Government Holidays 2026

The Central Government has notified 17 gazetted holidays for 2026 along with a list of restricted holidays that employees may choose according to applicable service rules. The calendar covers national holidays, religious festivals, and cultural observances. 

Key highlights

• 17 gazetted holidays are compulsory for Central Government offices.
• Employees can avail restricted holidays based on departmental rules.
• Republic Day falls on 26 January 2026 (Monday).
• Independence Day falls on 15 August 2026 (Saturday).
• Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti falls on 2 October 2026 (Friday).
• Islamic festival dates may change depending on the sighting of the moon. 

Government holidays are officially declared holidays notified by the Central or State Government. These holidays allow government offices and many public institutions to remain closed while commemorating national events, religious festivals, and important cultural occasions.

For Central Government employees, holidays are generally classified into two categories:

• Gazetted holidays, which are mandatory holidays observed by all Central Government offices.
• Restricted holidays, which employees may choose according to departmental rules and personal preferences. 

The Central Government holiday calendar issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) divides holidays into gazetted and restricted categories.

Gazetted holidays are compulsory for Central Government offices across India. Restricted holidays are optional, allowing employees to select a specified number based on their religious or cultural preferences. Some festival dates, particularly Islamic holidays, are subject to moon sightings. 

Gazetted holidays are officially declared by the government and must be observed by public institutions and offices. Below is a month-wise table of Gazetted Central Government holidays in 2026:

These holidays are applicable across India, ensuring uniform observance. However, additional state-specific holidays may vary.

Some commonly observed restricted holidays notified by the Central Government include:

The Central Government holiday calendar for 2026 includes 17 gazetted holidays and a list of restricted holidays that employees may choose based on applicable rules. Referring to the official holiday calendar helps individuals and organisations plan work schedules, travel, and important activities in advance.

Since some religious holidays depend on lunar observations, it is advisable to check the latest Government notification before making final travel or work arrangements.