J&K Government Notifies Official Holiday List for Calendar Year 2026
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has officially released the list of holidays for the calendar year 2026 for all government offices and educational institutions across the Union Territory. The notification was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) through Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD) of 2025, dated December 12, 2025 .
The order, issued with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, outlines gazetted holidays, provincial holidays, local holidays, and restricted holidays applicable during 2026. These holidays will be observed by all government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, and educational institutions within the UT.
Holidays Applicable Across Jammu and Kashmir (Annexure-A)
As per the official notification, the following holidays will be observed throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in 2026:
- Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday – January 5
- Shab-i-Miraj* – January 17
- Republic Day – January 26
- Mahashivratri – February 15
- Shab-i-Qadr* – March 17
- Navratra – March 19
- Jumat-ul-Vida* – March 20
- Nauroz* – March 21
- Eid-ul-Fitr* – March 21
- Ram Navami – March 26
- Baisakhi – April 14
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday – April 14
- Buddha Purnima – May 1
- Eid-ul-Azha* – May 27 & 28
- Ashoora* – July 5
- Independence Day – August 15
- Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi* – August 26
- Friday following Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi* – August 28
- Janmashtami – September 4
- Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s Birthday – September 23
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti – October 2
- Mahanavami – October 20
- Dussehra – October 20
- Accession Day – October 26
- Diwali – November 8
- Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday – November 24
- Christmas Day – December 25
*All Muslim holidays are subject to the appearance of the moon.
Provincial Holidays (Annexure-B)
Kashmir Province
The following holidays will be observed only in Kashmir Province:
- Friday following Shab-i-Miraj*
- Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib*
- Mela Khir Bhawani
- Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib*
Jammu Province
The following holidays are applicable only in Jammu Province:
- Lohri – January 13
- Shri Guru Ravi Das Ji’s Birthday – February 1
- Holi – March 4
Local Holidays
Certain district-specific local holidays have also been notified, including:
- Mela Bahu Fort – Jammu District only
- Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib* – Kishtwar District
- Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra – Kishtwar District
- Kailash Yatra – Bhaderwah and Bhalla Tehsils
- Mela Pat – Bhaderwah and Bhalla Tehsils
- Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib* – Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban districts
Restricted Holidays for 2026
The government has also listed several restricted holidays, including:
- Mahavir Jayanti (Jammu District only)
- Good Friday (Jammu District only)
- Parshuram Jayanti (Jammu Province only)
- Martyr’s Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji
- Kabir Jayanti (Jammu Province only)
- Raksha Bandhan
Employees may avail these restricted holidays as per existing service rules.
Official Instructions
The General Administration Department has directed all departments, deputy commissioners, heads of institutions, and concerned authorities to strictly adhere to the notified holiday schedule for 2026. Hindi and Urdu versions of the order will be issued separately.
The holiday list aims to ensure uniform observance, facilitate administrative planning, and provide clarity to government employees, students, and the general public across Jammu and Kashmir .
Stay connected for more official notifications and government updates from Jammu and Kashmir.
