Bank Holidays in July 2026 India — What They Mean for Your Money

July 2026 is one of those months that rewards a little advance planning. While it does not carry the big national holidays of January (Republic Day) or August (Independence Day), July has a rich mix of religious observances, regional public holidays, and cultural festivals, spread across all four weeks of the month. For salaried employees, students, and frequent travellers, knowing exactly which dates are holidays, which are bank closures, and which states observe what gives you a significant planning advantage. This is your complete Bank Holidays in July for India, covering public holidays, bank holidays, regional observances, school holidays, and weekend breaks — all in one place.

Quick Summary: July 2026 Holiday Highlights

Public Holidays in July 2026 India

Rath Yatra — 16 July 2026 (Thursday)

Rath Yatra and Guru Purnima are the most significant national and religious observances in July 2026, celebrated with grand processions and spiritual gatherings across various states.

Also known as the Chariot Festival, Rath Yatra is observed on the second day in the fortnight of the month of Ashadha. The day celebrates the visit of Lord Jagannath to the Gundicha Temple. The festival is celebrated in Puri, Odisha, where three fully decorated chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are taken out and pulled by hundreds of devotees.

States observing public holiday: Odisha (mandatory), West Bengal, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and other states with significant Hindu populations. Schools and government offices in Odisha remain closed. Puri’s Rath Yatra is the most famous celebration — attracting lakhs of pilgrims and one of India’s largest religious gatherings.

Long weekend opportunity: Rath Yatra falls on a Thursday in 2026. Taking Friday 17 July as leave gives a 4-day weekend (Thursday–Sunday) for those whose states observe it.

Guru Purnima — 29 July 2026 (Wednesday)

Guru Purnima is one of India’s most widely observed spiritual occasions — a day dedicated to honouring teachers, gurus, and spiritual masters across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. The day falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha.

On this day, students and disciples pay tribute to their teachers. Spiritual organisations, ashrams and Buddhist centres across India hold special ceremonies. In the Buddhist tradition, Guru Purnima (also called Asalha Dharma Day) commemorates the day the Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment.

Holiday status: Guru Purnima is a restricted / optional holiday for central government employees. Some states observe it as a public holiday — check your state government’s official holiday notification for confirmation.

Date confirmed: Guru Purnima falls on 29 July 2026.

Regional Public Holidays in July 2026

Guru Hargobind Ji’s Birthday — 5 July 2026 (Sunday)

Also known as Guru Hargobind Jayanti, the day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Nanak in the Sikh religion. On this day, people visit Gurdwaras and attend the Shabad Kirtan and eat the langar served on the occasion. At night, rehas are recited, which is followed by the recitation of the Kirtan. Some Gurdwaras organise processions to mark the occasion.

States observing: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and other states with significant Sikh populations. Falls on a Sunday in 2026 — no additional weekday holiday.

MHIP Day — 6 July 2026 (Monday)

MHIP Day is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), the lone women’s voluntary organisation in Mizoram. To mark the occasion, special functions are held across the state, including community services like cleaning streets and other surroundings.

States observing: Mizoram only. Government offices and schools in Mizoram remain closed.

Beh Deinkhlam — 9 July 2026 (Thursday)

Beh Deinkhlam is the most important festival of the Pnar (Jaintia) people of Meghalaya — a vibrant, centuries-old harvest festival celebrated in Jowai with colourful processions, music, dance, and the symbolic chasing away of plague and evil spirits through the streets.

States observing: Meghalaya (Jaintia Hills region). Public holiday for government offices in the observing districts.

Martyrs’ Day — 13 July 2026 (Monday)

India celebrates Martyr’s Day on 13 July in Jammu and Kashmir to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1931 uprising against Dogra rule. On that day, 22 Kashmiri people were killed outside the Central Jail by the Dogra state forces on the command of Maharaja Hari Singh. They are honoured by ceremonies, wreath-laying and public speeches recognising their sacrifice.

States observing: Jammu & Kashmir. Government offices and schools in the UT remain closed.

Bhanu Jayanti — 13 July 2026 (Monday)

Bhanu Jayanti, celebrated on 13 July, marks the birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya. Revered for translating the Ramayana into Nepali, he is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali literature. Schools, cultural organisations, and literary bodies organise recitations and tributes in his memory, especially in Sikkim and Darjeeling.

