Bank Holidays in October 2026 — Complete State-wise List
October 2026 is the most holiday-rich month of the year for bank employees. Gandhi Jayanti on Friday, 2 October 2026 is a national bank holiday observed in every state. Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra) falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 — a declared bank holiday in most states — while West Bengal observes an extended Durga Puja closure from Monday 19 October to Wednesday 21 October. Punjab and Himachal Pradesh get a 3-day long weekend from the 4th Saturday (24 Oct) + Sunday (25 Oct) + Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (26 Oct, Monday).
Bank Holidays in October 2026 — Overview
October 2026 has one national bank holiday: Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October (Friday). Unlike Independence Day or Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti falls on a Friday in 2026, but the following Saturday (3 Oct) is the 1st Saturday — a working day for banks — so it does not automatically create a long weekend.
Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday 20 October is the other major holiday, observed across UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and most other states. Karnataka additionally observes Saraswathi Pooja on 20 October and Vijaya Dashami on 21 October (Wednesday), giving two consecutive holidays. West Bengal has three consecutive Durga Puja holidays: Maha Ashtami (19 Oct, Mon), Maha Ashtami/Navami (20 Oct, Tue), and Vijaya Dashami (21 Oct, Wed).
Key Bank Holidays in October 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | States Observing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti / Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi | All states — national bank holiday |
| 10 Oct 2026 | Saturday | 2nd Saturday + Mahalaya | 2nd Saturday: all banks; Mahalaya: West Bengal, Karnataka |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Monday | Durga Puja (Maha Ashtami) / Ayutha Pooja | West Bengal, Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu (Ayutha Pooja) |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Tuesday | Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra / Saraswathi Pooja | Most states: UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Punjab, Gujarat, TN, Karnataka, Maharashtra, AP, Telangana, Odisha, WB & more |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Wednesday | Vijaya Dashami (Durga Puja) | West Bengal, Karnataka |
| 24 Oct 2026 | Saturday | 4th Saturday | All banks — nationwide |
| 26 Oct 2026 | Monday | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | Punjab, Haryana, HP, J&K, Chandigarh |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Saturday | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti | Gujarat (5th Saturday — working in most other states) |
Long Weekends in October 2026
3-Day Long Weekend — Punjab, Haryana, HP (24 to 26 October 2026)
The 4th Saturday (24 Oct, bank holiday) + Sunday (25 Oct) + Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (26 Oct, Monday, declared bank holiday in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K) creates a clean 3-day long weekend with no leave required.
West Bengal — 3 Consecutive Durga Puja Holidays (19 to 21 October 2026)
West Bengal observes Maha Ashtami on Monday 19 October, Maha Ashtami/Navami on Tuesday 20 October, and Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October — three consecutive bank holidays. Combined with the preceding 3rd Saturday (17 Oct, working) and Sunday (18 Oct), employees who take the 3rd Saturday off or work it get a very short week. The run of Mon–Tue–Wed holidays effectively creates a 5-day-off cluster if employees add leave on Thu 22 Oct.
Dussehra — Tuesday, 20 October 2026 (Most States)
Dussehra falls on Tuesday 20 October. The nearest weekend is 3rd Saturday (17 Oct, working) and Sunday 18 Oct. Monday 19 October is a working day in most states (except WB, TN, Rajasthan). Employees in most states need to take 1 day of leave on Monday 19 Oct to get a 4-day break (Sat 17 working, Sun 18 rest, Mon 19 leave, Tue 20 holiday).
Gandhi Jayanti — Friday, 2 October 2026
Gandhi Jayanti falls on a Friday, but Saturday 3 October is the 1st Saturday — a working day for banks. This means Gandhi Jayanti does not automatically create a long weekend. Employees who wish to extend it must take leave on Monday 5 Oct to bridge into the regular week, or simply enjoy the holiday as a standalone Friday off.
October 2026 Bank Holidays — State-wise Links
Check your state’s complete October 2026 holiday list with open/closed status:
Maharashtra | Gujarat | Kerala | Uttar Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | West Bengal | Tamil Nadu | Punjab | Rajasthan | All States
Frequently Asked Questions — October 2026 Bank Holidays
Is Gandhi Jayanti a bank holiday in October 2026?
Yes. Gandhi Jayanti (2 October 2026, Friday) is a national bank holiday observed in every state across India — it is one of only three gazetted national bank holidays (along with Republic Day and Independence Day). All public and private sector banks remain closed on 2 October 2026. However, Saturday 3 October is the 1st Saturday — a working day for banks — so Gandhi Jayanti does not automatically create a long weekend in 2026.
Is Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) a bank holiday in October 2026?
Yes. Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 and is a declared bank holiday in most states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu (as Vijaya Dashami), Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal (which also observes it on 21 October). It is one of the most widely observed regional bank holidays of the year.
Is there a long weekend in October 2026?
Yes — specifically for Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. The 4th Saturday (24 Oct, bank holiday) + Sunday (25 Oct) + Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (26 Oct, Monday) creates a 3-day long weekend with no leave required. West Bengal employees also effectively get a 3-day stretch from Durga Puja closures on Mon 19, Tue 20, and Wed 21 October. For most other states, Dussehra on Tuesday 20 Oct requires 1 day of leave (Monday 19 Oct) to form a 3-day or 4-day break.
Bank Holidays 2026 — Browse by Month
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