The year 2026 is going to be very special in terms of religious, cultural and national festivals. The new year will start with major festivals like English New Year and Makar Sankranti, while the whole year will see a long series of fasts, festivals, anniversaries and religious rituals as per the Hindu calendar. From Chaitra Navratri to Sharad Navratri, major festivals like Mahashivratri, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Chhath Puja will be celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm across the country.
2026 Many important festivals of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Muslim religions are falling together, which will give a glimpse of religious harmony and cultural diversity. Besides, national festivals like Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti will also be celebrated with full respect. According to religious beliefs, the importance of Panchang increases to observe fast and worship on the right date.
Read also: 1 Why is English New Year celebrated only in January, what is the reason behind it?
The new year will start on January 1, 2026 with English New Year and Guru Pradosh Vrat. There will be bath and donation on Paush Purnima on 3rd January and this day will also be considered as the beginning of Magh month. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti will be celebrated on 5 January. Sakat Chauth and Saubhagyasundari fast will be observed on 6th January.
13 Lohri will be celebrated on January 14 and the festivals of Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Uttarayan will be celebrated on 14 January. Monthly Shivratri and Shabe Meraj will fall together on 16 January. Mauni Amavasya will start on 18th January and Magh Gupt Navratri will start from 19th January.
Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja will be held on 23 January. Bhimashtami will be celebrated along with Republic Day on 26 January. At the end of the month, Jaya Ekadashi, Bhishma Dwadashi and Gandhiji’s death anniversary will come.
February will start with Magh Purnima and Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Sankashti Chaturthi on 5th February and Kalashtami on 9th February And Janaki Jayanti will be celebrated.
The holy festival of Mahashivratri will fall on 15th February. After this, Phalgun Amavasya, Phulera Dooj and Ramzan will begin. There will be Amalaki Ekadashi and Shukla Pradosh fast in the last days of the month.
In March, Holika Dahan will be played on 3rd March and Holi will be played on 4th March. Rang Panchami, Sheetala Saptami and Kalashtami will also fall in this month.
19 Chaitra Navratri, Ghatasthapana, Gudi Padwa and New Year 2083 will begin on March. Ram Navami will be celebrated on 26 March and Mahavir Jayanti on 31 March.
Hanuman Jayanti and Chaitra Purnima will be held in April on 2nd April. Aries Sankranti, Baisakhi and Ambedkar Jayanti will be celebrated on 14 April.
19 There will be a coincidence of Akshaya Tritiya and Parashuram Jayanti in April. Ganga Saptami, Sita Navami and Narasimha Chaturdashi will also fall in this month.
May will start with Buddha Purnima. After this will come Narad Jayanti, Apara Ekadashi and Vrish Sankranti.
Vat Savitri Vrat and Shani Jayanti will be held on 16th May. Ganga Dussehra will be celebrated on 26th May and Bakrid on 28th May.
Nirjala Ekadashi, Monthly Shivratri and Somvati Amavasya will be special in June.
Yoga Day will be celebrated on 21st June. Kabir Jayanti will also take place this month on Jyeshtha Purnima.
In July, Jagannath Rath Yatra will be taken out on 16th July. Chaturmas will start with Devshayani Ekadashi.
Guru Purnima will be celebrated on 29th July.
Hariyali Teej, Independence Day and Nag Panchami will be prominent in August.
Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on 28th August and Eid-e-Milad on 31st August.
Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Hartalika Teej will come in September.
Pitru Paksha will begin after Anant Chaturdashi and Bhadrapada Purnima.
Sharad Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra will be big festivals in October.
Karva Chauth will be celebrated on 29th October and Skanda Shashthi on 31st October.
The festivals of Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj will come in November. 06 Dhanteras, Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) and Dhanvantari Jayanti will be celebrated on the day of November. Whereas, Masik Shivratri will be celebrated on 07th November and Diwali, Narak Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Kuber Puja will be celebrated on 08th November. According to the Panchang, Kartik Amavasya and Somvati Amavasya will be celebrated on 09 November 2026. Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on 10th November 2026 and Chandra Darshan, Bhai Dooj, Chitragupta Puja and Yam Dwitiya will be celebrated on 11th November. Chhath Puja will be held on 15th November and Tulsi Vivah along with Devotthan Ekadashi.
Mokshada Ekadashi, Geeta Jayanti and Margashirsha Purnima will have special significance in December.
25 Christmas will be celebrated in December and the year will end with Kalashtami.