States observing: Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling district). Public holiday in Sikkim

Harela — 16 July 2026 (Thursday)

Harela is the traditional harvest festival of Uttarakhand — a nature and ecology festival that marks the onset of the monsoon and the planting of new crops. The name means “green day” and the festival involves the sowing of seeds 10 days before the holiday and the ceremonial cutting of the sprouted plants on the day itself.

States observing: Uttarakhand. Public holiday for government offices. Coincides with Rath Yatra in 2026 — giving a double observance on the same date.

U Tirot Sing Day — 17 July 2026 (Friday)

U Tirot Sing Day is celebrated to commemorate the death of one of the chiefs of the Khasi people named U Tirot Sing Syiem, who was hanged by the British. On the day, tributes are paid to the brave Khasi king who stood up to the British in 1929.

States observing: Meghalaya. Public holiday for government offices and schools.

Long weekend note: U Tirot Sing Day falls on Friday 17 July 2026. For Meghalaya residents, combined with Rath Yatra/Beh Deinkhlam and the Sunday, this creates a potential 4-day break (Thursday–Sunday) — worth planning around.

Drukpa Tshe-Zi — 18 July 2026 (Saturday)

Drukpa Tshe-Zi commemorates the day Buddha gave his first sermon — an important Buddhist observance celebrated in Ladakh with prayer ceremonies, monastery rituals and community gatherings. The date follows the Tibetan lunar calendar.

States / UTs observing: Ladakh, parts of Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul, Spiti). Falls on a Saturday in 2026 — no additional weekday closure.

Kharchi Puja — 22 July 2026 (Wednesday)

Kharchi Puja is one of Tripura’s biggest Hindu festivals — a week-long celebration honouring the fourteen deities of the royal family of Tripura. The festival involves elaborate rituals, processions to the Howrah River for ceremonial bathing of the idols, and a large fair near Agartala.

States observing: Tripura. Public holiday for government offices and schools in the state.

Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh — 31 July 2026 (Friday)

On 31 July, India pays tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh, who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating General O’Dwyer. Observed especially in Punjab, the day honours his sacrifice through memorial services, patriotic events, and discussions on India’s freedom struggle and the legacy of this revolutionary hero.

States observing: Punjab primarily. Government offices and schools in Punjab observe this as a public holiday.

Long weekend note: Martyrdom Day falls on Friday 31 July 2026. For Punjab, this creates a 3-day weekend (Friday–Sunday) going into the first weekend of August.

Bank Holidays in July 2026

Banks in India observe a specific set of holidays that differ from general public holidays. They follow RBI guidelines on national holidays plus regional observances in each state.

How Bank Holidays Work in India

• All Sundays: Banks closed nationwide
• 2nd Saturday: Banks closed nationwide (11 July 2026)
• 4th Saturday: Banks closed nationwide (25 July 2026)
• 1st and 3rd Saturdays: Banks open for normal hours
• Public holidays: As declared by the RBI and respective state governments

July 2026 Bank Holiday Calendar

Total bank closure days in July 2026 (nationwide minimum): 8 days (4 Sundays + 2nd Saturday + 4th Saturday + 2 national-level closures)

Important: Bank holidays are state-specific beyond the national calendar. Always verify with your bank branch or the RBI’s state-wise holiday notification for your specific location.

School and College Holidays in July 2026

July is the start of a new academic session for most schools across India. Summer vacations are typically over by late June or early July, and classes resume in full.

What to Expect for Schools in July 2026

• Sundays (5, 12, 19, 26 July): All schools closed
• Regional public holidays: Schools in the respective states will observe the regional holidays listed above (Martyrs’ Day in J&K, Rath Yatra in Odisha and Gujarat, U Tirot Sing Day in Meghalaya, etc.)
• Guru Purnima (29 July): Many private schools, coaching institutes and colleges observe a half-day or special assembly — check your institution’s calendar

States with Multiple July 2026 School Holidays

Long Weekends in July 2026

July 2026 does not create many natural long weekends nationally — but regional observances create several opportunities for those in the relevant states.

