Bihar Government Holiday List 2026 – Month-Wise Calendar

Bihar Government Holiday List 2026 — Complete Guide

The Bihar Government Holiday List for 2026 has been officially released and outlines all the gazetted public holidays, regional/state holidays, and optional leave days for government offices, schools, banks and public institutions across the state of Bihar. These holidays help employees and students plan their year, schedule vacations, and observe cultural and religious festivals with family and community.

📅 Key Public and Government Holidays (2026)

Below are the major public holidays observed in 2026 in Bihar:

Note: Some Islamic holidays (like Eid) are tentative and may vary based on moon sighting.

These holidays include national events (such as Republic Day and Independence Day), state observances (like Bihar Day), and widely celebrated religious festivals across communities.

Here’s a month-wise breakdown of the major holidays in the Bihar Government Holiday List 2026 (based on official calendars and compiled holiday data):

📅 January 2026

• 1 Jan – New Year (Optional)
• 14 Jan – Makar Sankranti (Regional)
• 23 Jan – Vasant Panchami (Regional)
• 24 Jan – Karpoori Thakur Jayanti (Regional)
• 26 Jan – Republic Day (National)

📅 February 2026

• 1 Feb – Sant Ravidas Jayanti (Restricted/Optional)
• 4 Feb – Shab-e-Barat (Restricted/Optional)
• 15 Feb – Maha Shivaratri (Restricted/Optional)

📅 March 2026

• 3 Mar – Holi (Public)
• 20–21 Mar – Eid-ul-Fitr / Idul-Fitr (Tentative Muslim holiday)
• 22 Mar – Bihar Day (State observance)
• 27 Mar – Ram Navami (Public)

📅 April 2026

• 3 Apr – Good Friday (Public)
• 14 Apr – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti (Public)

📅 May 2026

• 1 May – May Day / Labour Day (Public)
• 27 May – Bakrid / Eid al-Adha (Festival)

📅 June 2026

• 26 Jun – Muharram (Public/Festival)

📅 July 2026

(No major state holidays listed in official public calendar; often weekends and optional days fill this month.)

📅 August 2026

• 15 Aug – Independence Day (National)
• (Optional/other religious observances like Eid-e-Milad may also occur)

📅 September 2026

• 4 Sep – Janmashtami (Public)

📅 October 2026

• 2 Oct – Gandhi Jayanti (National)
• 20 Oct – Maha Navami / Vijayadashami (Public)

📅 November 2026

• 8 Nov – Diwali (Public)
• 15 Nov – Chhath Puja (Regional holiday)
• 16 Nov – Chhath Puja Holiday (Follow-up day)

📅 December 2026

• 25 Dec – Christmas Day (Public)

📌 Optional / Restricted Holidays

In addition to the general and public holidays, the Bihar government provides optional or restricted leaves that employees may choose based on religious or cultural preferences. This gives flexibility for observing festivals specific to various communities. The optional holidays include occasions such as:

• Sant Ravidas Jayanti
• Shab-e-Barat
• Maha Shivaratri
• Kabir Jayanti
• Guru Nanak Jayanti
• And others

Employees can select a limited number of these optional days annually, as per official policy.

📌 Bank Holidays & School Calendar

Bank holidays in Bihar generally overlap with the state’s official holiday calendar and include all Sundays, second & fourth Saturdays, and public holidays listed above. Banks close on these dates and during other festival breaks.

Schools and educational institutions follow a slightly different calendar that may include additional vacations for summer, winter, or festival periods while also observing the main government holidays.

🗓️ Highlights & Cultural Importance

The 2026 holiday calendar reflects Bihar’s rich cultural diversity:

✨ Bihar Day (22 March) commemorates the formation of the state.

🎉 Chhath Puja is one of the most significant local festivals, celebrated with great fervor along riverbanks.

🪔 Diwali and other major festivals bring communities together in celebration.

Meanwhile, national holidays like Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti unify the state with nationwide observances.