If you’ve been waiting for the perfect year to travel more often, 2026 is going to be your dream year! The upcoming calendar is perfectly aligned for frequent travelers — with public holidays, festivals, and weekends beautifully spaced out to give you 14 long weekends. With just a little smart planning, you can turn these extended breaks into short, refreshing getaways throughout the year. From mountain escapes and serene beaches to cultural experiences and heritage trails — 2026 offers endless opportunities to explore India like never before.

The year kicks off with not one but two long weekends!

• New Year (January 1, Thursday): Take leave on January 2 (Friday) and enjoy a 4-day break from January 1 to 4.


• Republic Day (January 26, Monday): Enjoy a 3-day weekend to celebrate the nation.

Perfect Destinations: Goa, Nainital, Mussoorie, or Jaipur – ideal for winter vacations filled with charm and comfort.

March brings a string of festivals such as Holi (March 3), Ram Navami (March 26), and Mahavir Jayanti (March 31).
By adding just a day or two of leave, you can easily plan a 5-day travel stretch.

Perfect Destinations: Experience Holi celebrations in Varanasi or Mathura-Vrindavan, or explore the heritage marvels of Khajuraho and Hampi.

With Good Friday (April 3) followed by Easter (April 5), you can take April 2 (Thursday) off for a 4-day vacation.

Perfect Destinations: Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, Puducherry’s French streets, or Goa’s golden beaches make for an idyllic spring break.

Labour Day (May 1, Friday) creates a ready-made long weekend.
It’s the perfect time to escape to the mountains for some cool weather.

Perfect Destinations: Shimla, Manali, Ooty, Mount Abu, or Mussoorie — enjoy nature and peace at their best.

With Muharram falling on June 26 (Friday), you can plan a scenic monsoon getaway.

Perfect Destinations: Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, the Konkan coast, or even Rajasthan for its rain-soaked desert charm.

Rath Yatra on July 16 (Thursday) gives you the perfect chance for another long weekend if you take July 17 (Friday) off.

Perfect Destinations: Munnar, Coorg, Meghalaya’s waterfalls, or Kerala’s misty hills.

August features Milad-un-Nabi (August 25) and Raksha Bandhan (August 28), creating great opportunities for extended weekends if you add one or two leave days.

Perfect Destinations: Jaipur, Udaipur, Darjeeling, or the Andaman Islands for a mix of culture and relaxation.

Janmashtami (September 4, Friday) and Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14, Monday) open up two long weekends.

Perfect Destinations: Goa, Kerala, or Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura National Park for nature and wildlife lovers.

October is every traveler’s favorite with Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, Friday) and Dussehra (October 20, Tuesday).
Take October 19 (Monday) off and enjoy a rejuvenating 4-day trip.

Perfect Destinations: Uttarakhand’s hill towns, Rajasthan’s deserts, or Sikkim’s trekking trails.

Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24, Tuesday) offers a travel window if you take November 23 (Monday) off.

Perfect Destinations: Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Agra, or Rishikesh for adventure and spirituality combined.

Christmas (December 25, Friday) brings the last long weekend of the year. Add a day off on December 24 or 28 for a festive 4-day break.

Perfect Destinations: Shillong, Goa, Daman, or South India’s coastal towns — perfect for ending the year on a refreshing note.

The year 2026 is full of opportunities to travel smarter, not harder. With 14 long weekends, you can plan mini-vacations across India without exhausting your annual leave. Whether you love mountains, beaches, forests, or forts, every month offers a perfect reason to pack your bags and explore.