Your Handy Guide To All The Long Weekends In 2026
Everything you need to plan your holidays in advance
Long weekends have a way of making the year feel a little lighter. They give us space to pause, recharge, or simply step away from the everyday routine without taking too many leaves. In 2026, the calendar works in our favor, with several public holidays and festivals conveniently landing close to weekends. Some months are quieter, offering small pauses or lead-ins to bigger breaks, while others bring multiple opportunities to stretch a few days into a proper mini-vacation.
Whether you want to use these breaks for short trips, family visits, or just time at home to reset, planning around these long weekends can make a big difference. Take a day or two off in the right places, and you can turn ordinary weekends into extended breaks.
This guide maps out all the long weekends in 2026, month by month, including holidays that may vary by region or workplace, so you can plan ahead and make the most of every opportunity to take that break you deserve.
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January
January begins on a generous note. Taking January 2 off turns New Year’s into a proper long weekend, giving you time to ease into the year instead of rushing back immediately. Later in the month, Vasant Panchmi and Republic Day come together to offer another extended break. It is a good month for short trips or simply settling back into a routine without feeling rushed.
January 1–4:
Thursday, January 1: New Year’s day
Friday, January 2: take the day off
Saturday, January 3
Sunday, January 4
January 23–26:
Friday, January 23: Vasant Panchmi
Saturday, January 24
Sunday, January 25
Monday, January 26: Republic Day
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February
February does not bring any standalone holidays, but it still plays its part. Being the shortest month, it moves quickly, and taking the Friday off at the end sets you up neatly for the Holi break in March.
Friday, February 27: Take the day off
Saturday, February 28: Weekend connects into the Holi break in March.
March
March more than delivers. With Holi, Eid-Ul-Fitar, and the extended stretch around Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti, it has the highest number of long weekends in the year. Whether you want a short reset or a longer trip, March gives you multiple chances to step away without exhausting your leave balance.
March 1-3:
Sunday, March 1
Monday, March 2: Take the day off
Tuesday, March 3: Holi
March 20-22:
Friday, March 20: Eid-Ul-Fitar
Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22
March 26-31:
Thursday, March 26: Ram Navami
Friday, March 27: Take the day off
Saturday, March 28
Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30: Take the day off
Tuesday, March 31: Mahavir Jayanti
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April
April’s long weekend falls neatly into place with Good Friday and Easter. With no extra leave required, it works well for a relaxed trip or a slower few days at home. The weather also makes it easier to spend time outdoors without feeling drained.
April 3-5:
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Saturday, April 4
Sunday, April 5: Easter
May
May offers more than one chance to slow down. Buddha Purnima creates an early long weekend, while taking May 25 off later in the month leads to a longer stretch around Bakrid. With summer setting in, these breaks are better suited to relaxed travel, hill destinations, or time indoors to recharge.
May 1-3:
Friday, May 1: Buddha Purnima
Saturday, May 2
Sunday, May 3
May 23-26:
Saturday, May 23
Sunday, May 24
Monday, May 25: take the day off
Tuesday, May 26: Eid ul-Adha (Bakrid)
June
June offers a clean long weekend toward the end of the month. With Muharram falling on a Friday, taking one day off on Monday stretches the break into four days. It is a good point in the year to pause, especially before the second half starts picking up pace.
June 26-29:
Friday, June 26: Muharram
Saturday, June 27
Sunday, June 28
Monday, June 29: Take the day off
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July
July brings a compact long weekend with Rath Yatra falling on a Thursday. Taking Friday off turns it into a four-day break, depending on whether your workplace observes Rath Yatra as a holiday. It is worth checking your company calendar in advance, as this break works well for a short trip or a slower few days at home.
July 16-19:
Thursday, July 16: Rath Yatra
Friday, July 17: Take the day off
Saturday, July 18
Sunday, July 19
August
Late August lines up well, even though part of it depends on where you work. Milad-un-Nabi and Onam are holidays that vary by company and region, so not everyone may get both days off. Even if those are working days for you, Raksha Bandhan falling on a Friday still guarantees a long weekend, making this stretch useful for a short break or time with family.
August 25-30:
Tuesday, August 25: Milad-un-Nabi
Wednesday, August 26: Onam
Thursday, August 27: Take the day off
Friday, August 28: Raksha Bandhan
Saturday, August 29
Sunday, August 30
September
September stands out for offering two breaks close together. Janmashtami provides a quick pause early in the month, while Ganesh Chaturthi extends into a longer weekend. This makes it a convenient month for travel before the year begins to feel crowded with festivals and deadlines.
September 4-6:
Friday, September 4: Janmashtami
Saturday, September 5
Sunday, September 6
September 12-14:
Saturday, September 12
Sunday, September 13
Monday, September 14: Ganesh Chaturthi
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October
October is one of the most generous months for time off. Gandhi Jayanti offers a ready-made long weekend, and taking one day off before Dussehra opens up a longer break later in the month. It is a popular period for travel, so planning ahead will be necessary.
October 2-4:
Friday, October 2: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Saturday, October 3
Sunday, October 4
October 17-20:
Saturday, October 17
Sunday, October 18
Monday, October 19: take the day off
Tuesday, October 20: Dussehra
November
November is anchored by the Diwali stretch, which can easily turn into a five-day break if you take one day off in between. With Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj spread across the week, it is a good time for travel or extended family visits for the festive season. Later in the month, taking one day off before Guru Nanak Jayanti creates another long weekend, making November one of the more generous months for time off toward the end of the year.
November 7-11:
Saturday, November 7
Sunday, November 8: Diwali
Monday, November 9: Govardhan Puja
Tuesday, November 10: Take leave
Wednesday, November 11: Bhai Dooj
November 21-24:
Saturday, November 21
Sunday, November 22
Monday, November 23: Take the day off
Tuesday, November 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti
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December
December ends the year with a Christmas long weekend. It offers a chance to slow down and reflect before the year closes. While it may not be the longest break, it fits naturally into the holiday mood and pairs well with year-end leave if you have it.
December 25-27:
Friday, December 25: Christmas
Saturday, December 26
Sunday, December 27