Looking for the Karnataka Government Holidays List 2026? Plan your year ahead with our comprehensive guide to all public, religious, and bank holidays in Karnataka. From the vibrant harvest joy of Makara Sankranti to the grand state celebration of Karnataka Rajyotsava, we have organized the 2026 festival calendar into easy-to-read categories. Whether you are checking dates for Ugadi (Kannada New Year) or planning a long weekend around Dasara, this updated list covers Hindu, Islamic, Christian, Jain, and National holidays across the state.
Karnataka Festival & Holiday Calendar 2026
🌾 Karnataka Cultural & Hindu Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14, Wed | Makara Sankranti | Holiday | Harvest festival; Suggi habba in rural areas. |
| Feb 15, Sun | Maha Shivaratri | Holiday | Vigil and worship of Lord Shiva. |
| Mar 19, Thu | Chandramana Ugadi | Holiday | Kannada New Year; beginning of a new era. |
| Apr 20, Mon | Basava Jayanthi | Holiday | Birth of philosopher-saint Basavanna. |
| Aug 28, Fri | Varamahalakshmi Vrata | Observed | Worship of Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. |
| Sep 14, Mon | Ganesh Chaturthi | Holiday | Swarna Gowri & Ganesha festival. |
| Oct 10, Sat | Mahalaya Amavasye | Holiday | Day to pay homage to ancestors. |
| Oct 19, Mon | Maha Navami / Ayudha Pooja | Holiday | Worship of tools and machinery. |
| Oct 20, Tue | Vijayadashami (Dasara) | Holiday | Victory of good over evil; Grand Mysore Dasara. |
| Oct 26, Mon | Maharshi Valmiki Jayanthi | Holiday | Celebrating the author of the Ramayana. |
| Nov 8, Sun | Naraka Chaturdashi | Holiday | First day of Deepavali. |
| Nov 9, Mon | Balipadyami / Deepavali | Holiday | Festival of Lights and worship of King Bali. |
| Nov 27, Fri | Kanakadasa Jayanthi | Holiday | Honoring the great saint-poet Kanakadasa. |
☪️ Islamic Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, Sat | Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)* | Holiday | Conclusion of the holy month of fasting. |
| May 27, Wed | Bakrid (Id-ul-Adha)* | Holiday | Festival of Sacrifice. |
| Jun 26, Fri | Last Day of Muharram* | Holiday | Commemoration of the martyrdom. |
| Aug 25, Tue | Id-E-Milad* | Holiday | Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary. |
✝️ Christian Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, Fri | Good Friday | Holiday | Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. |
| Apr 5, Sun | Easter Sunday | Observed | Resurrection of Jesus. |
| Dec 25, Fri | Christmas Day | Holiday | Celebration of the birth of Jesus. |
☸️ Jain, Sikh & Buddhist Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, Tue | Mahaveer Jayanthi | Holiday | Birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. |
| May 1, Fri | Buddha Purnima | General Holiday (May 1) | Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. |
| Sep 8, Tue | Paryushana Begins | Observed | Start of the 8-day period of intensive fasting and repentance for Jains. |
| Sep 15, Tue | Samvatsari (Jain) | Observed | The "Day of Forgiveness"; the most holiest day in the Jain calendar. |
| Nov 24, Tue | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Restricted Holiday | Gurpurab; celebrating the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. |
🏛️ National & Statutory Holidays
| Date | Event | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, Thu | New Year's Day | Holiday | First day of the year. |
| Jan 26, Mon | Republic Day | Holiday | National Day of the Constitution. |
| Apr 1, Wed | Bank Closing | Bank Holiday | Annual accounts closing for banks. |
| Apr 14, Tue | Ambedkar Jayanthi | Holiday | Commemorating the father of the Constitution. |
| May 1, Fri | May Day | Holiday | International Labour Day. |
| Aug 15, Sat | Independence Day | Holiday | National celebration of freedom. |
| Oct 2, Fri | Gandhi Jayanthi | Holiday | Birth of Mahatma Gandhi. |
*Islamic dates are subject to local moon sighting. Holidays are based on the Karnataka Government Negotiable Instruments Act notification for 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Key festivals include Ugadi (Mar 19), Basava Jayanthi (Apr 20), Mysore Dasara (Oct 20), and Karnataka Rajyotsava (Nov 1).
Ugadi falls on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Yes! Dates like May Day (Friday), Gandhi Jayanthi (Friday), and Kanakadasa Jayanthi (Friday) offer 3-day weekends. Dasara also creates a long weekend from Saturday to Tuesday.
Yes, November 1st is a mandatory public holiday across the state to celebrate the formation of Karnataka.