The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially announced the bank holiday calendar for the year 2026, providing crucial advance information for the public. According to the released schedule, the month of January 2026 will see significant disruptions in banking operations. Branches of both public and private sector banks across various cities will remain closed for a total of 10 days throughout the month. This count is exclusive of the regular closures on the second and fourth Saturdays.
Complete List of Bank Holidays in January 2026
The closures are spread across the month, coinciding with a mix of national festivals, state-specific celebrations, and important observances. Customers are strongly advised to plan their bank visits carefully by noting the following dates and the specific cities where banks will be non-operational.
January 1, 2026: New Year's Day will see bank branches closed in Aizawl, Chennai, Gangtok, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Kolkata, and Shillong. This day also marks Gaan-Ngai in some regions.
January 2, 2026: Banks in Aizawl, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram will remain shut for New Year celebrations and Mannam Jayanthi.
January 3, 2026: A holiday in Lucknow on account of the birthday of Hazrat Ali.
January 12, 2026: Bank branches in Kolkata will be closed to observe the birth Day of Swami Vivekananda.
January 14, 2026: The festival of Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu will lead to bank closures in Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and Itanagar.
Key Festive Closures in Mid-January
January 15, 2026: This is a major holiday for several southern and eastern states. Banks will remain closed in Bengaluru, Chennai, Gangtok, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada for Uttarayana Punyakala, Pongal, Maghe Sankranti, and Makara Sankranti.
January 16 & 17, 2026: Chennai will observe two consecutive holidays for Thiruvalluvar Day and Uzhavar Thirunal, respectively.
January 23, 2026: Multiple occasions lead to bank holidays in several cities. Branches in Agartala, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata will be closed for the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Saraswati Puja (Shree Panchami), Vir Surendrasai Jayanti, and Basanta Panchami.
January 26, 2026: Republic Day will be a pan-India bank holiday. Branches will remain closed in all major cities including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada.
Planning Your Banking Activities
The RBI's early notification aims to help citizens and businesses avoid inconvenience. With ten non-working days concentrated in a single month, it is imperative for individuals to manage their financial transactions, including cheque clearances, cash withdrawals, and loan-related work, well in advance.
Given the city-specific nature of many holidays, the impact will vary across the country. For instance, while Chennai faces a block of four holidays between January 15-17, other metros might have fewer closures. Customers should verify the list for their specific location before heading to their branch.
The central bank's holiday calendar is a critical tool for financial planning at the start of the new year. It ensures smooth systemic operations while respecting the cultural and religious diversity of the nation. Account holders are encouraged to leverage digital banking services like net banking and mobile apps on these closure days for basic transactions, though services like cash deposits or withdrawals will naturally be unavailable.
