Bank Holidays in India in 2026

Q: 1. Are banks open on regional festival days?

Banks remain closed on regional festival days only in the states where the festival is officially notified by the RBI. In other states, banks usually function normally.

Q: 2. Do bank holidays affect UPI transactions?

No. UPI services work 24×7 , including Sundays and bank holidays. You can continue making payments, transfers, and bill payments without interruption.

Q: 3. Is RTGS available on bank holidays in 2026?

Yes. RTGS is available 24×7 , even on bank holidays. However, large-value transactions initiated close to maintenance windows may be processed with slight delays.

Q: 4. Are cheque deposits cleared on bank holidays?

No. Cheque clearing does not happen on bank holidays . Cheques deposited on holidays are processed on the next working day.

Q: 5. Do bank holidays apply to ATMs?

No. ATMs remain operational on bank holidays, subject to cash availability. Services like cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, and mini statements usually work.

Q: 6. Are banks closed on election days?

Banks may remain closed on state or local election days if the government declares it a public holiday and the RBI issues a notification for bank closure in that region.

Q: 7. Are bank holidays the same for SBI and other banks?

Yes. All scheduled banks , including SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and other private and public sector banks, follow the same RBI-declared holiday list.

Q: 8. Can banks declare additional local holidays?

Yes. Banks may observe additional local holidays based on district-level notifications or regional events, especially in rural or cooperative bank branches.

Q: 9. Do bank holidays affect loan EMIs?

No. Loan EMIs are usually auto-debited even on bank holidays. If the holiday causes a delay, the debit is processed on the next working day without penalty in most cases.

Q: 10. Where can I check the official bank holidays list for 2026?

You can check the official list on the RBI website , your bank’s official website, or the mobile banking app for the most accurate and updated information.

Bank Holidays List 2026 in India helps you plan bank visits, financial transactions, and important paperwork in advance without last-minute surprises. In India, bank holidays are declared by the RBI and vary by state due to regional festivals, national observances, and weekend rules. Since banks remain closed on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays, knowing the exact holiday schedule for 2026 becomes essential for both individuals and businesses.

This blog provides a clear, month-wise and state-wise overview so you can manage your banking needs smoothly throughout the year.

Complete Bank Holidays List 2026 in India

Who Decides Bank Holidays in India?

Bank holidays in India are primarily decided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which issues an official holiday calendar every year under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The RBI notifies holidays during which banks remain closed for public dealings, ensuring uniformity across the banking system while also allowing flexibility for regional observances.

Role of RBI in Declaring Bank Holidays

The RBI prepares and publishes a state-wise list of bank holidays based on:

National holidays observed across the country
Religious and cultural festivals
State-specific occasions and anniversaries
Weekend closures (Sundays and second & fourth Saturdays)

Banks follow these RBI notifications to decide their working and non-working days.

Difference Between National, State, and Regional Holidays

Holiday Type	Applicable Area	Examples	Bank Closure
National Holidays	All over India	Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti	Banks closed nationwide
State Holidays	Specific states	State foundation day, regional festivals	Banks closed in selected states
Regional Holidays	Particular cities or regions	Local fairs, regional observances	Banks closed in limited areas

Why Bank Holidays Differ from State to State

India’s cultural and religious diversity is the main reason bank holidays vary across states. Festivals like Pongal, Bihu, Onam, Durga Puja, or Ganesh Chaturthi are celebrated widely in certain regions but not nationwide. To respect these regional traditions, the RBI allows state governments to recommend holidays, resulting in a different bank holiday list for each state.

Types of Bank Holidays in India

Bank holidays in India are broadly classified into different categories based on their applicability and purpose. The table below explains each type clearly.

Type of Bank Holiday	Description	Examples / Rules
National Bank Holidays	Holidays observed across the entire country. All banks remain closed nationwide on these days.	Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Gandhi Jayanti (2 October)
Gazetted Holidays	Holidays officially declared by the Central Government and notified by the RBI under the Negotiable Instruments Act.	Central government–declared holidays applicable to banks
State-Specific Bank Holidays	Holidays based on regional festivals, cultural events, and state anniversaries. Applicable only in notified states.	Diwali, Pongal, Onam, Bihu, regional foundation days
Weekend Closures	Regular weekly bank closures followed uniformly across India.	All Sundays; Second and Fourth Saturdays of every month

