Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. The Festival of Lights is one of the world’s great celebrations — and in several countries, an official public holiday. But its status varies: a gazetted holiday in India, a bank holiday in parts of the UK’s orbit, and a vibrant cultural festival (but a working day) in much of the West. Here is the full picture for 2026.
Where Diwali is a public holiday in 2026
- India: gazetted public holiday on 8 November (Diwali/Deepavali).
- Pakistan: Diwali is observed by the Hindu community; it is not a national public holiday, though some provinces grant leave.
- United Kingdom: not a bank holiday — but Leicester hosts one of the world’s largest Diwali celebrations outside India.
- United States, Canada, Australia: not public holidays; widely celebrated culturally.
- Elsewhere: Diwali is a public holiday in countries with large Hindu populations, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana — dates and official names vary, so check locally.
Why 8 November, and why it moves
Diwali falls on the new moon (Amavasya) of the Hindu month Kartika, which is why the date shifts each year — it can land anywhere from mid-October to mid-November. In 2026 the new moon falls on 8 November, a Sunday. Because it lands on a weekend, the practical “day off” effect is muted in 2026 for office workers, but the celebrations themselves — five days of festivities culminating on the main night — are unaffected.
What the festival involves
Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, associated in much of India with Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. Homes are cleaned and decorated, diyas (oil lamps) and candles are lit, fireworks light the sky, families exchange sweets and gifts, and businesses open new account books. In 2026, expect the celebrations to peak over the weekend of 7–8 November, with related festivals — Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooja — spanning the surrounding days.
Celebrating Diwali as a visitor
If you are travelling, the week around 8 November 2026 is magical — and busy. India’s domestic travel peaks, so book trains and flights early. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Varanasi’s ghats and Jaipur’s illuminated bazaars are among the most spectacular settings. Outside India, head to Leicester (UK), Singapore’s Little India or Sydney’s Parramatta for major public celebrations. And remember: fireworks are central to many celebrations, so light sleepers should plan accordingly.
The five days of Diwali
Diwali is not a single day but a five-day festival, and in 2026 the main night — Sunday 8 November — sits at its heart. The festivities typically open with Dhanteras, dedicated to wealth and health, when buying gold or utensils is considered auspicious. Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) follows, then the main Diwali night itself: Lakshmi Puja, the lighting of countless diyas, fireworks and feasting. Govardhan Puja honours Krishna’s lifting of the Govardhan hill, and Bhai Dooja closes the festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. In North India the sequence is the year’s social high point; in the south, where Deepavali traditions differ slightly, the festival centres on the victory over the demon Narakasura. Knowing the five-day shape helps visitors time their trip — arrive a day or two before the main night to catch the build-up, not just the finale.