School Holidays 2026: Check August and September Festival Holiday List

Published: Monday, August 24, 2026, 15:12 [IST]

Students across India are likely to get several festival-linked holidays during the last week of August and September 2026. Major festivals during this period include Eid-e-Milad, Onam, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi. However, school holiday dates may vary depending on the state, education board and individual school calendar.

Will Schools Remain Closed on All Festival Dates? — Photo Credits - AI Image

Parents and students should check the latest holiday notification issued by the concerned education department or their school before making travel or other plans.

School Holidays in August 2026

According to the holiday schedule mentioned for schools in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, several festival holidays are listed in the last week of August.

The key dates include:

August 25, 2026 (Tuesday): Eid-e-Milad
August 26, 2026 (Wednesday): Onam
August 28, 2026 (Friday): Raksha Bandhan

The actual closure may differ for individual schools depending on their academic calendar and local holiday notifications.

Onam 2026 School Holiday

Onam 2026 will be observed in Kerala during the last week of August. Thiruvonam, the main day of the festival, falls on August 26, 2026.

The festival period also includes other important days:

First Onam: August 25, 2026
Thiruvonam: August 26, 2026
Third Onam: August 27, 2026
Fourth Onam: August 28, 2026

Schools in Kerala may follow the state government's holiday schedule, while institutions in other states may have different arrangements.

Raksha Bandhan 2026 Holiday

Raksha Bandhan is scheduled to be observed on August 28, 2026. Several schools may remain closed on the festival depending on the applicable state or institutional holiday calendar.

However, Raksha Bandhan is not necessarily a school holiday across every state. Parents should therefore confirm the date with the respective school.

Janmashtami 2026 School Holiday

Janmashtami 2026 is listed as a school holiday on September 4, 2026 (Friday) in the holiday schedule referenced for Noida schools.

Schools in other parts of India may observe Janmashtami on a different date or follow separate holiday arrangements based on state government notifications and local calendars.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Holiday

Another major festival during this period is Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi. In 2026, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 14.

The festival is particularly significant in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and Telangana, among others. Schools in these states may announce holidays around Ganesh Chaturthi depending on their respective government and institutional calendars.

Will Schools Remain Closed on All Festival Dates?

Not necessarily. Festival dates do not automatically mean that schools across India will remain closed.

School holidays can differ based on:

State government holiday notifications
CBSE, ICSE or state-board calendars
District-level orders
Local festivals and regional observances
Individual school policies
Working-day requirements

Some schools may also adjust their academic calendar by scheduling working Saturdays or modifying class timetables to compensate for additional holidays.

Check State-Wise School Holiday Notifications

Parents and students should not rely solely on general holiday lists when planning around school closures. The final decision on whether a school will remain closed should be confirmed through the official notification issued by the state education department or the school management.

With several major festivals falling between late August and September 2026, students in different parts of India may have additional breaks. However, the exact holiday schedule will depend on the location and school.