List of RBI Bank Holidays for

January 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	Celebrated in
1 January 2026	Tuesday	New Year’s Day	Varies by state
6 January 2026	Tuesday	Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti	Several states
11 January 2026	Sunday	Missionary Day	Mizoram
12 January 2026	Monday	Swami Vivekananda Jayanti	West Bengal
13 January 2026	Tuesday	Lohri	Punjab and other states
14 January 2026	Wednesday	Sankranti	Several states
14 January 2026	Wedesday	Pongal	Tamil Nadu
15 January 2026	Thursday	Thiruvalluvar Day	Tamil Nadu
15 January 2026	Thursday	Magh Bihu	Assam
23 January 2026	Friday	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti	West Bengal, Tripura, Odisha
24 January 2026	Fourth Saturday	Fourth Saturday	All over India
26 January 2026	Republic Day	Republic Day	Across the country

February 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	States
1 February 2026	Sunday	Guru Ravidas Jayanti	Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab
15 February 2026	Sunday	Maha Shivaratri	National except Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
15 February 2026	Sunday	Lui-Ngai-Ni	Manipur
18 February 2026	Wednesday	Losar	Sikkim
19 February 2026	Thursday	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti	Maharasthra
20 February 2026	Friday	Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day / Mizoram State Day	Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram

March 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	State
3 March 2026	Tuesday	Yaosang	Manipur
3 March 2026	Tuesday	Doljatra	West Bengal
4 March 2026	Wednesday	Yaosang 2nd Day	Manipur
4 March 2026	Wednesday	Holi	Several States
5 March 2026	Thursday	Panchayatiraj Divas	Orrisa
17 March 2026	Tuesday	Shab-i-Qadr	Jammu and Kashmir
19 March 2026	Thursday	Ugadi	Several States
19 March 2026	Thursday	Gudi Padwa	Maharasthra
20 March 2026	Friday	Jamat Ul-Vida	Jammu and Kashmir
21 March 2026	Saturday	Idul Fitr	Across India
21 March 2026	Saturday	Sarhul	Jharkhand
23 March 2026	Monday	Bhagat Singh Martyrdom Day	Haryana
26 March 2026	Thursday	Rama Navami	All Over India
31 March 2026	Tuesday	Mahavir Jayanti	Several States

April 2026

Holiday	Date	Day	Celebrated in
Odisha Day	1 April 2026	Wednesday	Odisha
Good Friday	3 April 2026	Friday	Across India
Easter Saturday	4 April 2026	Saturday	Many States
Easter Sunday	5 April 2026	Sunday	Many States
Babu Jagjivan Ram Jayanti	5 April 2026	Sunday	Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Vaisakh	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Punjab
Biju Festival	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Tripura
Dr Ambedkar Jayanti	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Many States
Tamil New Year	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Puducherry and Tamil Nadu
Vishu	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Kerala
Bohag Bihu	14 April to 20 April 2026	Tuesday	Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
Cheiraoba	14 April 2026	Tuesday	Manipur
Bengali New Year	14 April 2026	Tuesday	West Bengal
Himachal Day	15 April 2026	Wednesday	Himachal
Maharshi Parasuram Jayanti	19 April 2026	Sunday	Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan
Basava Jayanti	20 April 2026	Monday	Karnataka
Garia Puja	21 April 2026	Tuesday	Tripura

May 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	State
1 May 2026	Friday	May Day	Several States
9 May 2026	Saturday	Guru Rabindranath Jayanti	Tripura, West Bengal
16 May 2026	Saturday	Sikkim State Day	Sikkim
26 May 2026	Tuesday	Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti	Tripura
27 May 2026	Wednesday	Bakri Eid/ Eid-Al-Adha	Several States
28 May 2026	Thursday	Bakri Eid/ Eid-Al-Adha	Jammu & Kashmir

June 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	State
14 June 2026	Sunday	Pahili Raja	Odisha
15 June 2026	Monday	Raja Sankranti	Odisha
15 June 2026	Monday	YMA Day	Mizoram
17 June 2026	Wednesday	Maharana Pratap Jayanti	Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan
18 June 2026	Thursday	Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji’s Martyrdom Day	Punjab
26 June 2026	Friday	Muharram	Several states
29 June 2026	Monday	Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti	Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab
30 June 2026	Tuesday	Remna Ni	Mizoram

July 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	State
1 July 2026	Wednesday	Guru Hargobind Ji’s Birthday	Jammu and Srinagar
6 July 2026	Monday	MHIP Day	Mizoram
11 July	Saturday	Second Saturday	All states
13 July 2026	Monday	Bhanu Jayanti	Sikkim
13 July 2026	Monday	Martyrs’ Day	Jammu & Kashmir
21 July 2026	Tuesday	Kharchi Puja	Tripura
25 July	Saturday	Fourth Saturday	All states
31 July 2026	Friday	Shaheed Udham Singh’s Martyrdom Day	Punjab and Haryana

