Govt issues list of holidays for 2026

Jammu, Dec 13: The government on Saturday notified 47 holidays to be observed in the government offices and educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir during the calendar year 2026.

Through a separate GAD order, the government has also listed 25 public holidays to be observed during the calendar year 2026 under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Twenty five public holidays have been declared by the J&K government, in exercise of the powers conferred by the explanation of Section 25 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Central Act 26 of 1881).

The list of public holidays during 2026 includes Republic Day on January 26; Mahashivratri on February 15; Holi (for Jammu province only) on March 4; Shab-i-Qadr on March 17; first Navratra on March 19; Jumat-ul-Vida on March 20; Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on March 21; yearly closing of Banks (for Banks only) on April 1; Baisakhi on April 14; birthday of Dr B R Ambedkar on April 14; Buddha Purnima on May 1; Eid-ul-Azha on May 27 and 28; Ashoora will be observed on June 26 and Guru Hargobindji's birthday on July 5.

Other public holidays include Independence Day on August 15; Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi on August 26; Friday following Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi on August 28; Janamashtami on September 4; birthday of Maharaja Hari Singhji on September 23; Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2; Dussehra on October 20; Accession Day on October 26; Diwali on November 8; Guru Nanak Devji's birthday on November 24 and Christmas on December 25, 2023.

A separate order listed 28 holidays to be observed in the government offices and educational institutions throughout J&K during the calendar year 2026.

This list includes all holidays specified under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, except Holi and a holiday on account of yearly closing of banks (which is exclusively for banks) and in addition, there will be five holidays on account of Guru Gobind Singhji’s birthday on January 5; Shab-i-Miraj on January 17; Nauroz on March 21; Ramanavami on March 26 and Mahanavami on October 20.

The list also included seven provincial holidays, eight local holidays and four restricted holidays to be observed in the government offices and educational institutions of J&K.

Provincial holidays for Kashmir province include Friday following Shab-i-Miraj on January 21; Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib on May 23; Mela Khir Bhawani on June 22, and Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib on October 8. Provincial holidays for Jammu province will be Lohri on January 13; Shri Guru Ravidass' birthday on February 1, and Holi on March 4.

The list of local holidays will include Mela Bahu Fort (for Jammu district only) on March 26; Mahavir Jayanti (for Jammu district only) on March 31; Good Friday (for Jammu district only) on April 3; Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib (for Kishtwar district only) on June 21; Sarthal Deviji Yatra (for Kishtwar district only) on June 21 and 22; Kailash Yatra (for tehsil Bhaderwah and tehsil Bhalla only) on September 9 and 10; Mela Pat (for tehsil Bhaderwah and tehsil Bhalla only) on September 18 and 19 and Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib (for Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts only) on November 10.

Four restricted holidays include Parshuram Jayanti (for Jammu province only) on April 19; Martyr's Day of Guru Arjun Devji on June 16; Kabir Jayanti (for Jammu province only) on June 29, and Raskha Bandhan on August 28.

“All the Muslim holidays are subject to the appearance of the moon,” both orders specified.