Planning your child’s academic year just got easier. The CBSE Holiday List 2026 is one of the most searched resources by students, parents, and teachers across India — and for good reason. Knowing exactly when schools close for summer vacations, winter breaks, and national festivals helps families plan ahead, ensures students balance rest with revision, and allows educators to schedule the academic calendar efficiently.
Whether you are asking when summer holidays start in 2026, looking for the CBSE winter vacation 2026 dates, or simply want a month-wise breakdown of all national and regional holidays, this guide covers everything you need. We have also included specific notes for students at CBSE schools in Guwahati and the Northeast region, where certain local holidays may apply.
Read on for a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the CBSE Holiday List 2026 — your one-stop resource for smarter academic planning.
What Is the CBSE Holiday List 2026?
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) releases an official academic calendar every year that outlines key school events, examination periods, and scheduled holidays. The CBSE Holiday List 2026 refers to all school closure dates falling in the calendar year 2026, which overlaps with both the tail end of the 2025-26 academic session (January–March 2026) and the beginning of the 2026-27 session (April 2026 onwards).
This calendar is critical for three groups: students who need to plan their exam preparation and extracurricular activities; teachers who must align teaching schedules and assessments with available working days; and parents who want to coordinate family holidays, travel, and their child’s study routine without disrupting the academic year.
The CBSE holiday calendar typically includes national public holidays, religious and cultural festivals, regional observances, and seasonal breaks such as the summer and winter vacations. The exact dates can vary slightly by state and individual school policy, so always cross-check with your school’s official calendar.
CBSE Summer Vacation 2026: When Do Summer Holidays Start?
One of the most common questions parents ask each year is: when do summer holidays start in 2026? For the 2025-26 academic year, summer vacations for most CBSE schools are expected to begin in late April or early May 2026 and extend through mid-June 2026. Here is what to expect based on regional patterns:
| Region / City | Expected Summer Vacation 2026 |
| North India (Delhi, UP, Haryana) | Late April – Late June 2026 |
| South India (Chennai, Bangalore) | Mid-April – Mid-June 2026 |
| Northeast India (Guwahati, Assam) | May – June 2026 (approx.) |
| Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune) | Late April – Mid-June 2026 |
| West India (Gujarat, Rajasthan) | Mid-April – Mid-June 2026 |
Note: Exact summer vacation dates for 2026-27 will be announced by CBSE and individual schools closer to April 2026. The dates above are estimated based on patterns from the 2025-26 academic calendar. Schools in Guwahati and Assam may also observe Rongali Bihu (April 13-15) as a cultural holiday, with schools often holding special programs or granting half-day leave.
CBSE Winter Vacation 2026: Dates and What to Expect
The CBSE winter vacation 2026 refers to the school break typically occurring in late December 2025 and early January 2026, which is the winter break for the ongoing 2025-26 academic session. Based on established patterns:
- Schools in North India and Delhi: Winter break from approximately December 29, 2025 to January 7-15, 2026, with reopening dates depending on cold wave conditions.
- Schools in Northeast India including Guwahati: Winter vacation typically runs through the first two weeks of January 2026.
- Schools in South India: Shorter winter break of about one week around New Year.
- CBSE Class 10 and 12 students: Practical exams for these classes begin from January 1, 2026 and run through February 14, 2026 — so board exam students may not get a full winter break.
For the 2026-27 academic session, the next winter vacation will be announced in the new academic calendar and will likely follow the same pattern, with schools closing in late December 2026 and reopening in early-to-mid January 2027.
CBSE Holiday List 2026: Month-Wise Breakdown (January–June 2026)
Here is a detailed month-wise look at the key CBSE holidays in 2026, covering both the tail end of the 2025-26 session and the start of the new academic year.
