Karnataka Public Holiday List 2026 Released: Full Festival Calendar Inside

The state government has issued the official Karnataka public holiday list for 2026, finalised during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The notification includes 20 general holidays for government offices, schools, and state-run institutions, covering major national events and regional festivals celebrated across Karnataka.

The 2026 list features all key national observances along with culturally significant festivals.
The year begins with Republic Day on 26 January, followed by Independence Day on 15 August and Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October-holidays observed nationwide.

Karnataka-specific cultural celebrations also feature prominently. Ugadi, the Kannada New Year, will be marked on 19 March, while Deepavali, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the state, falls on 10 November. Other holidays span religious and cultural traditions, ensuring broad inclusivity for citizens across communities.

Local Holidays for Kodagu District

Recognising the unique cultural identity of the Kodava community, the government has issued separate local holidays for Kodagu district. These include:

Kail Muhurta on 3 September 2026

Tula Sankramana on 18 October 2026

Huthri Festival on 26 November 2026

These dates apply exclusively to Kodagu and highlight the region's distinctive traditions.

Flexibility for Muslim Employees

The government has continued the practice of offering holiday adjustments for Muslim employees in government service.

If any festival such as Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Adha does not coincide with the dates mentioned in the 2026 holiday calendar, Muslim staff may avail an alternate holiday as per departmental guidelines. This ensures that religious observances are accommodated without affecting essential duties.

Festivals Falling on Weekends Excluded

Some important celebrations will not appear on the official list because they fall on non-working days.
For example:

Maha Shivaratri falls on 15 February 2026, a Sunday

Kannada Rajyotsava occurs on 1 November 2026, also a Sunday

As per government rules, festivals landing on Sundays or second Saturdays are not considered for additional public holidays.

All government offices across Karnataka will remain closed on the notified public holidays. However, department heads must ensure that essential and emergency services operate without interruption, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, transport, electricity, and public safety.

Karnataka Holiday List 2026:

January 14 (Wednesday): Uttarayana Punyakala / Makara Sankranti
January 26 (Monday): Republic Day
February 15 (Sunday): Maha Shivaratri
March 19 (Thursday): Ugadi Festival
March 21 (Saturday): Khutba-e-Ramzan
March 31 (Tuesday): Mahaveera Jayanthi
April 1 (Wednesday): Annual Accounts Closing (Banks)
April 3 (Friday): Good Friday
April 14 (Tuesday): Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti
April 20 (Monday): Basava Jayanti / Akshaya Tritiya
May 1 (Friday): May Day
May 28 (Thursday): Bakrid / Eid al Adha
June 26 (Friday): Last Day of Muharram
August 15 (Saturday): Independence Day
August 26 (Wednesday): Ed-Milad (Prophet's Birthday)
September 14 (Monday): Varasiddhi Vinayaka Vratha
October 2 (Friday): Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday
October 10 (Saturday): Mahalaya Amavasya
October 20 (Tuesday): Vijayadasami / Ayudha Pooja
October 26 (Monday): Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti
November 1 (Sunday): Kannada Rajyotsava
November 8 (Sunday): Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi
November 9 (Monday): Deepavali Holiday
November 27 (Friday): Kanakadasa Jayanti
December 25 (Friday): Christmas