For most of India, July 2026 does not offer significant long weekend possibilities through public holidays alone. The standard working pattern applies: 4 Sundays off, 2nd and 4th Saturdays off, and the rest are working days unless you are in a state with regional holiday coverage.

July 2026 Full Calendar Overview

Travel Destinations to Visit During July 2026 Holidays

July falls in the heart of the Indian monsoon — which means most hill stations, monsoon destinations, and cultural pilgrimage sites are at their most atmospheric.

Best Places to Visit in July 2026

During Rath Yatra (16 July):

• Puri, Odisha — the epicentre of Rath Yatra. Witnessing the Jagannath chariot procession is one of India’s great spiritual experiences. Book accommodation months in advance.
• Ahmedabad, Gujarat — hosts one of India’s most celebrated Rath Yatra processions outside Puri.

For long weekends (Punjab — Martyrdom Day 31 July):

• Amritsar — Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh (deeply relevant on Udham Singh’s martyrdom day), Wagah Border ceremony
• Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj — Tibetan culture, cool monsoon weather, hiking trails in light rain

For hill escapes in the monsoon:

• Leh Ladakh — July is peak trekking season in Ladakh, which sits in a rain shadow and largely avoids the Indian monsoon. Pangong, Nubra Valley and high-pass routes are all fully open.
• Spiti Valley — Similarly rain-shadow positioned, July is one of the finest months
• Coorg, Karnataka — Coffee estates in monsoon bloom, waterfalls at peak flow
• Munnar, Kerala — Tea gardens deep green, cool, misty mornings

Conclusion

July 2026 in India is a month of cultural and regional diversity in its holiday calendar. While the month lacks a big national holiday on the scale of Republic Day or Independence Day, it carries a meaningful set of observances — from the thunderous Rath Yatra chariot procession in Puri to the quiet spiritual gathering of Guru Purnima, from the martyrdom tributes in Punjab and J&K to the harvest celebrations of Uttarakhand’s Harela and Tripura’s Kharchi Puja.

For travel planning: use Rath Yatra weekend for Odisha or Gujarat, use the Punjab long weekend at month’s end for a Punjab heritage trip, or use the monsoon season to escape to Leh Ladakh — which sits entirely outside the monsoon belt and is at its trekking and touring best in July. Mark your calendar, plan your leaves wisely, and make the most of July 2026.

FAQs About July 2026 Holidays in India

Q1. How many public holidays are there in July 2026 in India? There are no central government mandatory (gazetted) national public holidays in July 2026. The major central government holiday in this period was Muharram, which falls on 26 June 2026 — just before July. July 2026 public holidays are primarily regional observances that vary by state. Rath Yatra (16 July) and Guru Purnima (29 July) are the most widely observed, but as restricted / optional or state-level holidays rather than mandatory nationwide closures.

Q2. Is Rath Yatra a national holiday in 2026? Rath Yatra is not a central government gazetted holiday — meaning it is not a mandatory nationwide closure. It is a state-level public holiday in Odisha, parts of Gujarat, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, where government offices, schools and banks observe the closure. For other states, it is a working day unless separately declared.

Q3. How many days will banks be closed in July 2026? Banks will be closed for a minimum of 8 days nationally in July 2026: 4 Sundays, the 2nd Saturday (11 July), the 4th Saturday (25 July), and Rath Yatra closures in applicable states. State-wise regional holiday closures add to this in specific states (see table above). Always verify with your specific bank branch for local holiday schedules.

Q4. Is there a long weekend in July 2026 in India? There is no pan-India long weekend in July 2026 from public holidays alone. However, state-specific opportunities exist: residents of J&K get a 3-day break around Martyrs’ Day (11–13 July: 2nd Saturday + Sunday + Monday), and Punjab residents get a 3-day weekend at the end of July (Friday 31 July + weekend). In Odisha and Meghalaya, Rath Yatra and U Tirot Sing Day on 16–17 July create a potential 4-day break (Thursday–Sunday) for those who take an additional leave on Friday.

Q5. When is Guru Purnima 2026? Guru Purnima falls on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. It is one of the most significant spiritual observances in the Hindu and Buddhist calendar. While it is not a mandatory central government gazetted holiday, many educational institutions, ashrams and spiritual organisations observe it as a special day. Some states declare it a public holiday — check your state government’s notification.