August 2026

Date	Day	Holiday
28 August 2026	Friday	Raksha Bandhan (or) Rakhi
15 August 2026	Saturday	Independence Day
16 August 2026	Sunday	Parsi New Year

September 2026

Date	Holiday/Festival	Type & Celebrated In
21 September 2026, Monday	Ramdev Jayanti	Restricted Holiday, Rajasthan
4 September 2026, Friday	Janmashtami	Gazetted Holiday
14 September 2026, Monday	Ganesh Chaturthi	Restricted Holiday
21 September 2026, Monday	Teja Dashmi	Restricted Holiday, Rajasthan
26 September 2026, Saturday	Indra Jatra	Restricted Holiday, Sikkim
26 September 2026, Saturday	Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti	Restricted Holiday, Kerala
21 September 2026, Monday	Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi	Observance, Kerala
23 September 2026, Wednesday	Heroes’ Martyrdom Day	Restricted Holiday, Haryana

October 2026

Date	Holiday	Region
1 October 2026, Thursday	Maha Navami	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Pondicherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
2 October 2026, Friday	Vijaya Dashami	National except Manipur and Pondicherry
2 October 2026, Friday	Gandhi Jayanti	National
11 October 2026, Sunday	First day of Sharad Navaratri	Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, Odisha
17 October 2026, Saturday	First day of Durga Puja	West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra
26 October 2026, Monday	Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti	Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab
18 October 2026, Sunday	Maha Saptami	Assam, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal
19 October 2026, Monday	Maha Ashtami	Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Manipur, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, West Bengal
20 October 2026, Tuesday	Dussehra	Arunachal Pradesh, assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
29 October 2026, Thursday	Karva Chauth	Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh
31 October 2026, Saturday	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti	Gujarat

November 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	State
1 November 2026	Sunday	Puducherry Liberation Day	Puducherry
1 November 2026	Sunday	Haryana Day	Haryana
1 November 2026	Sunday	Lhabab Duchen	Sikkim
1 November 2026	Sunday	Kannada Rajyothsava	Karnataka
6 November 2026	Friday	Wangala Festival	Meghalaya
8 November 2026	Sunday	Naraka Chaturdashi	Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa
8 November 2026	Sunday	Diwali	Gazetted Holiday
9 November 2026	Monday	Govardhan Puja	Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra
11 November 2026	Wednesday	Bhai Dooj	West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar
15 November 2026	Sunday	Chhath Puja	Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
23 November 2026	Monday	Seng Kut Snem	Meghalaya
24 November 2026	Tuesday	Karthika Purnima	Odisha and Telangana
24 November 2026	Tuesday	Guru Nanak Jayanti	National except Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura
24 November 2026	Tuesday	Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s Martyrdom Day	Punjab
27 November 2026	Friday	Kanakadasa Jayanti	Karnataka

December 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	States
1 December 2026	Tuesday	Indigenous Faith Day	Arunachal Pradesh
3 December 2026	Thursday	Feast of St Francis Xavier	Goa
5 December 2026	Saturday	Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Jayanti	Jammu and Kashmir
5 December 2026	Saturday	First day of Hanukkah	By Jewish communities across states
12 December 2026	Saturday	Last day of Hanukkah	By Jewish communities across states
12 December 2026	Saturday	Pa Togan Nengminza Sangma	Meghalaya
18 December 2026	Friday	Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham	Meghalaya
18 December 2026	Friday	Guru Ghasidas Jayanti	Chattisgarh
19 December 2026	Saturday	Liberation Day	Daman & Diu and Goa
23 December 2026	Wednesday	Hazarat Ali’s Birthday	Uttar Pradesh
24 December 2026	Thursday	Christmas Eve	Meghalaya and Mizoram
25 December 2025	Friday	Christmas Day	National except Chattisgarh
26 December 2026	Saturday	Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti	Haryana
30 December 2026	Wednesday	Tamu Losar	Sikkim
31 December 2026	Thursday	New Year’s Eve	Manipur and Mizoram

Are Banks Closed on Saturdays in 2026?

