October 2026 will bring a series of national and festival-related holidays for schools and banks across India. Gandhi Jayanti will be observed on October 2, followed by Dussehra-related holidays in several states later in the month. School calendars will vary by state and institution, while bank closures will also depend on state-specific holidays listed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
October 2026 school holiday calendar
Gandhi Jayanti will be observed on October 2, 2026, which falls on a Friday. Other major occasions during the month include Dussehra and Saptami on October 18, Maha Ashtami and Dussehra on October 19, and Vijayadashami on October 20.
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti will fall on October 26, while Karva Chauth, also known as Karka Chaturthi, will be observed on October 29.
October 2026 holiday list
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 2 | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday |
| 18 | Dusshera (Saptami) |
| 19 | Dussehra (Mahashtami) |
| 20 | Dussehra (Mahanavmi) |
| 20 | Dussehra |
| 26 | Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday |
| 29 | Karaka Chaturthi (Karwa Chouth) |
Delhi school holidays
Schools in Delhi will observe Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and Vijayadashami on October 20. October 26 and October 29 are also included in the holiday calendar.
However, schools may have additional days off during the Dussehra or autumn break. The exact schedule can differ between institutions, so students and parents should check the official circular issued by their school.
Uttar Pradesh school holidays
Schools in Uttar Pradesh will observe Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and Vijayadashami on October 20.
The Dussehra and Durga Puja break may extend over different periods depending on the district, school and education board. Students should refer to their institution’s academic calendar for the confirmed holiday dates.
Telangana school holidays
Telangana will have several festival-related holidays in October. Saddula Bathukamma will be observed on October 18, followed by Maha Navami on October 19 and Vijayadashami on October 20.
October 21 may also be observed as a holiday after Vijayadashami. The state holiday calendar also lists October 26 as a holiday.
West Bengal school holidays
Durga Puja will account for a significant portion of the October holiday period in West Bengal. Schools generally observe holidays around Maha Ashtami, Dussehra and other Puja-related days.
The length of the break can vary according to the state academic calendar and individual school schedules. Parents and students should therefore confirm the dates through their respective institutions before making travel or holiday arrangements.
October 2026 bank holiday calendar
Banks will remain closed for 16 days in October, including Sundays, the second and fourth Saturdays, and state-specific holidays listed in the RBI holiday calendar.
All bank branches across the country will remain closed on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti.
Tripura will observe a bank holiday on October 17 for Maha Saptami.
On October 20, banks in most states and Union territories will remain closed for Dussehra and Ayudhapooja. Sikkim and Manipur will be exceptions.
October 21 will be a bank holiday in Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Kerala and West Bengal for Vijaya Dasami, Durga Puja and Dasain.
Banks in Sikkim will remain closed on October 22 and October 23 for Durga Puja and Dasain.
On October 26, banks in Tripura, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed for Laxmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki’s Birthday.
Himachal Pradesh will observe a bank holiday on October 29 for Karva Chauth, while banks in Gujarat will remain closed on October 31 for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Birthday.
In addition to these state-specific holidays, banks will remain closed on Sundays as well as the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Digital banking services remain available
Although bank branches will not operate on the listed holidays, customers can continue using digital banking facilities. Internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs and UPI services will remain available for routine transactions.
Since school and bank holidays can differ by state and institution, students, parents and customers should check the latest official schedules issued by their school, bank or relevant authority before making plans.
