ashtami)
- October 22 – Durga Puja (Navami)
November
- November 13 – Govardhan Puja (some northern states)
- November 15 – Bhai Dooj (select states)
- November 24 – Guru Nanak Jayanti (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi)
Important Editorial Note
Bank holidays vary by state and city, even on the same festival. Customers and businesses should always verify with their local bank branch or official RBI holiday notifications before planning high-value transactions, cheque clearances, or regulatory filings.
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