Looking for the Tamil Nadu Government Holidays List 2026? Plan your year ahead with our comprehensive guide to all public, religious, and bank holidays in Tamil Nadu. From the traditional harvest joy of Thai Pongal to the lights of Deepavali, we have organized the 2026 festival calendar into easy-to-read categories. Whether you are checking dates for Tamil New Year (Puthandu) or planning a long weekend, this updated list covers Hindu, Islamic, Christian, Jain, and National holidays across the state.
🌾 Tamil Cultural & Hindu Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14, Wed | Thai Pongal | Holiday | Major harvest festival; boiling of first rice. |
| Jan 15, Thu | Thiruvalluvar Day | Holiday | Honors the saint-poet; day after Pongal. |
| Jan 16, Fri | Uzhavar Thirunal | Holiday | Farmer's Day / Maattu Pongal (Cattle worship). |
| Feb 1, Sun | Thai Poosam | Holiday | Grand celebration for Lord Murugan. |
| Feb 15, Sun | Maha Shivaratri | Observed | Night-long vigil for Lord Shiva. |
| Mar 2, Mon | Masi Magam | Observed | Holy dip in coastal and temple tanks. |
| Mar 19, Thu | Telugu New Year | Holiday | Ugadi; significant for the Telugu community. |
| Apr 1, Wed | Panguni Uthiram | Observed | Important wedding day of divine deities. |
| Apr 14, Tue | Tamil New Year | Holiday | Puthandu; the first day of the Tamil year. |
| May 30, Sat | Vaikasi Visakam | Observed | Birthday of Lord Murugan. |
| Aug 3, Mon | Aadi Perukku | Observed | Celebrating the rising water in rivers. |
| Sep 4, Fri | Krishna Jayanthi | Holiday | Gokulashtami; birth of Lord Krishna. |
| Sep 14, Mon | Vinayakar Chathurthi | Holiday | Worship of Lord Ganesha idols. |
| Oct 19, Mon | Ayutha Pooja | Holiday | Blessing of tools, vehicles, and education. |
| Oct 20, Tue | Vijaya Dasami | Holiday | Victory of good; Vidyarambham for kids. |
| Nov 8, Sun | Deepavali | Holiday | Festival of lights; oil bath and sweets. |
| Nov 24, Tue | Karthigai Deepam | Observed | Massive lamp lighting; Tiruvannamalai Deepam. |
| Dec 20, Sun | Vaikunda Ekadesi | Observed | Fasting and temple visits for Lord Vishnu. |
☪️ Islamic Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, Sat | Ramzan (Eid-ul-Fitr)* | Holiday | Celebration ending the month of fasting. |
| May 28, Thu | Bakrid (Id-ul-Azha)* | Holiday | Commemorating the sacrifice of Ibrahim. |
| Jun 26, Fri | Muharram* | Holiday | 10th day of Muharram (Ashura). |
| Aug 26, Wed | Milad-un-Nabi* | Holiday | Birthday of Prophet Muhammad. |
✝️ Christian Festivals
| Date | Festival | Status | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, Fri | Good Friday | Holiday | Commemoration of Jesus' Crucifixion. |
| Apr 5, Sun | Easter Sunday | Observed | Celebration of the Resurrection. |
| Aug 29, Sat | Velankanni Feast | Observed | Annual grand feast at the Velankanni Shrine. |
| Dec 25, Fri | Christmas | 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 | Observed | 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 | Observed | 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. |
| 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 TN Government Negotiable Instruments Act notification for 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The primary festivals include Thai Pongal (Jan 14), Tamil New Year (Apr 14), Thai Poosam (Feb 1), and Deepavali (Nov 8).
Tamil New Year falls on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Yes, several holidays like May Day (Friday) and Gandhi Jayanthi (Friday) provide 3-day long weekends.
The TN Government public holidays for 2026 include Ramzan (Mar 21), Bakrid (May 28), Muharram (Jun 26), and Milad-un-Nabi (Aug 26), subject to moon sightings.