The Government of West Bengal has released the official list of public, government and sectional holidays for 2026, outlining the days on which state offices will remain closed. The notification, issued by the Finance (Audit) Department under No. 4188-F(P2) dated 27 November 2025, specifies Public Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, State Government holidays, and community-specific Sectional Holidays.
The declaration has been made under the powers granted by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and the Central Government’s Home Affairs notification of 1957.
Public Holidays for 2026 (List-I)
These holidays are applicable under the Negotiable Instruments Act and will be observed across the state. Key public holidays include:
- New Year’s Day – 1 Jan (Thu)
- Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday – 12 Jan (Mon)
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Birthday – 23 Jan (Fri)
- Saraswati Puja (Sree Panchami) – 23 Jan (Fri)
- Republic Day – 26 Jan (Mon)
- Doljatra – 3 Mar (Tue)
- Eid-Ul-Fitr – 21 Mar (Sat)
- Ram Navami – 26 Mar (Thu)
- Mahavir Jayanti – 31 Mar (Tue)
- Good Friday – 3 Apr (Fri)
- Ambedkar Jayanti – 14 Apr (Tue)
- Bengali New Year (Poila Baisakh) – 15 Apr (Wed)
- May Day – 1 May (Fri)
- Buddha Purnima – 1 May (Fri)
- Rabindranath Tagore’s Birthday – 9 May (Sat)
- Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) – 27 May (Wed)
- Muharram – 26 Jun (Fri)
- Independence Day – 15 Aug (Sat)
- Janmashtami – 4 Sep (Fri)
- Gandhi Jayanti – 2 Oct (Fri)
- Mahalaya – 10 Oct (Sat)
- Durga Puja (Astami, Nabami, Dashami) – 19–21 Oct (Mon–Wed)
- Bhratridwitiya – 11 Nov (Wed)
- Guru Nanak’s Birthday – 24 Nov (Tue)
- Christmas – 25 Dec (Fri)
- Bank Annual Closing – 1 Apr (Wed) (Banks only)
Applicable only in offices where Saturdays are not full holidays.
State Government Holidays (List-II)
These apply to all government offices except the Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata, and the Collector of Stamp Revenue, Kolkata.
Highlights include:
- Day before Saraswati Puja – 22 Jan (Thu)
- Shab-e-Barat – 4 Feb (Wed)
- Birthday of Thakur Panchanan Barma – 14 Feb (Sat)
- Holi (day after Doljatra) – 4 Mar (Wed)
- Birth of Shri Shri Harichand Thakur – 17 Mar (Tue)
- Day before Eid-Ul-Fitr – 20 Mar (Fri)
- Day before Id-Ud-Zoha – 26 May (Tue)
- Rathayatra – 16 Jul (Thu)
- Fateha-Dwaz-Daham – 26 Aug (Wed)
- Rakhi Bandhan – 29 Aug (Fri)
- Vishwakarma Puja – 17 Sep (Thu)
- Multiple Durga Puja Additional Days – 15–24 Oct
- Additional Days for Lakshmi Puja – 26 Oct
- Additional Days for Kali Puja – 9–10 Nov
- Day After Bhratridwitiya – 12 Nov
- Additional Day for Chhat Puja – 16 Nov
- Karam Puja – Date to be notified
District-specific holidays include Birthday of Poet Bhanu Bhakt (Darjeeling & Kalimpong).
Certain community holidays fall on Sundays in 2026 and therefore do not appear in this list.
Sectional Holidays (List-III)
These holidays apply only to specific communities such as:
- Easter Saturday – 4 Apr (Christians only)
- Hul Diwas – 30 Jun (Santhal/Adibasi community)
Some important community festivals fall on Sundays in 2026 and are therefore not listed separately.
General Instructions Issued by the State
- No substitute holidays will be provided if a notified holiday later coincides with a weekly off/another non-working day.
- Moon-dependent festivals—Eid-Ul-Fitr, Bakrid, Muharram, Fateha-Dwaz-Daham, Shab-e-Barat—may change dates. Updated dates will be announced via TV, AIR, and newspapers.
- Departments may take action based on public announcements without waiting for a formal order.