Bihar Public Holidays 2026 – 2027 Official Government & Festival Holiday Calendar
Bihar Public Holidays 2026: Bihar, one of India’s most vibrant states with rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions, observes a full calendar of public holidays every year. In 2026, the Bihar government has officially notified its holiday list which includes national holidays, popular festivals, state observances and optional/restricted holidays. These holidays apply to government offices, educational institutions and many public sector organisations across the state.
Whether you are planning vacations, organising events, or scheduling work duties, this complete 2026 holiday calendar for Bihar will help you stay prepared throughout the year.
Bihar Public Holidays 2026 (Government & Festival Holidays)
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 03 Mar 2026 | Tuesday | Holi |
| 21 Mar 2026 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Eid) |
| 22 Mar 2026 | Sunday | Bihar Day |
| 27 Mar 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami |
| 03 Apr 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 01 May 2026 | Friday | May Day / Labour Day |
| 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| 26 Jun 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 15 Aug 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 04 Sep 2026 | Friday | Krishna Janmashtami |
| 02 Oct 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
| 18–20 Oct 2026 | Sun–Tue | Durga Puja / Navratri |
| 08 Nov 2026 | Sunday | Diwali |
| 15–16 Nov 2026 | Sun–Mon | Chhath Puja |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Note: Some festival dates (especially Islamic festivals) are based on moon sightings and may vary slightly.
Optional / Restricted Holidays 2026 (State Employees Can Choose)
In addition to the main public holidays above, the Bihar government also allows a number of optional or restricted holidays which employees may avail based on preference (up to the permitted number). These include a mix of cultural, religious and regional observances.
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| 01 Jan 2026 | New Year’s Day |
| 14 Jan 2026 | Makar Sankranti |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Karpoori Thakur Jayanti |
| 02 Mar 2026 | Holika Dahan |
| 13 Mar 2026 | Last Friday of Ramzan |
| 22 Mar 2026 | Eid (Optional) |
| 29 May 2026 | Eid-ul-Zuha (Optional) |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Anugrah Narayan Sinha Jayanti |
| 24 Aug 2026 | Last Shravan Monday |
| 28 Aug 2026 | Raksha Bandhan |
| 14 Sep 2026 | Hartalika Teej |
| 17 Sep 2026 | Vishwakarma Puja |
| 25 Sep 2026 | Anant Chaturdashi |
| 04 Oct 2026 | Jivitputrika Vrat |
| 11 Oct 2026 | Durga Puja (Kalash Sthapana) |
| 11 Oct 2026 | Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Durga Puja (Ekadashi) |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Shri Krishna Singh Jayanti |
| 14 Nov 2026 | Chhath Puja (Kharna) |
| 03 Dec 2026 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad Jayanti |
| 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Eve |
These restricted holidays give flexibility for employees to observe personal, community or cultural festivals.
Why These Holidays Matter
Bihar’s public holiday calendar reflects its rich cultural diversity — from national patriotic days like Republic Day and Independence Day to traditional festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Chhath Puja. The list also includes religious observances across communities, ensuring all major cultural events are recognised.
- Republic Day (26 Jan) marks India’s constitutional heritage.
- Holi celebrates the arrival of spring with color and joy.
- Bihar Day (22 Mar) honours the formation of the state.
- Chhath Puja is one of the largest festivals in Bihar, dedicated to the Sun God.