Kerala Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays
In Kerala, workplace holidays and statutory leave are regulated under the Kerala Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1958, the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960, and annual notifications issued by the General Administration Department, Government of Kerala under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Kerala enforces the highest minimum statutory holiday quota in India, providing employees extensive coverage during regional celebrations like Onam, Vishu, and religious festivals.
Under Section 3 of the Kerala Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1958: Every employee is entitled to not less than 13 paid holidays per calendar year, which must include:
- Republic Day (26 January)
- May Day (1 May)
- Independence Day (15 August)
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2 October)
- 9 Additional Festival Holidays determined in consultation with trade unions or works committees.
📅 Official Kerala Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026
The following comprehensive schedule integrates official gazetted dates under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act, state government gazetted holidays, and regional festival observances:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Classification | Statutory / Corporate Applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02-01-2026 | Friday | Mannam Jayanthi | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Regional Holiday |
| 26-01-2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 18-02-2026 | Wednesday | Maha Shivratri | Gazetted / NI Act | General Public Holiday / Optional |
| 20-03-2026 / 21-03-2026 | Friday / Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan) | Gazetted / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 20-03; HR Deck: 21-03) |
| 01-04-2026 | Wednesday | Annual Closing of Accounts of Banks | NI Act (Section 25) | Banks & Financial Accounts Only |
| 02-04-2026 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | State Gazetted / Regional | Regional Holiday / Corporate Choice |
| 03-04-2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazetted / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Major State Priority) |
| 05-04-2026 | Sunday | Easter | Regional Religious Observance | Sunday Observance / Optional |
| 14-04-2026 | Tuesday | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi / Vishu | State & National Gazetted | Mandatory State Gazetted & Regional Festival |
| 15-04-2026 | Wednesday | Vishu (Extended Observance) | Regional Festival | Optional / Regional Extension |
| 01-05-2026 | Friday | May Day (International Workers' Day) | State Mandatory Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Sec 3 Mandate) |
| 27-05-2026 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Ad'ha (Bakrid) | Gazetted / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday |
| 25-06-2026 | Thursday | Muharram | Gazetted / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday / Optional |
| 12-08-2026 | Wednesday | Karkkadaka Vaavu | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Regional Observance |
| 15-08-2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 24-08-2026 / 25-08-2026 | Monday / Tuesday | First Onam / Milad-i-Sherif (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Festive Block (Simpliance: 25-08; HR Deck: 24-08) |
| 25-08-2026 / 26-08-2026 | Tuesday / Wednesday | Thiruvonam (Main Onam) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory Paid Off (Core State Festival) (Simpliance: 26-08; HR Deck: 25-08) |
| 26-08-2026 / 27-08-2026 | Wednesday / Thursday | Third Onam | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Festive Block (Simpliance: 27-08; HR Deck: 26-08) |
| 27-08-2026 / 28-08-2026 | Thursday / Friday | Fourth Onam / Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi / Ayyankali Jayanthi | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Festive Block (Simpliance: 28-08; HR Deck: 27-08) |
| 04-09-2026 | Friday | Sreekrishna Jayanthi | State Gazetted / Regional | Gazetted Public Holiday / Optional |
| 21-09-2026 | Monday | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory State Gazetted Holiday |
| 02-10-2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanthi / Vijayadhasami | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 20-10-2026 | Tuesday | Maha Navami | State Gazetted / Regional | High State Priority / Gazetted (Simpliance: 20-10; HR Deck: 19-10) |
| 21-10-2026 | Wednesday | Vijayadhasami | Gazetted / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 21-10; HR Deck: 20-10) |
| 08-11-2026 | Sunday | Diwali (Deepavali) | Gazetted / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Sunday Overlap) |
| 25-12-2026 | Friday | Christmas | Gazetted / NI Act | Mandatory / Standard State Off |
📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Kerala
Employers operating in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and across Kerala must observe the following statutory protocols:
- Submission of Form I (Notice of Proposed Holidays):
- Under Rule 3 of the Kerala Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Rules, 1958, employers must submit Form I specifying the proposed 13 holidays to the jurisdictional Assistant Labour Officer before 31st December of the preceding calendar year.
- Display in Form II:
- The approved statement of 13 holidays in Form II must be displayed prominently on workplace notice boards and corporate intranets by January 1.
- Compensation for Working on Holidays:
- Under Section 5 of the Act, employees required to work on any declared statutory holiday are entitled to:
- Twice the ordinary rate of wages (200%), or
- Normal daily wage plus a paid substitute holiday within 90 days from the worked holiday.
- Under Section 5 of the Act, employees required to work on any declared statutory holiday are entitled to:
- Advance Notice for Holiday Work (Form E):
- Employers requiring employees to work on a festival holiday must serve an advance notice in Form E to the employee and the jurisdictional Inspector at least 24 hours prior to the holiday.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many statutory paid holidays are mandatory in Kerala?
Kerala mandates a minimum of 13 paid holidays per calendar year (4 compulsory national/state days plus 9 festival holidays), which is the highest statutory legal quota across all Indian states.
2. Is Onam an extended paid holiday in Kerala?
Yes. Commercial establishments and industrial units in Kerala typically observe a 4-day paid holiday block encompassing First Onam, Thiruvonam, Third Onam, and Fourth Onam / Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi / Ayyankali Jayanthi.
3. What happens if Gandhi Jayanthi coincides with Vijayadhasami on October 2, 2026?
Under Section 3, Gandhi Jayanthi is an entrenched statutory national holiday. When another festival like Vijayadhasami coincides on the same calendar date, employers must ensure employees receive their full paid holiday rights, and the total annual holiday count must not fall below the mandatory 13-day quota.
4. Is Vishu a mandatory holiday across Kerala?
Yes. Vishu (celebrated alongside Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi on 14 April 2026) is one of the most culturally significant festivals in Kerala and is universally included in the 9 employer-declared festival holidays.