India Festival Calendar 2026–2027
Experience India Through Its Festivals
India is a land of festivals, colours, traditions and celebrations. Throughout the year, different regions of India come alive with religious festivals, cultural events, music, dance, food and colourful processions.
For travellers, experiencing an Indian festival can add a completely different dimension to a holiday — from the colours of Holi in North India and the lights of Diwali across the country, to the magnificent Durga Puja in Kolkata, Onam in Kerala, Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan.
Use our India Festival Calendar to discover some of the country’s most important festivals and plan your India holiday around the celebrations that interest you most.
India Festival Calendar 2026
January 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 January | Makar Sankranti | North & West India | Kite flying, rituals and colourful celebrations |
| 14 January | Pongal | Tamil Nadu | A major harvest festival with decorated homes, traditional food and cultural celebrations |
| 23 January | Vasant Panchami | North India | A festival celebrating spring, knowledge and Goddess Saraswati |
Best for travellers: Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu offer particularly interesting cultural experiences around January’s harvest and seasonal festivals.
February 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 February | Maha Shivaratri | Varanasi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh & across India | Temple ceremonies, prayers and night-long celebrations |
Travel highlight: Varanasi is one of India’s most atmospheric destinations for experiencing Hindu religious traditions.
March 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 March | Holi | Delhi, Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Rajasthan | Colours, music, dancing and street celebrations |
| 19 March | Ugadi / Gudi Padwa | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra | Traditional New Year celebrations |
| 21 March | Gangaur | Rajasthan | Traditional processions and celebrations dedicated to Gauri |
| 26 March | Rama Navami | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh & across India | Religious ceremonies and temple celebrations |
| 31 March | Mahavir Jayanti | Rajasthan, Gujarat & Jain centres | Jain religious celebrations |
Festival Highlight – Holi
Holi is one of India’s most famous festivals. The festival of colours is celebrated with music, dancing, sweets and people throwing coloured powder and water at each other.
Best places: Mathura & Vrindavan, Jaipur, Delhi and Rajasthan.
April 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 April | Good Friday | Goa, Kerala & Christian communities across India | Religious ceremonies and processions |
| 5 April | Easter | Goa, Kerala & Christian communities | Church services and traditional celebrations |
| 14 April | Baisakhi | Punjab, Amritsar | Harvest celebrations, music, dancing and visits to the Golden Temple |
| 14 April | Tamil New Year | Tamil Nadu | Traditional celebrations and festive meals |
Festival Highlight – Baisakhi
Baisakhi is particularly significant in Punjab and is an excellent time to combine a visit to Amritsar and the Golden Temple with a cultural experience.
May 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Buddha Purnima | Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar | Buddhist prayers, ceremonies and pilgrimages |
Festival Highlight – Buddha Purnima
For travellers interested in Buddhism and Indian spirituality, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath are particularly meaningful destinations around Buddha Purnima.
June 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June | Maharana Pratap Jayanti | Rajasthan | Cultural programmes and celebrations |
| 21 June | International Yoga Day | Rishikesh, Haridwar & across India | Yoga sessions, meditation and wellness activities |
| 26 June | Muharram | Across India | Religious observances and processions |
July 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 July | Jagannath Rath Yatra | Puri, Odisha | One of India’s largest religious processions |
| 29 July | Guru Purnima | Varanasi, Rishikesh & spiritual centres | Spiritual ceremonies and traditions |
Festival Highlight – Rath Yatra
The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri is one of India’s most spectacular religious celebrations, featuring enormous decorated chariots carrying the deities through the streets.
August 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August | Independence Day | Delhi & across India | National celebrations and cultural programmes |
| 15 August | Hariyali Teej | Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana | Traditional dress, songs and women’s celebrations |
| 26 August | Onam | Kerala | Floral decorations, traditional meals, dances and cultural events |
| 28 August | Raksha Bandhan | North & Central India | Family celebrations symbolising the bond between brothers and sisters |
Festival Highlight – Onam
Onam is Kerala’s major annual festival. Travellers can experience traditional Pookalam floral decorations, Onam Sadya meals, cultural performances and the festive atmosphere of Kerala.
