Bank Holidays 2026 in India – Complete State-wise List & Calendar

Planning your financial activities around bank holidays is crucial for smooth transactions. This comprehensive guide provides the complete list of bank holidays for 2026 across all Indian states, helping you plan your banking needs effectively.

📅 Understanding Bank Holidays in India

Types of Bank Holidays

Holiday Type	Description	Banking Services
Gazetted Holidays	Mandatory holidays for all banks	Complete closure
Optional Holidays	Banks may choose to remain open	Limited services
State-specific Holidays	Holidays observed in specific states	Closure in that state only
Second & Fourth Saturdays	Regular weekly offs	Complete closure

📋 Month-wise Bank Holidays 2026

January 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	States
Jan 1	Thursday	New Year's Day	All India
Jan 14	Wednesday	Makar Sankranti/Pongal	Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
Jan 15	Thursday	Pongal	Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
Jan 26	Monday	Republic Day	All India

February 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	States
Feb 17	Tuesday	Mahashivratri	Multiple states
Feb 25	Wednesday	Guru Ravidas Jayanti	Punjab, Haryana, Himachal

🎯 Important Banking Holidays 2026

Major Nationwide Holidays

January 26 - Republic Day (Monday)
August 15 - Independence Day (Saturday)
October 2 - Gandhi Jayanti (Friday)
December 25 - Christmas Day (Friday)

Festival Holidays

Holi: March 14, 2026 (Saturday)
Diwali: November 8, 2026 (Sunday)
Eid-ul-Fitr: March 21, 2026 (Saturday)
Eid-ul-Adha: June 7, 2026 (Sunday)

🏛️ State-wise Bank Holidays 2026

Maharashtra

Major Holidays:
• Jan 26 - Republic Day
• May 1 - Maharashtra Day
• Aug 15 - Independence Day
• Oct 2 - Gandhi Jayanti
• Nov 1 - Diwali (Bhai Dooj)
• Dec 25 - Christmas

Delhi/NCR

Additional Holidays:
• Jan 26 - Republic Day
• Aug 15 - Independence Day
• Oct 2 - Gandhi Jayanti
• Oct 24 - Dussehra
• Nov 8 - Diwali
• Dec 25 - Christmas

Karnataka

Regional Holidays:
• Jan 14 - Makar Sankranti
• Jan 26 - Republic Day
• Aug 15 - Independence Day
• Sep 5 - Ganesh Chaturthi
• Oct 2 - Gandhi Jayanti
• Nov 1 - Kannada Rajyotsava

🏦 Bank Working Days 2026

Saturday Working Pattern

As per RBI guidelines:

1st & 3rd Saturdays: Banks open (10 AM - 4 PM)
2nd & 4th Saturdays: Banks closed
5th Saturday (if any): Banks closed

Monthly Working Days Count

Month	Working Days	Saturdays Off	Holidays
January	22	10, 24	1, 14, 15, 26
February	20	14, 28	17, 25
March	23	14, 28	14, 21, 29

📱 Online Banking During Holidays

Services Available 24/7

Internet banking transactions
Mobile banking apps
ATM cash withdrawals
UPI payments
Net banking bill payments

Services Not Available

Cheque clearance
Demand draft issuance
New account opening
Loan processing
FD/RD creation

📅 Quarterly Banking Calendar 2026

Q1: January - March

Key Dates:
• Jan 1: New Year
• Jan 26: Republic Day
• Mar 14: Holi
• Mar 21: Eid-ul-Fitr
• Mar 29: Good Friday

Q2: April - June

Key Dates:
• Apr 14: Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti
• May 1: Labour Day
• Jun 7: Eid-ul-Adha
• Jun 21: Rath Yatra

⚠️ Important Deadlines Around Holidays

EMI Due Dates

If EMI due date falls on holiday:

Auto-debit happens on next working day
No late fees if within grace period
Plan payments before holiday weekends

Cheque Clearing

Cheque Presented	Holiday Period	Clearing Date
Friday before holiday	Saturday-Monday holiday	Next Tuesday
Thursday before long weekend	Friday-Monday holiday	Next Tuesday

🏢 Private vs Public Bank Holidays

Public Sector Banks

Follow RBI holiday list strictly
All gazetted holidays observed
State-specific holidays followed

Private Sector Banks

May remain open on optional holidays
Skeleton staff on some holidays
Check with specific bank branch

📲 How to Check Holiday Updates

Official Sources

RBI Website: www.rbi.org.in
Individual Bank Websites
Bank Branch Notices
Mobile Banking Apps

SMS Alerts

To check holidays via SMS:
Send: HOLIDAY  to bank number
Example: HOLIDAY MH to 567676

🎫 Optional Holidays 2026

List of Optional Holidays

Jan 23: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti
Apr 14: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti
Jun 15: Maharana Pratap Jayanti
Nov 19: Guru Nanak Jayanti

Restricted Holidays

Employees can choose 2-3 from this list:

Maha Shivratri
Ram Navami
Mahavir Jayanti
Buddha Purnima

📊 Banking Operations During Holidays

ATM Services

Service	Availability	Limitations
Cash Withdrawal	24/7	Daily limit applies
Balance Enquiry	24/7	None
Mini Statement	24/7	Last 10 transactions only

🔒 Security Considerations

Safe Banking During Holidays

Avoid large cash withdrawals before holidays
Use digital payments for transactions
Keep emergency bank contacts handy
Monitor account activity regularly

📞 Emergency Banking Services

24/7 Helplines

Service	Contact	Available For
Card Blocking	Toll-free numbers	Lost/stolen cards
Net Banking Issues	Customer care	Login problems
Fraud Reporting	Dedicated helplines	Suspicious transactions

📱 Digital Banking Alternatives

Services Working on Holidays

UPI Payments: Immediate transfer
IMPS: 24x7 fund transfer
NEFT: Next working day
RTGS: Working hours only

🎯 Tips for Holiday Banking

Planning Ahead

Withdraw cash 1-2 days before major holidays
Pay bills online before holiday weekends
Submit cheques well in advance
Plan loan EMIs considering holidays

📅 Long Weekends in 2026

Planning Your Banking

Long Weekend	Dates	Banking Impact
Republic Day	Jan 24-26	3-day closure
Holi Weekend	Mar 13-15	3-day closure
Independence Day	Aug 15-17	3-day closure
Diwali Break	Nov 7-9	3-day closure

🏦 Special Banking Arrangements

Festival Season

During major festivals:

Extended banking hours before holidays
Special counters for festival needs
Additional ATM cash loading

Month-end Operations

Last working day considerations:

Higher transaction volumes
Plan visits accordingly
Use digital alternatives

📝 Conclusion: Smart Banking in 2026

Knowing the bank holiday calendar helps you plan financial activities efficiently. With digital banking options available 24/7, you can manage most transactions even during holidays. However, for services requiring branch visits, plan ahead using this comprehensive guide.

Key Takeaways:

Bookmark this page for quick reference
Set reminders for important banking dates
Use digital banking during holidays
Plan cash needs before long weekends

Note: This list is based on previous year patterns and RBI guidelines. Always confirm with your local bank branch for final holiday schedules.

Stay updated with OneStopRead for the latest banking and financial information throughout 2026!