Immediate Action: The West Bengal Govt Holiday List 2026 is now official (Memo 4188-F). We recommend downloading the PDF immediately to secure travel bookings for the 12-day Durga Puja break (Oct 15-26) and the high-volume 5-day January cluster.
West Bengal Govt Holiday List 2026 Executive Summary: Key Takeaways
2026 brings one of the longest Durga Puja breaks in years, spanning 12 continuous days from Oct 15th to Oct 26th.
Strategic leave planning in January and March can turn single holidays into 5-day mini-vacations.
This guide is based on Finance Dept Notification 4188-F(P2), covering all 52 official state holidays.
📅 WB State Government Holiday List 2026 Highlights: At a Glance
The 2026 calendar is packed with travel opportunities. Here is what to watch for:
- January: 5-day break cluster around Netaji’s Birthday & Republic Day.
- March: Triple festival treat with Doljatra, Eid-Ul-Fitr, & Ram Navami.
- April: Mid-week breaks for Poila Baisakh & Ambedkar Jayanti.
- May: Long weekend alert for May Day & Buddha Purnima.
- October: The Durga Puja Mega-Holidays (Oct 15th to 26th).
- November: Diwali & Bhratridwitiya festive week.
- December: Perfect 3-day Christmas weekend closure.
West Bengal Govt Holiday List 2026 Official PDF Notification
Looking for the official West Bengal Government Holiday List for 2026? You can view the full month-by-month breakdown below. Alternatively, click the button to download a copy of the official West Bengal Finance Department notification for your records.
What the Official Order Means for You: The West Bengal Finance Department has officially finalised the WB Govt Calendar 2026 holiday lists. This was done through Notification No. 4188-F(P2) Dated 27.11.2025. Under the powers of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Governor has approved two distinct categories of holidays.
List-I includes all the General Public Holidays (like Republic Day or Durga Puja) when banks and most institutions stay closed. List-II covers specific state office closures. A few essential departments will remain open on these days. These include the Registrar of Assurances and the Collector of Stamp Revenue in Kolkata.
WB Govt Calendar 2026 With Holidays
The Government of West Bengal has declared a total of 52 holidays. These include List I, II, & III for the Calendar year 2026.
Public Holidays in West Bengal 2026 (NI Act List-I)
Find the List of Public Holidays in West Bengal 2026 as per the NI Act. It is called the List I holidays where it applies across the state—including banks, schools, and private offices. So Banks remain closed on these List I holidays and plan your works accordingly.
🏛️ List-I: Public Holidays (NI Act 2026)
| Holiday Occasion | Date & Day |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday |
| Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday | Monday |
| Netaji’s Birthday / Saraswati Puja | Friday |
| Republic Day | Monday |
| Doljatra | Tuesday |
| Eid-Ul-Fitr | Saturday |
| Ram Navami | Thursday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Tuesday |
| Good Friday | Friday |
| Ambedkar Jayanti | Tuesday |
| Bengali New Year (Poila Baisakh) | Wednesday |
| May Day / Buddha Purnima | Friday |
| Rabindra Jayanti | Saturday |
| Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) | Wednesday |
| Muharram | Friday |
| Independence Day | Saturday |
| Janmastami | Friday |
| Gandhi Jayanti | Friday |
| Mahalaya | Saturday |
| Durga Puja Ashtami | Monday |
| Durga Puja Nabami | Tuesday |
| Durga Puja Dashami | Wednesday |
| Bhratridwitiya | Wednesday |
| Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Tuesday |
| Christmas Day | Friday |
🏦 Banking Alert: Will Banks be Closed?
Yes, for all holidays listed in List-I (NI Act), all public and private sector banks in West Bengal will remain closed.
- Digital Banking: ATMs, UPI, and Net Banking will remain active 24/7.
- Saturdays: Banks also remain closed on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month.
- List-II Note: On List-II “State Office” holidays, banks usually remain OPEN unless the date also appears in List-I.
West Bengal State Govt Holiday List 2026 (List-II)
West Bengal State Govt Holiday List 2026: List-II (State Offices). Find the List of Public Holidays in West Bengal 2026 as per the State. It is called the List II holidays where it applies across all the state government offices except a few.
🏢 List-II: State Govt. Holidays (2026)
| Holiday Occasion | Date & Day |
|---|---|
| Day before Saraswati Puja | Thursday |
| Shab-e-Barat | Wednesday |
| Thakur Panchanan Barma’s Birthday | Saturday |
| Holi (Day after Doljatra) | Wednesday |
| Shri Shri Harichand Thakur’s Birthday | Tuesday |
| Day before Eid-Ul-Fitr | Friday |
| Day before Id-Ud-Zoha | Tuesday |
| Bhanu Bhakt’s Birthday (Darj/Kalim) | Monday |
| Rathayatra | Thursday |
| Fateha-Dwaz-Daham | Wednesday |
| Rakhi Bandhan | Friday |
| Viswakarma Puja | Thursday |
| Maha Chaturthi | Thursday |
| Maha Panchami | Friday |
| Maha Shashthi | Saturday |
| Addl. Durga Puja Days | Thu-Sat |
| Addl. Lakshmi Puja Day | Monday |
| Addl. Kali Puja Days | Mon-Tue |
| Day after Bhratridwitiya | Thursday |
| Additional Chhat Puja Day | Monday |
⚠️ Important: Offices that remain OPEN during List-II
According to the official notification 4188-F(P2), while most state government offices will be closed on the dates mentioned above, the following two offices must remain open:
- Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata
- Collector of the Stamp Revenue, Kolkata
If you have urgent property registration or stamp-related work, these offices will function as usual during List-II holidays.
