Long Weekends in 2026 India: Full Holiday List, Extended Break Ideas & Trip Suggestions
If you’ve been promising yourself more travel time, 2026 might finally be the year you keep that promise. The calendar is unusually generous this time — sprinkled with neatly spaced public holidays, weekends that fall just right, and a handful of holidays that can be stretched into mini-vacations with just one or two smart leaves. It’s one of those years where a bit of planning can turn an ordinary month into something to look forward to. Whether you’re someone who dreams of misty hill escapes, quiet forest hideaways, coastal sunshine, or cultural detours through India’s most vibrant cities, 2026 gives you plenty of chances to step away from your desk and step into something meaningful.
Think of this as your personal Long Weekend Planner for India 2026 — a warm, detailed, and month-by-month guide that helps you plan better, spend smarter, and travel deeper. From long weekends in January to extended breaks during Diwali and Christmas, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the year ahead.
In this Blog
Why Planning 2026 Long Weekends Early Actually Matters
Yes, planning in advance sounds a little too responsible, but when it comes to travel, it’s the kind of responsibility that pays off beautifully. Early planning gives you:
- A better chance at cheaper flights and premium stays that aren’t fully sold out
- Time to plan road trips without last-minute chaos
- Flexibility to choose destinations based on weather, season, and crowd levels
- More room to craft longer itineraries with smart leave hacks
- And honestly, the joy of just having trips lined up makes every work month feel less overwhelming
January 2026: A Fresh Start With Winter Sun & Easy Long Weekends
January in India always feels like a soft reset — cool mornings, warm woollens, and the sense that the year is still stretching itself awake. In 2026, the month is especially kind to travellers. New Year’s Day conveniently falls on a Thursday, making it incredibly tempting to slip into a long weekend with just one well-placed leave. And just when you’ve settled back into your routine, the month gifts you another break with a Monday Republic Day, creating an effortless three-day escape.
It’s the kind of month where both impulsive trips and carefully planned journeys feel equally doable. Whether you choose to lean into sun-kissed beaches in Goa, wander through Mussoorie’s quiet winter lanes, sip hot chocolate in Nainital, or simply enjoy a peaceful mountain sunrise in Himachal, January sets the perfect tone for a year of slow, intentional travel.
Dates to Plan
• January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day
• January 2 (Friday) – Take leave for an extended New Year break
• January 14 (Wednesday) – Makar Sankranti / Pongal
• January 15–16 (Thu–Fri) – Optional leaves to extend Sankranti weekend
• January 26 (Monday) – Republic Day
Club for Travel
- Take Friday, January 2 off for a four-day New Year getaway (Jan 1–4).
- Combine Jan 14–18 with two leaves (Jan 15–16) for a five-day Sankranti/Pongal holiday.
- Enjoy a natural long weekend over Republic Day (Jan 24–26).
February 2026: Soft Sunshine, Festivals & Slow Escapes
February carries that gentle in-between weather India does so well — warm daytime breezes, cool nights, and landscapes settling into early spring. With Maha Shivratri falling on a Sunday, you get a natural long weekend without dipping into your leave balance. It’s the perfect month for spiritual detours, riverside calm, or romantic getaways — from Varanasi’s glowing ghats to Rishikesh’s peaceful mornings, from Jaipur’s balmy afternoons to Khajuraho’s cultural energy.
Dates to Plan
• February 13 (Friday) – Suggested leave for a 3-day weekend
• February 14 (Saturday)
• February 15 (Sunday) – Maha Shivratri
Club for Travel
• Take Feb 13 off to create a three-day weekend (Feb 13–15)
March 2026: Colourful Celebrations & Springtime Trips
March is when the country shifts gears — longer days, gentler winds, and the infectious energy of Holi. The festival falls on a Tuesday this year, which means a well-placed Monday leave can turn this into a fantastic four-day break. Whether you want to embrace the full colour-soaked madness of Mathura-Vrindavan, enjoy a more bohemian celebration in Pushkar, or escape to the mountains before summer arrives, March is generous with travel opportunities.
Dates to Plan
• March 1 (Sunday)
• March 2 (Monday) – Take leave
• March 3 (Tuesday) – Holi
Club for Travel
• Take March 2 off for a 4-day Holi weekend (Feb 28 – Mar 3)
April 2026: Early Summer, Long Evenings & Back-to-Back Breaks
April brings warmth, blooming valleys, and wide-open skies. This year, the first week of April is especially tempting — Ram Navami and Good Friday fall back-to-back, creating a beautiful four-day weekend without much effort. Add one more day of leave, and it turns into a five-day early summer holiday. Think Andaman’s turquoise water, coffee-scented mornings in Coorg, or lush escapes to Munnar and Thekkady.
Dates to Plan
• April 2 (Thursday) – Ram Navami
• April 3 (Friday) – Good Friday
• April 4–5 (Sat–Sun) – Weekend
• April 6 (Monday) – Optional leave for a longer break
Club for Travel
• Enjoy a 4-day weekend (Apr 2–5)
• Take Apr 6 off for a 5-day escape (Apr 2–6)
May 2026: Hill Stations, Summer Breaks & Breezy Afternoons
May is India’s unofficial hill-station month — a time when mountain towns fill with travellers looking for cooler corners of the country. With Labour Day falling on a Friday, you get a natural long weekend right at the start, perfect for getting ahead of the summer crowds. Whether you’re exploring Himachal’s pine-scented valleys, Uttarakhand’s quiet slopes, or a rainy-yet-beautiful Coorg, May is ideal for unhurried travel.
