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.