Government Holidays 2026: Full List of Public Holidays

As we have officially stepped into 2026, it’s time to look for the official Central Government Holidays and plan the year. Notably, the government lists many festivals and other occasions as mandatory holidays for students, government employees, and even private workers. Here’s the list of all the gazetted and restricted holidays observed by Central Government offices this year. 

Gazetted (Mandatory) Central Government Holidays in 2026

There’s a total of 17 gazetted Central Government Holidays in 2026. What this means is that all the central government offices will remain closed on these 17 days. Here’s the list

Note: Dates for Islamic holidays are tentative and subject to change as these are based on the sighting of the moon.

Also Read: India Faces Another 25% Levy With Trump’s New Iran Tariff, Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Restricted Central Government Holidays 2026

Unlike gazetted Central Government Holidays, restricted ones are not mandatory. Restricted holidays are optional for Central Government employees, and they can choose 2 of these based on their religious and cultural preferences. 

Here’s the list of restricted central government holidays 2026: – 

Note: These restricted holidays are also employees’ rights, yet they should provide an advance notice and should receive their supervisor’s approval for smooth operation.

Also Read: Bajaj Chetak C25 Buying Guide: Is the Newest Electric Scooter Worth It?

Overall, the central government employees will get a total of 19 holidays in 2026. However, a few like Maha Shivaratri (Feb 15) and Chhath Puja (Nov 15) fall on Sundays in 2026, so they are not an extra day off for most employees.