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Jammu & Kashmir Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, public, commercial, and workplace holidays are regulated under the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishments Act, 1966, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Jammu and Kashmir under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, and Anantnag must structure their annual holiday rosters to respect the distinct cultural, regional, and religious heritage across Jammu and Kashmir provinces.

J&K Statutory Quota

Under the Jammu & Kashmir Shops and Establishments Act, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and regional festive closures.

📅 Official Jammu & Kashmir Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

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

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
05-01-2026MondayGuru Gobind Singh Ji's BirthdayState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Choice
13-01-2026TuesdayLohriState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Jammu Province Priority)
17-01-2026SaturdayShab-i-MirajState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
23-01-2026FridayFriday following Shab-i-MirajState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Choice
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
01-02-2026SundayShri Guru Ravi Das's BirthdayState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
15-02-2026SundayMahashivratri (Herath)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority - Sunday Overlap)
04-03-2026WednesdayHoliGazette / NI ActYes (Jammu Regional Priority)
17-03-2026TuesdayShab-i-QadrState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Religious Holiday)
19-03-2026Thursday1 NavratraState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Jammu Priority
20-03-2026FridayJumat-ul-VidaState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Religious Holiday)
21-03-2026SaturdayNauroz / Eid-ul-Fitr (Day 1)Gazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
22-03-2026SundayEid-ul-Fitr (Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Sunday Overlap)
26-03-2026ThursdayRamanavami / Mela Bahu Fort (Jammu District only)State Gazetted / RegionalOptional / District Specific
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir Jayanti (Jammu District only)Gazette / RegionalOptional / District Specific
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Closing of Bank AccountsNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood Friday (Jammu District only)Gazette / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
14-04-2026TuesdayBaisakhi / Birthday of Dr. B.R. AmbedkarState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
19-04-2026SundayParshuram Jayanti (Jammu Province only)State Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
01-05-2026FridayMay Day & Buddha PurnimaState Mandatory / GazettedYes (Industrial Priority)
23-05-2026SaturdayUrs Shah-i-Hamdan SahibState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Kashmir Priority
27-05-2026WednesdayBakrid (Id-ul-Zuha - Day 1)Gazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
28-05-2026ThursdayBakrid (Id-ul-Zuha - Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
16-06-2026TuesdayMartyr's Day of Guru Arjun Dev JiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Choice
21-06-2026SundayUrs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib (Kishtwar District only)State Gazetted / DistrictOptional / District Specific
22-06-2026MondayMela Khir BhawaniState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High Cultural Priority)
26-06-2026FridayAshura / MuharramGazette / NI ActYes
29-06-2026MondayKabir Jayanti (Jammu Province Only)State Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Province Specific
05-07-2026SundayGuru Hargobind Ji's BirthdayState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
26-08-2026WednesdayEid-i-Milad-ul-NabiGazette / NI ActYes
28-08-2026FridayFriday following Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi / Raksha BandhanState Gazetted / RegionalYes
04-09-2026FridayJanamashtamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Jammu Regional Priority)
23-09-2026WednesdayBirthday of Maharaja Hari Singh JiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Pride Priority)
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi's BirthdayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
08-10-2026ThursdayUrs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din SahibState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Kashmir Priority
20-10-2026TuesdayMahanavami / DussehraGazette / NI ActYes
26-10-2026MondayAccession DayState Gazetted / RegionalYes (J&K UT Mandate)
08-11-2026SundayDiwaliGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
10-11-2026TuesdayUrs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib (Kishtwar, Doda & Ramban)State Gazetted / DistrictOptional / District Specific
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak Dev Ji's BirthdayGazette / NI ActOptional / Corporate Choice
25-12-2026FridayChristmas DayGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Jammu & Kashmir​

  1. Annual Display of Holidays: Post the approved holiday list on employee notice boards and digital platforms before 1st January.
  2. Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all workers under the J&K Shops and Establishments Act.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on an approved holiday must be compensated at double wages (200%), or normal pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Is Accession Day (October 26th) a public holiday in Jammu & Kashmir?​

Yes. Accession Day (commemorating the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947) is an official gazetted public holiday across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

2. Are two days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha observed in J&K?​

Yes. Due to widespread observance, the Jammu & Kashmir Administration gazettes two consecutive days of public holidays for both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).

3. What is Mela Khir Bhawani?​

Mela Khir Bhawani (held at Tulmulla, Ganderbal) is the most significant annual festival of the Kashmiri Pandit community and is gazetted as a state public holiday.