Nepal Public Holiday List for 2026

Nepal Public Holiday List for 2026

Nepal follows the Bikram Sambat calendar, so dates can shift a bit. Many holidays are also regional or optional. These are the main national holidays:

January

  • Jan 14, Wed – Maghe Sankranti – Public Holiday
  • Jan 15, Thu – Maghe Sankranti
  • Jan 19, Mon – Sonam Losar / Tamang New Year – Public Holiday
  • Jan 30, Fri – Martyrs’ Day – Public Holiday
  • February
    • Feb 15, Sun – Maha Shivaratri – Public Holiday
    • Feb 18, Wed – Gyalpo Losar – National Holiday
    • Feb 19, Thu – Prajatantra Diwas / National Democracy Day – Public Holiday
    • March
      • Mar 2, Mon – Fagu Purnima / Holi – Public Holiday
      • Mar 3, Tue – Fagu Purnima / Holi – Public Holiday
      • Mar 4-6, Wed-Fri – Election Holiday – Public Holiday
      • Mar 8, Sun – Nari Dibas / International Women’s Day – Public Holiday
      • Mar 18, Wed – Ghode Jatra – Regional Holiday, Kathmandu Valley
      • Mar 21, Sat – Ramjan Edul Fikra / Eid al-Fitr – National Holiday
      • April
        • Apr 14, Tue – Nepali New Year – Public Holiday

        May

        • May 1, Fri – Majdoor Divas / Labour Day + Buddha Jayanti – Public Holiday. In 2026 these fall on the same day.
        • May 27, Wed – Edul Aajaha / Bakra Eid / Eid al-Adha – Optional Holiday
        • May 29, Fri – Ganatantra Diwas / Republic Day – Public Holiday

        June – July
        Mostly no major national holidays. June 21 is June Solstice – Season

        August

        • Aug 28, Fri – Janai Purnima / Raksha Bandhan – Public Holiday
        • Aug 29, Sat – Gai Jatra – Local Holiday, Kathmandu Valley

        September

        • Sep 4, Fri – Shree Krishna Janmashtami + Gaura Parba – Public Holiday
        • Sep 14, Mon – Hartalika Teej – Optional Holiday, mainly for women
        • Sep 19, Sat – Constitution Day / National Day – Public Holiday
        • Sep 25, Fri – Indra Jatra – Regional Holiday, Kathmandu Valley

        October – Major Dashain holidays

        • Oct 11, Sun – Ghatasthapana – Public Holiday
        • Oct 17, Sat – Phulpati – Public Holiday
        • Oct 18, Sun – Maha Ashtami
        • Oct 19, Mon – Maha Navami
        • Oct 20, Tue – Bijaya Dashami / Vijayadashami – Public Holiday
        • Oct 21-22, Wed-Thu – Ekadashi, Duwadashi – Part of Dashain

        November – Tihar holidays

        • Nov 8, Sun – Laxmi Puja
        • Nov 9, Mon – Gai Tihar
        • Nov 10, Tue – Gobardhan Puja / Mha Puja
        • Nov 11, Wed – Bhai Tika
        • Nov 15, Sun – Chhath Parva

        December

        • Dec 25, Fri – Christmas Day – Public Holiday
        • Dec 30, Wed – Tamu Lhochhar – Public Holiday

        • Notable long breaks in 2026

          1. Falgun 18-24: Back-to-back 7 days holiday due to Holi, Election Holiday, weekend, and Naari Diwas
          2. May 28-31: 4-day break with Bakra Eid May 28, Republic Day May 29, plus weekend

          Important notes

          1. Weekends: Nepal government offices now have Saturday + Sunday as public holidays, but this started in 2022 and continues in 2026.
          2. Regional differences: Holi is celebrated on different days in Hill vs Terai regions. Gai Jatra, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra are mainly Kathmandu Valley.
          3. Optional holidays: Some like Teej, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha depend on community or employer.
          4. Lunar dates: Festivals like Eid, Holi, Dashain, Tihar follow lunar calendar, so dates may shift by 1 day.

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