

Odisha’s year is dotted with festivals that feel like landmarks. The onset of winter heralds festivals that are unique to the weather. The sun-soaked midsummer celebrations add to the euphoria. This ensures that the people of the state are quite jubilant throughout the year.
The holiday calendar here isn’t just a collection of dates but it reflects Odisha’s cultural heartbeat, blending national days, religious observances, and local festivals that Odisha look forward to every year.
List of National, Public and Regional Holidays in Odisha for 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 14 | Wednesday | Sankranti / Pongal | Regional |
| 2 | Jan 23 | Friday | Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti & Basanta Panchami | Regional |
| 3 | Jan 26 | Sunday | Republic Day | National |
| 4 | Mar 03 | Tuesday | Dola Purnima | Regional |
| 5 | Mar 04 | Wednesday | Holi | Regional |
| 6 | Mar 21 | Saturday | EId-ul-Fitr | Religious |
| 7 | Mar 26 | Thursday | Shree Rama Navami | Religious |
| 8 | Apr 01 | Wednesday | Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) | Cultural/Public |
| 9 | Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| 10 | Apr 14 | Tuesday | Maha Bishuba Sankranti (Pana Sankranti) & Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi | Regional/Public |
| 11 | May 01 | Friday | Buddha Purnima/ Birthday of Pnadit Raghunath Murmu | Regional |
| 12 | May 16 | Saturday | Sabitri Amabasya | Regional |
| 13 | May 27 | Tuesday | Eid ul-Azha(Bakrid) | Religious |
| 14 | Jun 15 | Monday | Raja Sankranti | Regional |
| 15 | Jun 26 | Friday | Muharram* | Religious |
| 16 | Jul 16 | Thursday | Ratha Yatra | Regional/Religious |
| 17 | Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| 18 | Aug 26 | Wednesday | Milad un Nabi* | Religious |
| 19 | Aug 27 | Thursday | Jhulana Purnima | Regional/Religious |
| 20 | Sep 04 | Friday | Shri Krishna Janmashtami | Religious |
| 21 | Sep 14 | Monday | Ganesh Puja | Regional |
| 22 | Sep 15 | Tuesday | Nuakhai | Regional |
| 23 | Sep 16 | Wednesday | Day Following Nuakhai | Regional |
| 24 | Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| 25 | Oct 17 | Saturday | Maha Saptami | Regional |
| 26 | Oct 19 | Monday | Maha Nabami | Regional |
| 27 | Oct 20 | Tuesday | Vijaya Dasami (Dussehra) | Regional |
| 28 | Nov 23 | Monday | Rasa Purnima | Cultural |
| 29 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas | Religious |
*Islamic festival dates are tentative and may shift based on moon sightings.
If You Live or Work in Odisha: What This Means
- Not just standard holidays: Odisha’s calendar includes state-specific occasions like Utkal Divas, Maha Bishuba Sankranti, and Nuakhai. These are celebrated with local fervour and a sense of community and are regional in nature.
- Religious diversity is reflected: One can see that Hindu, Muslim, and cultural holidays together are recognised officially, which helps people plan family/friend gatherings and festivities throughout the year.
- Moon-linked dates: Several festivals especially Muslim ones like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Milad-un-Nabi depend on lunar calendars and might be confirmed closer to the event.
Also Read: Holiday List in Kerala 2026
FAQs
1. Are the following holidays, mentioned above, observed statewide in Odisha?
These holidays are officially notified by the Odisha government for all government offices, revenue and magisterial courts, and many other public and private institutions.
2. Which are the core national holidays every workplace follows?
Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) are celebrated throughout Odisha, as in the rest of the country.
3. What is Utkal Divas, and why is it a holiday?
The day of the formation of the state in 1936 is celebrated as Utkal Divas, or Odisha Day (1 April) and is a major state-wide cultural celebration (recollect Jana Gana Mana).
4. Why are some festivals like Ratha Yatra and Nuakhai significant here?
Ratha Yatra is one of the most iconic religious festivals in Odisha, especially in Puri, associated with the procession of the deities in Jagannath Temple, while Nuakhai is believed to mark rice harvesting and is deeply rooted in Odia rural tradition.
5. Do Muslim festival dates change after notification?
Dates like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha, and Milad-un-Nabi are tentative until confirmed by moon sightings each year.

