Long Weekends Left in 2026: How to Turn a Few Days of Leave Into Five Breaks Before New Year
Diwali falls on a Sunday this year, but Dussehra, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas and New Year's Day can still give you long breaks. A simple leave planner, with travel ideas for each.
This year's festive calendar is a little unkind: Diwali falls on a Sunday, November 8. But with some smart planning, you can still turn a handful of leave days into several proper breaks before the year ends.
Here is a simple planner for the long weekends left in 2026, how much leave each needs, and some travel ideas.
Quick answer
- Dussehra: Saturday Oct 17 to Tuesday Oct 20, with 1 day of leave (Monday Oct 19), if your office doesn't already give it.
- Diwali week: Saturday Nov 7 to Wednesday Nov 11, with 2 to 3 days of leave.
- Guru Nanak Jayanti: Saturday Nov 21 to Tuesday Nov 24, with 1 day of leave (Monday Nov 23).
- Christmas: Friday Dec 25 to Sunday Dec 27, with no leave, or Thursday to Sunday with one day off.
- New Year: Friday Jan 1, 2027 to Sunday Jan 3, with no leave.
Holiday lists vary by state and employer, so check your own office calendar before booking.
1. Dussehra: October 17 to 20
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday, October 20, and is a holiday across most of India. Maha Ashtami (October 19) is also a holiday in many eastern states.
- Plan: take Monday, October 19 off for a four-day break from Saturday to Tuesday.
- Travel ideas:
- Kolkata for the last days of Durga Puja; see our pandal guide.
- Mysuru for the Dasara celebrations; the Jamboo Savari procession is on October 21.
- Varanasi or Delhi for Ramlila and Ravan Dahan.
Read more about how India celebrates Dussehra.
2. Diwali week: November 7 to 11
With Diwali on Sunday, November 8, many offices will give only that day. But the festival runs for five days, with Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj following it.
- Plan: take Monday Nov 9 and Tuesday Nov 10 off for a five-day break from Saturday Nov 7 to Wednesday Nov 11. Add Thursday and Friday (Nov 12 and 13) for a nine-day holiday that runs into the next weekend.
- Travel ideas: most people go home for Diwali. If you are travelling, book trains and flights early, as fares jump in Diwali week. Jaipur, Udaipur and Amritsar are beautiful when lit up.
Our Diwali 2026 guide lists all five days.
3. Chhath Puja: November 13 to 16
For families from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Chhath, with the main evening arghya on Sunday, November 15, is often a bigger travel date than Diwali. Many state governments in the region declare extra holidays. See our Chhath Puja guide for dates and travel tips.
4. Guru Nanak Jayanti: November 21 to 24
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) falls on Tuesday, November 24, according to Drik Panchang, and is a gazetted holiday. The same day is Kartik Purnima, when Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, with lakhs of diyas on the ghats.
- Plan: take Monday, November 23 off for a four-day weekend.
- Travel ideas:
- Amritsar's Golden Temple, beautifully lit for Gurpurab.
- Varanasi for Dev Deepawali, one of India's most spectacular sights. Book early.
- Rishikesh or the Himalayan foothills for crisp late-November weather.
Note that some calendars place Gurpurab on November 25, so check with your local gurdwara.
5. Christmas: December 25 to 27
Christmas falls on a Friday, giving everyone a three-day weekend without leave. Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) is a holiday in some states and a restricted holiday for central government staff.
- Plan: take Thursday off for a four-day break, or take the week of December 28 to 31 off to bridge straight into New Year.
- Travel ideas: Goa, Shillong, Kerala's backwaters or Puducherry for Christmas celebrations.
6. New Year: January 1 to 3, 2027
New Year's Day 2027 is a Friday, so many offices give a natural long weekend. Combined with Christmas, taking four days of leave (December 28 to 31) gives you a ten-day break from December 25 to January 3.
Smart tips for festive travel
- Book early: Diwali, Chhath and year-end trains and flights fill up fast. IRCTC opens bookings up to 60 days ahead.
- Watch for fare traps: compare prices on official sites and beware of fake booking pages; see our guide to festive sale scams.
- Check air quality: North Indian cities often have poor air in November. Consider hill stations or the coast if anyone in your family has breathing problems.
- Wedding season: late November and early December are busy wedding dates, so hotels in some cities fill up. See our wedding season guide.
Related reading
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
- BankBazaar: Central Government Holidays List in 2026
- Drik Panchang: Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 date
- Samvat: Dussehra 2026 (Vijayadashami): Date and Tithi
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Stories, explainers and features published by The Daily, based on public sources that are listed with every article.
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