September 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September | Janmashtami | Mathura & Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh | Temple celebrations, music and performances |
| 14 September | Ganesh Chaturthi | Mumbai, Pune & Maharashtra | Huge Ganesh idols, processions and immersion ceremonies |
| 25 September | Ganesh Visarjan | Mumbai & Maharashtra | Grand processions and immersion celebrations |
Festival Highlight – Ganesh Chaturthi
Mumbai becomes especially vibrant during Ganesh Chaturthi, when magnificent Ganesha idols are installed in homes and public pandals before being taken in procession for immersion.
October 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 October | Navratri Begins | Gujarat, Rajasthan & North India | Nine nights of worship, music and dance |
| 19 October | Durga Ashtami | Kolkata, West Bengal | Durga Puja ceremonies and magnificent decorations |
| 20 October | Dussehra / Vijayadashami | Delhi, Mysore, Varanasi & across India | Processions, performances and symbolic victory of good over evil |
| 29 October | Karwa Chauth | North India | Traditional women’s festival and evening rituals |
Festival Highlight – Navratri & Dussehra
Navratri is celebrated throughout India but takes very different forms in different regions.
Gujarat: Garba and Dandiya dancing
West Bengal: Durga Puja
Delhi & North India: Ramlila and Dussehra celebrations
Mysore: Royal Dasara celebrations
November 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 November | Diwali / Deepavali | Across India | Lamps, decorations, fireworks, sweets and family celebrations |
| 10 November | Govardhan Puja | North India | Traditional religious celebrations |
| 11 November | Bhai Dooj | North & Central India | Family celebrations |
| 15 November | Chhath Puja | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Jharkhand | Beautiful riverside rituals at sunrise and sunset |
| 24 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Amritsar, Punjab & Sikh centres | Processions, prayers and celebrations |
Festival Highlight – Diwali
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important celebrations in India.
Homes, streets and monuments are decorated with lamps and lights, families exchange sweets and gifts, and temples and markets become especially vibrant.
Recommended destinations: Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Amritsar, Udaipur and Mumbai.
December 2026
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 December | Christmas | Goa, Kerala, Mumbai & Christian communities | Church services, decorations, markets and celebrations |
Festival Highlight – Christmas in Goa
Goa is one of India’s most popular destinations for Christmas, with beautifully decorated churches, midnight masses, music and festive celebrations.
India Festival Calendar 2027
January 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 14 January | Lohri | Punjab, Haryana & North India |
| 15 January | Makar Sankranti | Rajasthan, Gujarat & North India |
| 15 January | Pongal | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 January | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Punjab & Sikh communities |
| 26 January | Republic Day | Delhi & across India |
Republic Day – Delhi
Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi feature a spectacular parade, military displays and cultural performances.
Travellers interested in experiencing Republic Day should plan accommodation and sightseeing well in advance.
February 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 11 February | Vasant Panchami | North India |
| 19 February | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
| 20 February | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | North India |
March 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 6 March | Maha Shivaratri | Varanasi, Uttarakhand & across India |
| 21 March | Holika Dahan | North India |
| 22 March | Holi | Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Delhi & Rajasthan |
| 26 March | Good Friday | Goa, Kerala & Christian communities |
| 28 March | Easter | Goa, Kerala & Christian communities |
Best Festival Experience – Holi
For first-time visitors to India, Mathura and Vrindavan offer one of the country’s most memorable Holi experiences.
