The Karnataka government has officially unveiled the public holiday schedule for the year 2026, applicable across the state including major cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kodagu. The notification outlines a total of 20 public holidays for the upcoming year, during which all government offices, departments, and banks will remain closed.
Complete List of Karnataka Public Holidays for 2026
Residents and businesses in Karnataka can now mark their calendars for the official days off in 2026. The list encompasses national, religious, and state-specific festivals. The holidays are as follows:
- January 15 (Thursday): Uttarayana Punyakala, Makara Sankranti Festival
- January 26 (Monday): Republic Day
- March 19 (Thursday): Ugadi Festival
- March 21 (Saturday): Khutub-E-Ramzan
- March 31 (Tuesday): Mahaveera Jayanthi
- April 3 (Friday): Good Friday
- April 14 (Tuesday): Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi
- April 20 (Monday): Basava Jayanthi, Akshaya Tritiya
- May 1 (Friday): May Day
- May 28 (Thursday): Bakrid
- June 26 (Friday): Last Day of Moharam
- August 15 (Saturday): Independence Day
- August 26 (Wednesday): Eid-Milad
- September 14 (Monday): Varasiddhi Vinayaka Vrata
- October 2 (Friday): Gandhi Jayanthi
- October 20 (Tuesday): Mahanavami, Ayudhapooja
- October 21 (Wednesday): Vijayadasami
- November 10 (Tuesday): Balipadyami, Deepavali
- November 27 (Friday): Kanakadasa Jayanthi
- December 25 (Friday): Christmas
Important Exclusions and Clarifications
The official Karnataka public holiday calendar 2026 does not include several festivals that coincide with weekends. Notably, Maha Shivaratri (February 15), Maharshi Valmiki Jayanthi (October 25), Kannada Rajyothsava (November 1), and Naraka Chaturdashi (November 8) all fall on Sundays in 2026. Furthermore, Mahalaya Amavasye (October 10) lands on a second Saturday, which is already a non-working day.
The government notification also specified that a separate list of holidays for educational institutions will be issued by the Commissioner of Public Instructions, meaning the school holiday schedule may differ.
Restricted Holidays for Karnataka in 2026
In addition to the mandatory public holidays, the state has also published a list of restricted holidays. These are optional holidays that employees in government and some private sectors may avail, subject to organizational rules. The Karnataka restricted holiday list 2026 includes 21 days:
- January 1 (Thursday): New Year
- January 27 (Tuesday): Sri Madvanavami
- February 4 (Wednesday): Shab-e-Barath
- March 2 (Monday): Holi Festival
- March 17 (Tuesday): Shab-e-Qadar
- March 20 (Friday): Jumat-Ul-Wida
- March 23 (Monday): Devara Daseemaiah Jayanthi
- March 27 (Friday): Sri Ramanavami
- April 4 (Saturday): Holy Saturday
- April 21 (Tuesday): Sri Shankarayacharya Jayanthi
- April 22 (Wednesday): Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi
- August 21 (Friday): Varamahalakshmi Vrata
- August 27 (Thursday): Yajur Upakarma
- August 28 (Friday): Brahma Shri Narayana Guru Jayanthi, Raksha Bandhan
- September 4 (Friday): Sri Krishna Janmashtami
- September 8 (Tuesday): Kanya Mariyamma Jayanthi
- September 17 (Thursday): Vishwakarma Jayanthi
- September 25 (Friday): Ananta Padmanabha Vrata
- November 24 (Tuesday): Guru Nanak Jayanthi
- November 26 (Thursday): Huttari Festival
- December 24 (Thursday): Christmas Eve
This restricted list excludes festivals that fall on Sundays or on the already declared public holidays. These exclusions include Tula Sankramana (October 18), Souramana Ugadi (April 14), Buddha Poornima (May 1), Onam/Rig-Upakarma (August 26), and Swarna Gowri Vrata (September 14).
Key Takeaways for Residents and Businesses
The early release of the Bengaluru public holiday calendar 2026 allows for advanced planning for the year. With a mix of national and regional festivals, the list reflects Karnataka's diverse cultural fabric. Businesses, especially those in Bengaluru and Mysuru, can now schedule projects, manage human resources, and plan operations around these 20 non-working days. For the general public, it offers a clear view of the long weekends and festival breaks to plan vacations and family gatherings efficiently.
