Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, November 8, 2026. That is the night of Lakshmi Puja, the main day of the festival, which runs from Dhanteras on Friday, November 6 to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 11 in the New Delhi almanac.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the major festivals of Hinduism and is also observed by Jains and Sikhs. It follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so it lands on a different Gregorian date every year, and in 2026 it falls later than usual. This guide gives the date of each festival day in 2026, explains why the schedule has a gap this year, covers public holiday status in India, Singapore, Malaysia and the US, and lists the dates through 2030.
When is Diwali 2026? The festival days
The dates below are for New Delhi, from the Drik Panchang Diwali calendar, and the last three match the 2026 state holiday lists in our India holiday calendar. Because each day is tied to a lunar day (tithi) rather than a calendar date, almanacs for other cities and regions can differ by a day, so check your local temple or community calendar.
| Festival day | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, November 6 |
| Kali Chaudas | Saturday, November 7 |
| Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Sunday, November 8 |
| Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | Sunday, November 8 |
| New moon day (no main festival) | Monday, November 9 |
| Govardhan Puja (Annakut, Bali Pratipada) | Tuesday, November 10 |
| Bhai Dooj (Bhaiya Dooj, Bhau Beej) | Wednesday, November 11 |
Counting from today, October 6, 2026, Diwali is 33 days away, or four weeks and five days. The Diwali countdown keeps the live number, and the weeks until Diwali page shows the same gap in weeks.
Why the 2026 schedule has a gap
In most years the five days of Diwali fall on five consecutive dates. 2026 is different. Choti Diwali and Lakshmi Puja share Sunday, November 8, and Monday, November 9, sits between Lakshmi Puja and Govardhan Puja with no main observance. That is a result of how lunar days line up with sunrise and sunset in 2026.
The new moon itself arrives at 2:02 a.m. EST on Monday, November 9 (07:02 UTC), which is around midday in India. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening, and in 2026 the evening on which the new-moon lunar day (amavasya) is in effect is Sunday, November 8. By Monday evening the new-moon tithi has ended, so Govardhan Puja, which belongs to the next lunar day, moves to Tuesday. You can compare this with every new moon of the year on the 2026 moon phase calendar.
The practical upshot: the festival week in 2026 stretches across Friday, November 6 to Wednesday, November 11, and the calendar dates of individual days may differ between Indian and diaspora almanacs. The same almanac lists Tamil Deepavali, the South Indian celebration tied to Naraka Chaturdashi, on Sunday, November 8 as well.
What each day is for
- Dhanteras: homes are cleaned, and many families buy gold, silver or new utensils. It is also linked to Dhanvantari, associated with health and medicine.
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): marks Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura, with lamps lit in the evening.
- Lakshmi Puja: the main night. Families pray to the goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, light diyas (oil lamps), and visit relatives. In Bengal and nearby regions, Kali Puja falls on the same night.
- Govardhan Puja: remembers Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill, often with an Annakut, a large offering of food. In Gujarat it is also the Gujarati New Year.
- Bhai Dooj: a day for brothers and sisters, when sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being.
For Sikhs, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, and for Jains it marks Mahavira’s attainment of moksha. Our Diwali 2027 guide covers these traditions and next year’s schedule in more detail.
How the date of Diwali is set
The Hindu calendar is lunisolar. Its months follow the moon, and each month is divided into a waxing half and a waning half of about 15 lunar days each. Lakshmi Puja falls on the new moon of the month of Kartika in the commonly used reckoning (Ashvina in the calendars that end months at the new moon), which is why it always lands between mid-October and mid-November.
Twelve lunar months come to about 354 days, roughly 11 days short of a solar year, so Diwali usually moves 10 to 12 days earlier each year. To keep festivals in their seasons, the calendar adds an extra month from time to time, and Diwali then jumps about three weeks later. 2026 is one of those years: an extra month of Jyeshtha (Adhik Maas) ran from mid-May to mid-June 2026, which is why Diwali moves from Monday, October 20, 2025 to November 8, 2026, then back to October 29 in 2027.
Diwali dates, 2026 to 2030
| Year | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 8, 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | October 29, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | October 17, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | November 5, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | October 26, 2030 | Saturday |
The pattern is visible here: earlier in 2027 and 2028, a jump to November in 2029, then earlier again in 2030. From Diwali 2026 to Diwali 2027 is 355 days.
Is Diwali a public holiday?
- India: Diwali (Deepavali) is on the list of compulsory holidays for central government offices in 2026, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so it doesn’t add a weekday off at the national level. Several states give Govardhan Puja on Tuesday, November 10, or Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 11, as state holidays. See the India 2026 holiday list.
- Singapore: Deepavali is a public holiday on Sunday, November 8, 2026. According to the Ministry of Manpower, Monday, November 9 is a public holiday for employees whose rest day falls on November 8.
- Malaysia: Deepavali is a public holiday in most states. With November 8 on a Sunday, many states also give Monday, November 9; check the Malaysia 2026 holiday calendar for your state.
- United States: Diwali isn’t a federal holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday anyway, but if you plan to celebrate on Govardhan Puja or Bhai Dooj during the week, check your school district’s calendar or your employer’s leave policy. Veterans Day, a federal holiday, follows on Wednesday, November 11, the same day as Bhai Dooj.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the night of Lakshmi Puja. The festival week runs from Dhanteras on Friday, November 6 to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 11.
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, November 6, according to the New Delhi almanac. Local almanacs can differ by a day.
Why is Diwali so late in 2026?
The Hindu calendar adds an extra lunar month every few years to stay in step with the seasons. 2026 comes after one, so Diwali lands in November instead of October.
Is Diwali a holiday in India in 2026?
Yes. It is a compulsory holiday for central government offices, though in 2026 it falls on a Sunday. Some states add holidays for Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.
When is Diwali 2027?
Diwali 2027 is on Friday, October 29, 2027, 355 days after Diwali 2026.