Thursday marks the start of a new year and schools will now start releasing their holiday calendar for the 2026-27 academic year. While the holiday calendar may
vary for private schools, there are some holidays which will be fixed for all schools and colleges around the country. Many schools across India will now stay closed for winter and New Year holidays during the first few weeks of January 2026. For example, Delhi schools have a winter break from 1 January to 15 January 2026 (end of the academic year). In Jammu and Kashmir, winter vacation extends into February 2026 with very long breaks for some classes (varies by class level). Some schools started these vacations at the end of December 2025. Some schools may also opt for online classes if there is thick fog. Across many states and school boards (CBSE, state boards), schools typically close for major national and cultural festivals in 2026, including:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day (holiday in some regions) |
| 26 January | Republic Day |
| 4–5 March | Holi / Holika Dahan (varies by region) |
| 31 March | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 3 April | Good Friday |
| 1 May | Labour / May Day |
| 15 August | Independence Day |
| 2 October | Gandhi Jayanti |
| 20 October | Dussehra |
| 8 November | Diwali (may be observed) |
| 24 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
Additionally, boards like CBSE, ICSE and state boards publish their own holiday lists, and private schools may follow slightly different schedules.
Most Indian schools take a summer break in May and June 2026 to avoid the peak of summer heat. Specific dates will differ by state and board; some states start summer holiday in early May and resume in June or early July, depending on the intensity of the heatwave in the area.
Parents and students should remember that these school holidays will vary as per lunar calendar, state orders, changing weather conditions and more. The above given holiday calendar is not finalised. Students enrolled in private schools should contact their schools for the exact dates of the holidays every month, as private schools decide their own holidays based on the requirements and government orders.
