If you’ve been promising yourself more travel time, 2026 might just be your year. The calendar is sprinkled with perfectly placed public holidays, long weekends, and a few cleverly extendable breaks that can transform your routine weekends into memorable mini-vacations. Whether you’re dreaming of misty hill retreats, cultural detours, or a quick beach recharge, a little advance planning can go a long way in making every month feel like a small adventure.
This guide lays out all the long weekends in 2026, broken down month by month, with ideas on where to go, how to plan around the weather, and when to book before everyone else does.
January opens with a generous nudge: New Year’s Day lands on a Thursday, and by using a single leave on Friday you can stretch it into a four-day escape. Later, Republic Day on Monday gives you a clean three-day break right before the month ends. Whether you head for mellow beaches in Goa or cool hill stations like Mussoorie or Nainital, January sets a relaxed tone for what’s to come.
Dates to plan:
• January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day
• January 23 (Friday) – Vasant Panchami (restricted holiday)
• January 26 (Monday) – Republic Day
Club for travel: Take Friday, January 2 off for a four-day New Year weekend (Jan 1–4) or combine January 23–26 for a four-day Republic Day getaway.
As winter gives way to spring, you’ll spot festival windows around Holi and other regional observances, perfect for turning short holidays into mini escapes. In early March, Holi’s timing affords a chance to immerse yourself in vibrant traditions in places like Varanasi or to slip into quieter southern beaches. Then, late March’s Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti create multi-day pockets you can turn into heritage sojourns—Khajuraho, Hampi or lesser-known spots are ideal.
Dates to plan:
• March 3 (Tuesday) – Holi
• March 20 (Friday) – Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (regional holiday)
• March 26 (Thursday) – Ram Navami
• March 31 (Tuesday) – Mahavir Jayanti
Club for travel: Combine March 26–31 with a leave on March 30 for a five-day break; or travel around Holi from February 28–March 3 for a festive long weekend.
With Good Friday fixed early in the month, you gain a natural three-day break without burning a leave. It’s ideal for coast-based rejuvenation—Kerala backwaters, beaches in Goa or a quiet stretch in Pondicherry. As summer intensifies, these coastal and water-adjacent escapes feel just right.
Dates to plan:
• April 3 (Friday) – Good Friday
• April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
Club for travel: April 3–5 makes an easy three-day weekend; add Thursday, April 2 as a leave for a four-day trip.
May 1 dropping on a Friday frames a perfect long weekend for heading upward. Before monsoon fully settles, explore hill towns like Ooty or Shimla, or plan road trips within a half-day radius of your home city. Travel in May feels fresh yet anticipatory—the calm before the seasonal shift.
Dates to plan:
• May 1 (Friday) – Labour Day / Buddha Purnima
Club for travel: A ready-made three-day weekend from May 1–3; extend with a leave on April 30 or May 4 for a four-day escape.
June brings Muharram on a Friday, giving a compact long weekend. With rain likely in many regions, you might tilt towards destinations known for moody monsoon beauty—think Western Ghats or even desert edges. Consider accessibility and whether the terrain will resist soggy disruption.
Dates to plan:
• June 26 (Friday) – Muharram (Ashura)
Club for travel: June 26–28 offers a three-day weekend; add June 25 as leave for a four-day monsoon retreat.
Mid-July’s Rath Yatra falls on a Thursday, offering a four-day window if you extend with one leave. Kerala’s verdant monsoon landscapes and the misty hills of Munnar or Coorg become lush havens in this rain-season frame. Resorts tend to be less crowded; just carry rain gear.
Dates to plan:
• July 16 (Thursday) – Rath Yatra
Club for travel: Take July 17 off for a four-day break from July 16–19.
August’s overlapping observances—Milad-un-Nabi and Raksha Bandhan—translate into pockets you can stretch into extended breaks. As the monsoon begins its retreat, enjoy cultural tours (Jaipur, Udaipur) or hill escapes made more vibrant by fresh washes of green.
Dates to plan:
• August 25 (Tuesday) – Milad-un-Nabi
• August 28 (Friday) – Raksha Bandhan
Club for travel: Combine August 24–28 with one or two leaves to form a five-day trip.
When real rains ease off, consider holidays like Janmashtami or Vinayaka Chaturthi, some of which align with weekends in 2026. The weather clears, rivers swell, hills look refreshed—so beach trips in Goa or jungle trails in the Eastern Ghats feel ideal now.
Dates to plan:
• September 4 (Friday) – Janmashtami
• September 14 (Monday) – Ganesh (Vinayaka) Chaturthi
Club for travel: Either September 4–6 or September 12–14 can serve as three-day windows depending on observance.
October is the crown jewel. Gandhi Jayanti on Friday gives a neat three-day window; Dussehra later allows for an extended break if you take a day or two. With perfect weather, this is the season to chase Himalayan views, stately Rajasthan circuits or luxuriate in cultural hideouts. Expect rooms to book fast.
Dates to plan:
• October 2 (Friday) – Gandhi Jayanti
• October 20 (Tuesday) – Dussehra / Dasara
Club for travel: October 2–4 for a short getaway, or October 17–20 by taking Monday, October 19 off for a longer trip.
As temperatures mellow, look out for Guru Nanak’s birthday. If it falls midweek, a well-placed leave can realign it into a four-day feast of travel possibility. Think desert escapes, heritage circuits in Rajasthan, or easier treks into lower Himalayan terrain.
Dates to plan:
• November 24 (Tuesday) – Guru Nanak Jayanti
Club for travel: Take Monday, November 23 off for a four-day weekend from November 21–24.
December may lack official holiday density, but that’s part of its charm. Here lies room for spontaneous escapes—weekend drives, hillside hideouts or last-minute beach stays. After months of planning, this is your moment to take whatever pocket of time you have and disappear, even if just for two or three nights.
Dates to plan:
• December 25 (Friday) – Christmas Day
Club for travel: A ready three-day long weekend from December 25–27; extend with leave on December 24 or 28 for a full festive break.
Q1. How many long weekends are there in India in 2026?
India has over a dozen long weekends in 2026, spread across major public holidays like Republic Day, Holi, Good Friday, Independence Day, Diwali, and Christmas, offering multiple chances for short getaways.
Q2. What are the best destinations for long weekends in India?
Popular options include Goa and Gokarna for beaches, Shimla and Manali for hills, Jaipur and Udaipur for culture, and Kerala or Coorg for nature retreats.
Q3. How can I plan trips around 2026 public holidays?
Mark national and regional holidays early, club them with weekends, and apply one or two leaves strategically to create longer breaks. Booking flights and stays 2–3 months in advance helps save costs.
Q4. Which months have the most travel-friendly long weekends in 2026?
January, March, August, and October 2026 have the best clusters of long weekends, making them perfect for both short escapes and longer holidays.
Q5. How can I make the most of a long weekend trip?
Choose nearby destinations within a 4–6 hour journey, plan flexible itineraries, travel light, and focus on relaxation and local experiences rather than cramming too many attractions.