Yes, banks in India follow a fixed Saturday closure rule as prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Second & Fourth Saturday Closure Explained

All scheduled banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturday of every month
This rule applies uniformly across all states and Union Territories
Branch banking services like cash deposit, cheque clearing, and passbook updates are unavailable on these days

Working Saturdays in 2026

First, third, and fifth Saturdays (if any) are working days for banks
Normal branch banking hours apply on working Saturdays
Online services such as UPI, internet banking, and mobile banking continue to work even on closed Saturdays

RBI Rules in Simple Terms

Sundays → Always closed
Second & fourth Saturdays → Closed
All other Saturdays → Open
Online banking → Available 24×7, subject to maintenance windows

Bank Holidays vs Public Holidays

Many people assume bank holidays and public holidays are the same, but they are not. The table below explains the difference clearly.

Basis	Bank Holidays	Public Holidays
Declared by	Reserve Bank of India (RBI)	Central / State Government
Applicability	Banks and financial institutions	Government offices, schools, some private offices
State-wise variation	Yes	Yes
Bank branches closed	Yes	Not always
Examples	Diwali (state-wise), regional festivals	State foundation day, local observances

Why Some Public Holidays Are Not Bank Holidays

Public holidays may apply only to government offices or educational institutions
Banks follow the Negotiable Instruments Act, not all government holiday lists
A public holiday in a state does not automatically mean banks will be closed unless notified by the RBI.

List of Bank Holidays in India 2026

Here is the list of all the major bank holidays in India in 2026. For a more detailed regional-specific bank holiday list, please go to the specific state holiday pages given here.

Date	Holiday	Day
10 January 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
24 January 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
26 January 2026	Republic Day	Monday
14 February 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
28 February 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
15 February 2026	Maha Shivaratri	Sunday
3 March 2026	Holi	Tuesday
14 March 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
20 March 2026	Ugadi	Friday
28 March 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
3 April 2026	Good Friday	Friday
11 April 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
14 April 2026	Vaisakhi	Tuesday
14 April 2026	Ambedkar Jayanti	Tuesday
25 April 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
1 May 2026	May Day	Friday
9 May 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
23 May 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
27 May 2026	Bakrid/Eid al-Adha	Wednesday
13 June 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
27 June 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
11 July 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
25 July 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
8 August 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
15 August 2026	Independence Day	Saturday
22 August 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
4 September 2026	Janmashtami	Friday
12 September 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
26 September 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
2 October 2026	Gandhi Jayanti	Friday
10 October 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
24 October 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
8 November 2026	Diwali	Sunday
14 November 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
28 November 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday
12 December 2026	2nd Saturday	Saturday
25 December 2026	Christmas Day	Friday
26 December 2026	4th Saturday	Saturday

FAQs on Bank Holidays List 2026 in India

1. Are banks open on regional festival days?

Banks remain closed on regional festival days only in the states where the festival is officially notified by the RBI. In other states, banks usually function normally.

2. Do bank holidays affect UPI transactions?

No. UPI services work 24×7, including Sundays and bank holidays. You can continue making payments, transfers, and bill payments without interruption.

3. Is RTGS available on bank holidays in 2026?

Yes. RTGS is available 24×7, even on bank holidays. However, large-value transactions initiated close to maintenance windows may be processed with slight delays.

4. Are cheque deposits cleared on bank holidays?

No. Cheque clearing does not happen on bank holidays. Cheques deposited on holidays are processed on the next working day.

5. Do bank holidays apply to ATMs?

No. ATMs remain operational on bank holidays, subject to cash availability. Services like cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, and mini statements usually work.

6. Are banks closed on election days?

Banks may remain closed on state or local election days if the government declares it a public holiday and the RBI issues a notification for bank closure in that region.

7. Are bank holidays the same for SBI and other banks?

Yes. All scheduled banks, including SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and other private and public sector banks, follow the same RBI-declared holiday list.

8. Can banks declare additional local holidays?

Yes. Banks may observe additional local holidays based on district-level notifications or regional events, especially in rural or cooperative bank branches.

9. Do bank holidays affect loan EMIs?

No. Loan EMIs are usually auto-debited even on bank holidays. If the holiday causes a delay, the debit is processed on the next working day without penalty in most cases.

10. Where can I check the official bank holidays list for 2026?

You can check the official list on the RBI website, your bank’s official website, or the mobile banking app for the most accurate and updated information.

Conclusion

Knowing the Bank Holidays List 2026 in India in advance helps you avoid unnecessary branch visits, delays in cheque clearing, and last-minute financial hassles. Since bank holidays differ by state and depend on regional festivals, checking the correct holiday list is essential for smooth planning.

The Central Government of India’s official 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.