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Himachal Pradesh Holiday Calendar 2026: State Foundation, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Himachal Pradesh, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Himachal Pradesh Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays and Casual and Sick Leave) Act, 1969, the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, and notifications issued by the General Administration Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh (pharma & manufacturing corridors), Shimla, and Dharamshala must structure their annual leave calendars in accordance with state statutory minimums—especially prominent state occasions like Himachal Statehood Day, Himachal Day, and Kullu Dussehra.

HP Statutory Mandate (8 Paid Holidays)

Under Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Industrial Establishments Act, 1969: Every worker is entitled to at least 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays (26 January, 15 August, 2 October) and 5 Festival Holidays agreed upon between management and workers.

📅 Official Himachal Pradesh Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

The following table reflects the comprehensive statutory, public, gazetted, and regional cultural festival holiday schedule declared for Himachal Pradesh in 2026:

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
01-01-2026ThursdayNew Year's DayGazette / RegionalYes (Standard Corporate Off)
05-01-2026MondayGuru Gobind Singh JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Choice
12-01-2026MondayBirthday of Swami VivekanandaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Floating
14-01-2026WednesdayMakar SankrantiGazette / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
23-01-2026FridayBasant Panchami / SirajiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Choice
25-01-2026SundayHimachal Statehood DayState Foundation DayYes (Major State Mandate - Sunday Overlap)
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
01-02-2026SundayFateh-e-Yazdaham / Guru Ravidas's BirthdayState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
15-02-2026SundayMaha ShivratriGazette / NI ActYes (Major Regional Priority - Sunday Overlap)
20-02-2026FridayBirth Anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand SaraswatiGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
03-03-2026TuesdayHolika DahanGazette / RegionalOptional / Floating
04-03-2026WednesdayHoliGazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
19-03-2026ThursdayCheti ChandGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)Gazette / NI ActYes
26-03-2026ThursdayRam NavamiGazette / NI ActOptional / Corporate Choice
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir JayantiGazette / NI ActOptional / Floating
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Closing of Bank AccountsNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)
04-04-2026SaturdayEaster SaturdayGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
14-04-2026TuesdayDr. B.R. Ambedkar JayantiState & National GazetteYes
15-04-2026WednesdayHimachal Day / Mesha Sankranti / VaisakhiState Foundation DayYes (Major State Mandate)
19-04-2026SundayParshuram JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
01-05-2026FridayMay Day & Buddha PurnimaState Mandatory / GazettedYes (Industrial Priority)
10-05-2026SundayMaharana Pratap JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
27-05-2026WednesdayId-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)Gazette / NI ActYes
05-06-2026FridaySant Guru Kabir JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Floating
18-06-2026ThursdayJamat-ul-VidaGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
25-06-2026ThursdayMuharramGazette / NI ActOptional / Floating
16-07-2026ThursdayRath YatraGazette / RegionalOptional / Floating
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
28-08-2026FridayRaksha BandhanState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / High Regional Priority
04-09-2026FridayJanmashtamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
05-09-2026SaturdayGuru Nanak Dev's Parkash DiwasState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Floating
08-09-2026TuesdayOnamGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
17-09-2026ThursdayVishwakarma DayState Gazetted / Industrial OffYes (Industrial Priority)
02-10-2026FridayGandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
03-10-2026SaturdayKarva ChauthState Gazetted / RestrictedOptional / Floating
20-10-2026TuesdayDussehra (Vijaya Dashmi / Kullu Dussehra Opening)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
26-10-2026MondayBalmiki JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Priority
08-11-2026SundayDiwaliGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
09-11-2026MondayGovardhan PoojaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
15-11-2026SundayChhat PoojaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak Dev's BirthdayGazette / NI ActOptional / Corporate Choice
24-12-2026ThursdayChristmas EveGazette / Restricted HolidayOptional / Floating
25-12-2026FridayChristmas Day / Shaheedi Diwas of SahibzadasGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Himachal Pradesh​

  1. Submission of Statement of Proposed Holidays: Employers must submit proposed festival holidays to the local Labour Officer before 31st December.
  2. Display on Notice Board: Exhibit the approved schedule on the establishment notice board by 1st January.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Provide double the ordinary daily wages (200%), or regular pay plus a paid substitute holiday within 30 days to employees who work on a declared holiday.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. What is the difference between Statehood Day and Himachal Day?​

Statehood Day (January 25th) marks Himachal Pradesh attaining full statehood in 1971, while Himachal Day (April 15th) commemorates the province's initial creation in 1948. Both are celebrated as prominent state public holidays.

2. Is Kullu Dussehra celebrated with official public holidays?​

Yes. The international folk festival of Kullu Dussehra is of profound cultural significance, and the opening day of Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) is an official gazetted public holiday across the state.