West Bengal Sectional Holiday List 2026 (List-III)
Find below the list of sectional holidays as per the List III. These holidays are specifically meant for sectional communities only.
🤝 List-III: Sectional Holidays (2026)
| Holiday Occasion | Community | Date & Day |
|---|---|---|
| Easter Saturday | Christians | Saturday |
| Hul Diwas | Adibasi | Tuesday |
Complete 2026 Holiday Calendar West Bengal: Month-by-Month
Month-wise Holiday Calendar 2026: Plan Your Vacations: If you’re a visual planner, this chronological view is for you. We’ve combined all categories into a single calendar. This allows you to see exactly how your year looks from January to December at a single glance.
| Holiday Occasion & Category | Date & Day |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | |
| New Year’s DayPublic Holiday | Thursday |
| Swami Vivekananda’s BirthdayPublic Holiday | Monday |
| Day before Saraswati PujaState Govt. | Thursday |
| Netaji’s Birthday / Saraswati PujaPublic Holiday | Friday |
| Republic DayPublic Holiday | Monday |
| February 2026 | |
| Shab-e-BaratState Govt. | Wednesday |
| Thakur Panchanan Barma’s BirthdayState Govt. | Saturday |
| March 2026 | |
| DoljatraPublic Holiday | Tuesday |
| Holi (Day after Doljatra)State Govt. | Wednesday |
| Harichand Thakur’s BirthdayState Govt. | Tuesday |
| Day before Eid-Ul-FitrState Govt. | Friday |
| Eid-Ul-FitrPublic Holiday | Saturday |
| Ram NavamiPublic Holiday | Thursday |
| Mahavir JayantiPublic Holiday | Tuesday |
| April 2026 | |
| Good FridayPublic Holiday | Friday |
| Easter SaturdaySectional Holiday | Saturday |
| Ambedkar JayantiPublic Holiday | Tuesday |
| Bengali New Year (Poila Baisakh)Public Holiday | Wednesday |
| May 2026 | |
| May Day / Buddha PurnimaPublic Holiday | Friday |
| Rabindra JayantiPublic Holiday | Saturday |
| Day before Id-Ud-ZohaState Govt. | Tuesday |
| Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid)Public Holiday | Wednesday |
| June 2026 | |
| MuharramPublic Holiday | Friday |
| Hul DiwasSectional Holiday | Tuesday |
| July 2026 | |
| Bhanu Bhakt’s BirthdayState Govt. | Monday |
| RathayatraState Govt. | Thursday |
| August 2026 | |
| Independence DayPublic Holiday | Saturday |
| Fateha-Dwaz-DahamState Govt. | Wednesday |
| Rakhi BandhanState Govt. | Friday |
| September 2026 | |
| JanmastamiPublic Holiday | Friday |
| Viswakarma PujaState Govt. | Thursday |
| October 2026 | |
| Gandhi JayantiPublic Holiday | Friday |
| MahalayaPublic Holiday | Saturday |
| Maha ChaturthiState Govt. | Thursday |
| Maha PanchamiState Govt. | Friday |
| Maha ShashthiState Govt. | Saturday |
| Durga Puja AshtamiPublic Holiday | Monday |
| Durga Puja NabamiPublic Holiday | Tuesday |
| Durga Puja DashamiPublic Holiday | Wednesday |
| Addl. Durga Puja DaysState Govt. | Thu-Sat |
| Addl. Lakshmi Puja DayState Govt. | Monday |
| November 2026 | |
| Addl. Kali Puja DaysState Govt. | Mon-Tue |
| BhratridwitiyaPublic Holiday | Wednesday |
| Day after BhratridwitiyaState Govt. | Thursday |
| Addl. Chhat Puja DayState Govt. | Monday |
| Guru Nanak’s BirthdayPublic Holiday | Tuesday |
| December 2026 | |
| Christmas DayPublic Holiday | Friday |
Best Long Weekends in West Bengal 2026 for Travel
This section highlights the best opportunities for extended travel in and outside West Bengal in 2026. By strategically planning your leave around specific holidays, you can transform a single day off into a long weekend.
This is ideal for exploring the state’s diverse landscapes, whether it be the scenic hills or the relaxing beaches. We’ve analysed the calendar to pinpoint these “magic” weeks, making it easier for you to plan those much-needed getaways.
Travel Planner: Using the West Bengal Govt Holiday List 2026 to Maximise Your Vacations
2026 Full Year Long Weekends Guide
5 Days Off: Take leave on Jan 22. Covers Netaji Birthday, Saraswati Puja, and Republic Day.
4 Days Off: Bridge the weekend with Eid-ul-Fitr (Mar 21). Take Monday off for a long retreat.
5 Days Off: Covers Ambedkar Jayanti (Tue) and Poila Baisakh (Wed). Take Monday off.
3 Days Off: May Day & Buddha Purnima fall on Friday. A natural 3-day weekend.
3 Days Off: Muharram falls on Friday. No extra leave required for this trip.
3 Days Off: With Independence Day on Sat, take Monday off to enjoy the rains.
3 Days Off: Janmastami falls on Friday. Perfect for a quick Digha or North Bengal trip.
12 Days Off: The ultimate festive cluster. Covers Saptami to Lakshmi Puja additional holidays.
6 Days Off: Massive break covering Kali Puja, Diwali, and Bhai Phonta holidays.
3 Days Off: Christmas falls on Friday. End the year 2026 with a cozy 3-day break.