Punjab Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays
In Punjab, workplace holidays, industrial leave, and commercial closures are governed under the Punjab Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays and Casual and Sick Leave) Act, 1965, the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, and notifications issued by the Department of Personnel, Government of Punjab under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Industrial centers in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, and commercial establishments across Mohali (SAS Nagar) must comply with Punjab's statutory leave framework.
Statutory Minimum in Punjab (8 Paid Holidays)
Under Section 3 of the Act, every employee in Punjab is entitled to:
- 3 National Holidays (26 January, 15 August, 2 October)
- 5 Festival Holidays approved by the Labour Inspectorate.
- Minimum statutory quota: 8 paid holidays annually.
📅 Official Punjab Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026
The following comprehensive schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and restricted/optional holidays across Punjab:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Classification | Statutory / Corporate Applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-01-2026 | Thursday | New Year Day | Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Corporate Choice |
| 13-01-2026 | Tuesday | Lohri | Restricted Observance | Optional / High Cultural Priority |
| 15-01-2026 | Thursday | Birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Priority |
| 17-01-2026 | Saturday | Nirvan Diwas of Bhagwan Adi Nath Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 23-01-2026 | Friday | Basant Panchami / Birthday of Satguru Ram Singh Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 26-01-2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 01-02-2026 | Sunday | Birthday of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 18-02-2026 | Wednesday | Maha Shivratri | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Corporate Choice |
| 03-03-2026 / 04-03-2026 | Tuesday / Wednesday | Holi / Hola Mohalla | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Major State Priority (Simpliance: 04-03; HR Deck: 03-03) |
| 08-03-2026 | Sunday | International Women's Day | Restricted Observance | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 21-03-2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday |
| 23-03-2026 | Monday | Martyrdom Day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory State Memorial Holiday |
| 26-03-2026 / 27-03-2026 | Thursday / Friday | Ram Naumi | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Corporate Choice (Simpliance: 26-03; HR Deck: 27-03) |
| 31-03-2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 01-04-2026 | Wednesday | Annual Bank Account Closing | NI Act (Section 25) | Commercial Banks Only |
| 03-04-2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off) |
| 08-04-2026 | Wednesday | Birthday of Sri Guru Nabha Das Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 14-04-2026 | Tuesday | Baisakhi / Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Festival |
| 19-04-2026 | Sunday | Bhagwan Parshu Ram Janam Utsav | Restricted Observance | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 01-05-2026 | Friday | Buddha Purnima / May Day | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / High Industrial Priority |
| 27-05-2026 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday |
| 16-06-2026 / 18-06-2026 | Tuesday / Thursday | Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Priority (Simpliance: 18-06; HR Deck: 16-06) |
| 25-06-2026 | Thursday | Nirjala Ekadashi | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 25-06-2026 / 26-06-2026 | Thursday / Friday | Muharram | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday / Optional (Simpliance: 26-06; HR Deck: 25-06) |
| 29-06-2026 | Monday | Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji / Kabir Jayanti | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 31-07-2026 | Friday | Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Memorial Holiday |
| 15-08-2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 26-08-2026 | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad Sahib) | Restricted / State Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 04-09-2026 | Friday | Janam Ashtami | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Corporate Choice |
| 05-09-2026 | Saturday | Birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 12-09-2026 | Saturday | First Prakash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji / Saragarhi Day | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Memorial Observance |
| 15-09-2026 | Tuesday | Samvatsari Day | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 20-09-2026 | Sunday | Birthday of Baba Sri Chand Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 25-09-2026 | Friday | Anant Chaturdashi | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 28-09-2026 | Monday | Birthday of S. Bhagat Singh Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Memorial Observance |
| 02-10-2026 | Friday | Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi Ji | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 11-10-2026 | Sunday | Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti | Restricted Observance | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 16-10-2026 | Friday | Birthday of Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 20-10-2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Major State Priority |
| 26-10-2026 | Monday | Birthday of Maharishi Valmiki Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory State Mandate |
| 27-10-2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Ramdas Sahib Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / High Religious Priority |
| 29-10-2026 | Thursday | Karva Chauth | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 01-11-2026 | Sunday | Nawan Punjab Day | State Formation Day | State Commemorative Day (Sunday Overlap) |
| 08-11-2026 | Sunday | Diwali | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory Paid Off (Sunday Overlap) |
| 09-11-2026 | Monday | Goverdhan Puja / Viswakarma Day | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / High Industrial Priority |
| 11-11-2026 | Wednesday | Gurgaddi Diwas Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 15-11-2026 | Sunday | Chhath Puja | Restricted Observance | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 16-11-2026 | Monday | Martyrdom Day of S. Kartar Singh Sarabha Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 20-11-2026 | Friday | Birthday of Sant Namdev Ji | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 24-11-2026 | Tuesday | Gurpurb Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Priority |
| 14-12-2026 | Monday | Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory State Memorial Holiday |
| 25-12-2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off) |
| 28-12-2026 | Monday | Shahidi Sabha, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Memorial Observance |
📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Punjab
- Annual Filing: Submit the proposed list of festival holidays to the local Labour Conciliation Officer before 31st December.
- Display Rules: Exhibit the approved schedule on the establishment's notice board by January 1.
- Compensation for Holiday Work: Employees working on declared holidays must be paid twice the ordinary daily wages (200%), or normal pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Baisakhi a mandatory paid holiday in Punjab?
Yes. Baisakhi marks the Punjabi harvest festival and the founding day of the Khalsa Panth, representing a core state gazetted holiday observed by all industrial and commercial sectors.
2. Is Vishwakarma Day celebrated as a paid holiday in Punjab factories?
Yes. Across manufacturing, engineering, and industrial units in Punjab, Vishwakarma Day (observed the day after Diwali) is traditionally observed as a full paid holiday.