The holidays in Ladakh are not regular holidays in the way they are scheduled. They tend to be the kind of pauses one needs to make when the frigid terrain, the season, and distances come into the equation. When the offices close here, it is rarely on the schedule of an off-day kind of holiday.
As it is a Union Territory, the holiday pattern of Ladakh remains centrally aligned. There are uniform holidays throughout the nation, which are followed here too. Some religious and local holidays are notified where they have implications for the administration of both the Leh District and the Kargil District. The holiday pattern remains very compact. This helps it maintain predictability despite the weak logistics environment.
What the official list does not set out to account for is the broader culture. This is with respect to the celebrations that take place and that have a significant local following but that do not constitute reasons for closure. This is when everything else occurs.
The following are some of the most commonly notified and observed holidays in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
List of National, Public, and Religious Holidays in Ladakh for 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| Feb 18 | Wednesday | Losar | Regional |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr | Religious |
| Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| May 01 | Friday | May Day / Buddha Purnima | Public / Religious |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| Oct 20 | Tuesday | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Religious |
| Nov 08 | Sunday | Diwali | Religious |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Religious |
Dates for religious festivals follow lunar calendars and reflect commonly observed 2026 calculations. Regional observance may extend beyond notified dates due to terrain and seasonal access.
How Holidays Function in Ladakh
Government offices and public institutions observe this list strictly, but the real impact often lasts longer. Winter holidays, in particular, are shaped by weather and road access rather than policy. A single notified day can translate into several days of slowed activity.
Private employers are not required to follow the Union Territory holiday list, though most align with national holidays. Religious observance varies sharply between districts, and many festivals are marked socially without formal closures. Banks follow RBI notifications, which overlap substantially with this list.
Also Read: Holiday List in Delhi 2026
FAQs
1. Does Ladakh have fewer holidays than most states?
Yes. The official list is intentionally compact to support administrative predictability.
2. Is Losar an official holiday in Ladakh?
Yes. Losar is formally recognised as a regional holiday.
3. Why aren’t all Buddhist festivals listed here?
Only those that consistently affect Union Territory-wide administration are formally notified.
4. Do private companies have to follow this list?
No. Private employers set their own holiday policies.
5. Are holidays observed the same way in Leh and Kargil?
Administratively, yes. In practice, local conditions influence how holidays play out.