Long Weekends October to December 2026: Leave Planner

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

The last quarter of 2026 has four central gazetted holidays left on the calendar. Where each one lands on the week decides how much of a break you can build around it, and sometimes one well-placed leave day is all it takes.

What central government holidays remain from October to December 2026?

These dates come from the Department of Personnel and Training’s 2026 holiday order for central government offices. States set their own additional holiday lists, which can differ.

How can you turn Dussehra into a longer weekend?

Dussehra falls on a Tuesday this year. Taking Monday 19 October as a single day of leave bridges the weekend of 17 and 18 October straight into the holiday, giving you four days off, Saturday to Tuesday, for the cost of one leave day.

Can Diwali week become a longer break?

Diwali itself falls on a Sunday in 2026, so it does not automatically extend the weekend the way a midweek Diwali would. However, several states treat the days right after Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj among them, as additional state or restricted holidays. Where that applies, taking Monday 9 November as leave can turn the weekend into a run from Saturday 7 to Wednesday 11 November. This varies by state and by employer, so confirm your own organisation’s holiday list before planning around it.

How does Guru Nanak Jayanti create a bridge weekend?

Guru Nanak’s Birthday falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The same pattern as Dussehra applies: a single day of leave on Monday 23 November bridges the weekend of 21 and 22 November into the holiday, for a four day break running Saturday to Tuesday.

Does Christmas 2026 connect through to the New Year?

Christmas falls on a Friday, 25 December 2026, which already gives a free three day weekend from Friday to Sunday. Because 1 January 2027 falls on a Friday as well, someone willing to use four days of leave across Monday 28 to Thursday 31 December could bridge the Christmas weekend all the way through to the following weekend, turning four leave days into roughly ten days off. This is the single biggest leverage point on the calendar in this quarter, though it depends entirely on your workplace approving that stretch of leave.

Where can you go on a short, long-weekend trip?

For a four day weekend, a short regional flight to a hill town, a coastal city or a heritage town within two to three hours of your base airport makes the most of the time without losing a day to travel at either end. For the longer Christmas to New Year stretch, a slightly farther destination, including an international short break, becomes realistic since you have more days to absorb the travel time. Either way, book flights for these windows as early as your leave is confirmed, since fares on well-known long-weekend dates tend to firm up well ahead of the date.

Common Questions

Do restricted holidays count toward these long weekends?

Central government employees can choose two restricted holidays a year from a notified list, and many choose days like Karwa Chauth or Chhath Puja that fall near these gazetted dates. Private sector leave policies vary, so check your own employer’s calendar.

Are these exact dates the same in every Indian state?

No. The five dates above are the central government’s gazetted list. State governments publish their own holiday calendars, which often add local festivals and can shift which days are declared holidays, so always cross-check your specific state before booking.

Should I book flights before my leave is formally approved?

It is safer to get leave approved first, since fares on popular long-weekend dates rarely fall once demand is clear, but waiting too long after approval also risks losing the cheaper seats on that route.

Is Chhath Puja, in mid-November, also a long weekend opportunity?

Chhath Puja runs from 13 to 16 November 2026 and is widely observed as a holiday in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh specifically, rather than on the central gazetted list, so it functions as its own travel window more than a bridge day for most other states.

What about Karwa Chauth in late October?

Karwa Chauth, 29 October 2026, is not a gazetted holiday but is a restricted holiday option in many organisations and falls on a Thursday, which some people pair with a Friday leave day for a four day weekend.

Where can I find the December school holiday dates separately?

If you are planning around school winter break rather than just the gazetted holidays, see our separate December 2026 school holidays and family flights guide for those dates.

Holiday lists and restricted holiday options change by state, sector and employer. Verify your own organisation’s calendar before applying for leave or booking non-refundable travel.