April 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 7 April | Ugadi / Gudi Padwa | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & Maharashtra |
| 14 April | Baisakhi | Punjab & Amritsar |
| 14 April | Tamil New Year | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 April | Rama Navami | Ayodhya & North India |
| 19 April | Mahavir Jayanti | Rajasthan, Gujarat & Jain centres |
May 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 17 May | Eid al-Adha / Bakrid* | Across India |
| 20 May | Buddha Purnima | Bodh Gaya, Sarnath & Buddhist centres |
June 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 7 June | Maharana Pratap Jayanti | Rajasthan |
| 15 June | Muharram* | Across India |
| 21 June | International Yoga Day | Rishikesh, Haridwar & across India |
July 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 5 July | Jagannath Rath Yatra | Puri, Odisha |
| 18 July | Guru Purnima | Varanasi, Rishikesh & spiritual centres |
August 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 15 August | Independence Day | Delhi & across India |
| 17 August | Raksha Bandhan | North & Central India |
| 25 August | Janmashtami | Mathura & Vrindavan |
| 15 August* | Eid-e-Milad | Across India |
September 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 4 September | Ganesh Chaturthi | Mumbai, Pune & Maharashtra |
| 12 September | Onam | Kerala |
Onam in Kerala
A Kerala holiday during Onam can combine cultural experiences with the state’s beautiful backwaters, beaches, hill stations and traditional cuisine.
October 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 7 October | Durga Ashtami | Kolkata & West Bengal |
| 8 October | Maha Navami | West Bengal & across India |
| 9 October | Dussehra / Vijayadashami | Delhi, Mysore, Varanasi & across India |
| 18 October | Karwa Chauth | North India |
| 29 October | Diwali | Across India |
| 30 October | Govardhan Puja | North India |
| 31 October | Bhai Dooj | North & Central India |
Festival Highlight – Diwali 2027
Diwali falls on 29 October 2027, making late October an excellent period for travellers wanting to experience India’s Festival of Lights.
November 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 4 November | Chhath Puja | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Jharkhand |
| 14 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Amritsar & Sikh centres |
December 2027
| Date | Festival | Where to Experience It |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December | Christmas | Goa, Kerala, Mumbai & Christian communities |
India’s Most Popular Festivals for International Travellers
If you are visiting India for the first time and want to experience a major Indian festival, consider:
Holi
Best time: March
Best places: Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Delhi
Diwali
Best time: October–November
Best places: Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Amritsar, Udaipur
Durga Puja
Best time: September–October
Best place: Kolkata
Ganesh Chaturthi
Best time: August–September
Best places: Mumbai, Pune
Onam
Best time: August–September
Best place: Kerala
Navratri
Best time: September–October
Best place: Gujarat
Jagannath Rath Yatra
Best time: June–July
Best place: Puri, Odisha
Buddha Purnima
Best time: April–May
Best places: Bodh Gaya, Sarnath
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Best time: November
Best place: Amritsar
Baisakhi
Best time: April
Best place: Amritsar & Punjab
Plan Your India Holiday Around a Festival
Festival travel can be an unforgettable way to experience India’s culture and traditions.
If you would like to visit India during a particular festival, Limitless India Vacations can design a tailor-made itinerary around the celebration.
We can arrange:
✓ Private tours
✓ Hotels and accommodation
✓ Airport transfers
✓ English-speaking guides
✓ Festival experiences
✓ Cultural activities
✓ Domestic transportation
✓ Train journeys
✓ India visa assistance
✓ Tailor-made India holidays
Tell Us Which Festival You Want to Experience
Choose your festival. Choose your dates. Let us plan the journey.
[PLAN MY INDIA HOLIDAY]
Important Note About Festival Dates
Many Indian festivals follow lunar or regional calendars, so their dates can vary from year to year and sometimes from region to region.
The dates shown on this page are intended as a travel-planning guide and should be reconfirmed before finalising your itinerary. Festival schedules, processions and local celebrations may also be announced or changed by local authorities.
Dates for Islamic festivals are particularly subject to moon sightings and may vary.
Last reviewed: August 2026
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