New Delhi: Long weekends in India are pure gold for anyone craving a quick getaway or some extra chill time. With a mix of national holidays, festivals and smart leave planning, they turn ordinary weeks into mini-vacations. Knowing when these occur helps you plan trips, meet friends or simply relax. Get ready to unlock the best long weekend breaks — and make every extra day count.

Whether you want a road-trip, a cozy stay-in or just extra sleep, long weekends offer the perfect chance. This guide lists month-by-month long weekends in India and how you can club holidays for the ultimate break.

Month-by-month Indian long weekends (and how to plan them)

Long weekends of January 2026

1. January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day

• Take January 2 (Friday) off  and enjoy a 4-day weekend (January 1–4)

2. January 26 (Monday) – Republic Day

• Automatically creates a 3-day weekend (January 24–26)

What to do during the holidays

• Explore winter destinations like Shimla, Manali, Gulmarg, or Auli.


• Enjoy beach breaks in Goa, Gokarna, or Kerala.


• Visit cultural festivals and food fairs happening across major cities.


• Take wellness-focused retreats in the Himalayas or near coastal resorts.

Long weekends of February 2026

No major national holiday falls on a Friday or Monday this month, but you can still plan:

1. Take leave on February 13 (Friday) and combine Valentine weekend for a 3-day romantic trip (February 14–16).

What to do during the holidays

• Valentine getaways to Udaipur, Jaipur, Ooty, or Alleppey.


• Bird-watching at Bharatpur, Chilika Lake, or Ranganathittu.


• Attend local fairs, music festivals, and food carnivals.


• Go on hiking, camping, or heritage walks thanks to mild weather.

Long weekends of March 2026

1. March 4 (Wednesday) – Holi – Long weekend if it falls adjacent to a weekend (varies by state).

2. March 26 (Thursday) – Ram Navami

3. March 31 (Tuesday) – Mahavir Jayanti

• Take March 30 (Monday) off and create a 5-day holiday (March 27–31)

What to do during the holidays

• Celebrate Holi in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, or Jaipur.


• Explore temple towns like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Shravanabelagola, or Palitana.


• Undertake spring treks in Uttarakhand or Himachal.


• Enjoy offbeat heritage circuits in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

Long weekends of April 2026

1. April 3 (Friday) – Good Friday

• Natural 3-day weekend (April 3–5)

What to do during the holidays

• Enjoy beach destinations: Goa, Daman, Pondicherry, Varkala.


• Visit national parks like Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, or Bandhavgarh.


• Celebrate regional new years in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab.


• Take quick hill breaks to Munnar, Coorg, or Kodaikanal.

Long weekends of May 2026

1. May 1 (Friday) – Labour Day / Buddha Purnima

• Natural 3-day weekend (May 1–3)

What to do during the holidays

• Retreat to the hills: Darjeeling, Nainital, Mussoorie, Munnar, or Gangtok.


• Visit Ladakh before peak tourist season starts.


• Enjoy wildlife safaris as animal sightings peak in summer.


• Take coastal breaks in Andaman, Lakshadweep, or Odisha.

Long weekends of June 2026

1. June 26 (Friday) – Muharram

• Natural 3-day weekend (June 26–28)

What to do during the holidays

• Monsoon getaways to Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, or Coorg.


• Scenic drives through Konkan or Western Ghats.


• Relaxing spa retreats or plantation stays.


• Explore northeastern destinations before full monsoon.

Long weekends of July 2026

1. July 16 (Thursday) – Rath Yatra

• Take July 17 (Friday) off and enjoy a 4-day weekend (July 16–19)

What to do during the holidays

• Monsoon road trips along Western Ghats.


• Visit Odisha for Rath Yatra celebrations.


• Check into nature resorts around Wayanad, Chikmagalur, or Kodai.


• Chase waterfalls in Meghalaya or Maharashtra.

Long weekends of August 2026

1. August 28 (Friday) – Raksha Bandhan

• Natural long weekend-off for 3 days.

2. August 25/26 (Tuesday/Wednesday) – Milad-un-Nabi

• Take a holiday on August 24 (Monday) to get an extended 4-day long weekend.

What to do during the holidays

• Visit lush green destinations: Kerala, Meghalaya, Karnataka Ghats.


• Take cultural trips to Delhi, Jaipur, Amritsar.


• Short nature retreats in monsoon-rich regions.


• Celebrate Raksha Bandhan with family-friendly resort breaks.

Long weekends of September 2026

1. September 4 (Friday) – Janmashtami

• Creates a 3-day weekend (September 4–6)

2. September 14/15 (Monday/Tuesday) – Ganesh Chaturthi

• Often leads to state-level holidays and possible extended weekends depending on region.

What to do during the holidays

Experience Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, Pune, or Goa.

Trek in post-monsoon trails: Valley of Flowers, Tirthan, Hampta.

Explore backwaters in Kerala in their greenest form.

Plan beach trips as skies clear.

Long weekends of October 2026

1. October 2 (Friday) – Gandhi Jayanti

• Natural 3-day weekend (October 2–4)

2. October 20 (Tuesday) – Dussehra

• Get one day leave on October 19 (Monday) and get 3-day weekend off.

What to do during the holidays

• Attend Durga Puja in Kolkata or Navratri in Gujarat.


• Explore Rajasthan’s desert cities as weather cools.


• Visit national parks reopening after monsoon.


• Take nature retreats in Uttarakhand or Himachal.

Long weekends of November 2026

1. November 6 – 11 (Friday – Wednesday) – Diwali

• Natural extended leave opportunities.

2. November 24 (Tuesday) – Guru Nanak Jayanti

• Take a leave on November 23 (Monday) and get 4-day weekend.

What to do during the holidays

• Celebrate Diwali in Rajasthan, Varanasi, or Delhi.


• Visit Golden Temple during Guru Nanak Jayanti.


• Explore Hampi, Khajuraho, or heritage circuits.


• Enjoy cool-weather hill getaways.

Long weekends of December 2026

1. December 25 (Friday) – Christmas Day

• Natural 3-day weekend (December 25–27). Combine with New Year week for a full holiday stretch with minimal leaves.

What To Do During the Holidays

• Celebrate Christmas in Goa, Shillong, Pondicherry, or Kerala.


• Visit winter destinations like Kashmir, Himachal, or Sikkim.


• Attend music festivals or beach parties.


• Treat yourself to year-end luxury retreats.