Dates to Plan
• May 1 (Friday) – Labour Day
• May 2–3 (Sat–Sun) – Weekend
Club for Travel
• Natural 3-day long weekend (May 1–3)
June 2026: Big Road Trips, Alpine Valleys & Snowmelt Rivers
June is the grand adventure month — the time when Ladakh opens, Spiti becomes accessible, and high-altitude treks begin. Bakri Eid falling on a Saturday makes for an easy long weekend, and if you add Monday as a leave, it turns into a slower, more scenic four-day escape. This is the month for long drives, Himalayan journeys, glacier-fed rivers, and landscapes that look straight out of travel films.
Dates to Plan
• June 27 (Saturday) – Bakri Eid
• June 28 (Sunday)
• June 29 (Monday) – Optional leave
Club for Travel
• Natural 3-day weekend (Jun 27–29)
• Take Jun 29 off for a more comfortable, extended escape
July 2026: Monsoon Magic, Waterfalls & Slow Travel
July doesn’t offer official long weekends, but the monsoon more than makes up for it. Waterfalls roar back to life, clouds curl around hilltops, and everything from the Western Ghats to Meghalaya glows in freshly washed greens. If you’re willing to take even a day’s leave, you can turn an ordinary week into a lush monsoon getaway — think Lonavala, Pawna, Coorg, Cherrapunji, Munnar, or even a quiet off-season Goa.
Dates to Plan
• Flexi leave planning recommended
Club for Travel
• Take any Friday or Monday off to craft a 3-day monsoon trip
August 2026: Festivals, Family Trips & Peak Green Season
August is when the country feels alive — festivals, rains, rituals, and some of the most scenic landscapes of the year. Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan fall close together, giving you a cosy, rainy long weekend perfect for family holidays. This month belongs to hill stations, coastal drives, and lush interiors — from Meghalaya’s waterfalls to Mahabaleshwar’s deep greenery.
Dates to Plan
• August 15 (Saturday) – Independence Day
• August 16 (Sunday)
• August 17 (Monday) – Raksha Bandhan
Club for Travel
• Natural 3-day weekend (Aug 15–17)
• Take Aug 14 (Friday) off for a 4-day getaway (Aug 14–17)
September 2026: Festive Cheer & Post-Monsoon Calm
September is that perfect transition month — monsoon’s freshness still lingers, but skies start clearing for early autumn views. Ganesh Chaturthi arriving on a Tuesday gives you enough flexibility to craft a long weekend with just one leave. It’s a great time for Konkan drives, cultural immersion in Mumbai or Pune, or quiet retreats along the coast.
Dates to Plan
• September 1 (Tuesday) – Ganesh Chaturthi
• August 31 (Monday) – Take leave
Club for Travel
• Take Aug 31 off for a 4-day weekend (Aug 29–Sep 1)
October 2026: Festivals, Clear Skies & India at Its Best
October might just be the most beautiful travel month of the year — pleasant weather, clear skies, and festive energy everywhere you go. Gandhi Jayanti offers a neat break at the start of the month, and Dussehra in the third week gives you an excellent opportunity for a longer holiday. This is the month to experience cultural celebrations, golden Himalayan views, and crisp, post-monsoon landscapes.
Dates to Plan
• October 2 (Friday) – Gandhi Jayanti
• October 3–4 (Weekend)
• October 21 (Wednesday) – Dussehra
• October 22–23 (Thu–Fri) – Optional leaves
Club for Travel
• Natural 3-day weekend (Oct 2–4)
• Take Oct 22–23 off for a 5-day Dussehra holiday (Oct 21–25)
November 2026: Winter Arrives, Lights Glow & Travel Picks Up
November brings a little magic with it — colder evenings, festive markets, crisp mornings, and some of the best travel weather in the country. Diwali falling on a Sunday gives you room to build a longer weekend with one or two leaves, and later in the month, Guru Nanak Jayanti creates another lovely escape opportunity. From Rajasthan’s palaces to Varanasi’s ghats glowing with lamps, November is a month built for beautiful journeys.
Dates to Plan
• November 6 (Friday) – Take leave for Diwali weekend
• November 8 (Sunday) – Diwali
• November 23 (Monday) – Optional leave
• November 24 (Tuesday) – Guru Nanak Jayanti
Club for Travel
• Take Nov 6 off to create a 3–4 day Diwali weekend
• Take Nov 23 off for a 4-day Guru Nanak weekend (Nov 21–24)
December 2026: Coziness, Celebrations & Year-End Escapes
December needs little persuasion — Christmas lights, cold breezes, holiday spirit, and the irresistible urge to plan one last trip before the year ends. Christmas falling on a Friday gives you a natural long weekend, and with just one leave on December 31, you can glide into the New Year with a peaceful four-day holiday. This is the month for Goa’s festive buzz, Pondicherry’s candlelit streets, Kerala’s cool backwaters, and family getaways across the hills.
Dates to Plan
• December 25 (Friday) – Christmas
• December 26–27 (Weekend)
• December 31 (Thursday) – Take leave for a New Year weekend
Club for Travel
• Enjoy a 3-day Christmas weekend (Dec 25–27)
• Take Dec 31 off for a 4-day New Year getaway (Dec 31–Jan 3)
With its generous scattering of long weekends and easily extendable breaks, 2026 is a year that practically invites you to explore more, pause more, and make room for small adventures. Whether you’re planning beachside downtime, cultural detours, or mountain escapes, every month offers something worth stepping into. Bookmark this guide, mark your calendar, and let 2026 be the year you finally travel the way you’ve always wanted to.
