Proper planning can make your year smoother and more balanced. If you’re a Central Government employee or someone dealing frequently with government offices, knowing the 2026 holiday calendar in advance is essential. These holidays provide not just time to unwind, but also help in aligning personal and professional obligations efficiently.
Below, we provide the complete list of gazetted and restricted holidays for Central Government administrative offices located in Delhi / New Delhi, as per official notification.
Gazetted Holidays for Central Government Offices in 2026
These are mandatory holidays for all central government offices:
| S.No | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic Day | January 26 | Monday |
| 2 | Holi | March 4 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Id-ul-Fitr | March 21 | Saturday |
| 4 | Ram Navami | March 26 | Thursday |
| 5 | Mahavir Jayanti | March 31 | Tuesday |
| 6 | Good Friday | April 3 | Friday |
| 7 | Buddha Purnima | May 1 | Friday |
| 8 | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | May 27 | Wednesday |
| 9 | Muharram | June 26 | Friday |
| 10 | Independence Day | August 15 | Saturday |
| 11 | Milad-un-Nabi / Id-e-Milad (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad) | August 26 | Wednesday |
| 12 | Janmashtami (Vaishnava) | September 4 | Friday |
| 13 | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday | October 2 | Friday |
| 14 | Dussehra | October 20 | Tuesday |
| 15 | Diwali (Deepavali) | November 8 | Sunday |
| 16 | Guru Nanak’s Birthday | November 24 | Tuesday |
| 17 | Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday |
Restricted Holidays (Optional) for Central Government Offices in 2026
Employees may choose any two holidays from the list below, as per their personal preference, cultural beliefs, or regional practices.
| S.No | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | January 1 | Thursday |
| 2 | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday | January 3 | Saturday |
| 3 | Makar Sankranti | January 14 | Wednesday |
| 4 | Magha Bihu / Pongal | January 14 | Wednesday |
| 5 | Basant Panchami / Saraswati Puja | January 23 | Friday |
| 6 | Guru Ravidas’s Birthday | February 1 | Sunday |
| 7 | Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti | February 12 | Thursday |
| 8 | Maha Shivratri | February 15 | Sunday |
| 9 | Shivaji Jayanti | February 19 | Thursday |
| 10 | Holika Dahan | March 3 | Tuesday |
| 11 | Dolyatra | March 3 | Tuesday |
| 12 | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Cheti Chand | March 19 | Thursday |
| 13 | Jumat-ul-Vida | March 20 | Friday |
| SAKA ERA 1948 | SAKA ERA 1948 | ||
| 14 | Easter Sunday | April 5 | Sunday |
| 15 | Baisakhi / Vishu / Tamil New Year | April 14 | Tuesday |
| 16 | Bengali New Year / Bohag Bihu (Assam) | April 15 | Wednesday |
| 17 | Rabindranath Tagore’s Birthday | May 9 | Saturday |
| 18 | Rath Yatra | July 16 | Thursday |
| 19 | Parsi New Year / Nauraj | August 15 | Saturday |
| 20 | Onam / Thiru Onam | August 26 | Wednesday |
| 21 | Raksha Bandhan | August 28 | Friday |
| 22 | Ganesh Chaturthi | September 14 | Monday |
| 23 | Dussehra (Saptami) | October 18 | Sunday |
| 24 | Dussehra (Mahashtami) | October 19 | Monday |
| 25 | Dussehra (Mahanavami) | October 20 | Tuesday |
| 26 | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | October 26 | Monday |
| 27 | Karwa Chauth | October 29 | Thursday |
| 28 | Naraka Chaturdashi | November 8 | Sunday |
| 29 | Govardhan Puja | November 9 | Monday |
| 30 | Bhai Dooj | November 11 | Wednesday |
| 31 | Chhath Puja (Pratihar Shasthi / Surya Shasthi) | November 15 | Sunday |
| 32 | Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day | November 24 | Tuesday |
| 33 | Hazarat Ali’s Birthday (Second Occurrence) | December 23 | Wednesday |
| 34 | Christmas Eve | December 24 | Thursday |
Click here to see official notification
How to Use This List for Better Work-Life Planning
- Mark Long Weekends: Combine holidays with weekends to plan mini vacations.
- Leave Management: Use restricted holidays strategically to extend your break.
- Avoid Peak Dates: For travel plans, book early around popular holidays to avoid surge pricing.
Top Tips to Plan Your Year Around These Holidays
- ✅ Start early to book holiday destinations.
- ✅ Plan family events like weddings or reunions around long weekends.
- ✅ Use this calendar to plan personal development courses or hobby classes during extended weekends.
Whether you’re a government employee or someone interacting frequently with government offices, this 2026 holiday list helps you plan your year better. Use this guide to make the most of your breaks, avoid bureaucratic delays during office closures, and strike a perfect work-life balance.