Holiday Types
| Type | Meaning |
| 🔴 National Holiday | Mandatory for all schools & offices across India (Gazetted) |
| 🟠 Gazetted Holiday | Public holiday observed by government offices & most CBSE schools |
| 🟡 Restricted Holiday | Optional holiday; individual schools/employees may or may not observe |
| 🟢 School Vacation | Seasonal breaks (Summer / Winter / Autumn) declared by school |
| 🔵 Regional Holiday | State-specific or community-specific; observed in select regions only |
Complete CBSE Holiday List 2026 — Month-Wise
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Type |
| 📅 JANUARY 2026 | Winter Vacation ends, Republic Day, Pongal, Board Practicals begin | |||
| Jan 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | 🔵 Regional |
| Jan 1 onwards | Thursday | CBSE Class 10 & 12 Practical Exams Begin | 📋 Exam |
| Jan 1–14, 2026 | Thu–Wed | Winter Vacation (North India / Guwahati) | 🟢 School Vacation |
| Jan 13, 2026 | Tuesday | Lohri | 🔵 Regional (Punjab/Haryana) — half-day |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pongal Day 1 | 🟡 Restricted |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Thursday | Pongal Day 2 / Uttarayan Day 2 (Gujarat schools closed) | 🔵 Regional |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Friday | Thiruvalluvar Day / Pongal Day 3 (Tamil Nadu) | 🔵 Regional |
| Jan 19–20, 2026 | Mon–Tue | Most schools reopen after Winter Vacation | 📋 Note |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day | 🔴 National Holiday |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Saturday | Me-Dum-Me-Phi (Assam — Ahom community) | 🔵 Regional (Guwahati) |
| 📅 FEBRUARY 2026 | Saraswati Puja, Shivratri, Pre-Board Exams | |||
| Feb 2, 2026 | Monday | Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja | 🟡 Restricted (key holiday in NE India) |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Thursday | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | 🟡 Restricted |
| Feb 15, 2026 | Sunday | Maha Shivratri (falls on Sunday — no school holiday) | 🟠 Gazetted (Sunday) |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Tuesday | CBSE Class 12 Board Exams Begin (Theory) | 📋 Exam |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Thursday | Shivaji Jayanti | 🔵 Regional (Maharashtra) |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Monday | CBSE Class 12 Practicals for Private Students begin | 📋 Exam |
| 📅 MARCH 2026 | Holi, Board Exams, Ugadi, End of Academic Session 2025-26 | |||
| Mar 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Holi | 🟠 Gazetted — 2-day school holiday |
| Mar (late) | — | Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (Telugu & Marathi New Year) | 🔵 Regional (South & West India) |
| Mar 26, 2026 | Thursday | Sri Rama Navami (approx.) | 🟡 Restricted |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Eid ul-Fitr (Ramzan — subject to moon sighting) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Tuesday | End of CBSE Academic Session 2025-26 | 📋 Academic Milestone |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | 🟠 Gazetted |
| 📅 APRIL 2026 | New Academic Year 2026-27 Begins, Bihu, Good Friday, Summer Vacation starts | |||
| Apr 1, 2026 | Wednesday | New CBSE Academic Session 2026-27 Begins | 📋 Academic Milestone |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Sunday | Jagjeevan Ram Jayanti | 🔵 Regional |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Monday | Rongali Bihu — Day 1 (Assam New Year) | 🔵 Regional (Guwahati / NE India) — schools closed |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Tuesday | Rongali Bihu Day 2 / Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti / Vishu / Tamil New Year / Baisakhi | 🟠 Gazetted (national) + 🔵 Regional |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Wednesday | Rongali Bihu Day 3 (Assam) | 🔵 Regional (Guwahati) |
| Apr 27 onwards | Monday | Summer Vacation 2026-27 Begins (approx.) | 🟢 School Vacation |
| 📅 MAY 2026 | Summer Vacation — Schools Closed | |||
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day / Maharashtra Day | 🔵 Regional |
| May (full month) | — | Summer Vacation — Schools Closed (most CBSE schools) | 🟢 School Vacation |
| May (date TBC) | — | Buddha Purnima / Vesak | 🟠 Gazetted |
| 📅 JUNE 2026 | Summer Vacation ends — Schools Reopen | |||
| Early June | — | Summer Vacation Ends (approx. June 10–15 for most regions) | 🟢 School Vacation ends |
| Mid-June | — | Schools Reopen for Academic Year 2026-27 | 📋 Note |
| 📅 JULY 2026 | Schools reopen, new term activities | |||
| Jul (late) | — | Muharram (Islamic New Year — date subject to moon sighting) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| 📅 AUGUST 2026 | Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami | |||
| Aug 1, 2026 | Saturday | Friendship Day / Friendship Day (India observance) | 🔵 Cultural |
| Aug (date TBC) | — | Raksha Bandhan (approx. early Aug) | 🟡 Restricted |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | 🔴 National Holiday — compulsory flag hoisting |
| Aug (date TBC) | — | Janmashtami (Krishna Jayanti) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| 📅 SEPTEMBER 2026 | Teachers’ Day, Onam, Milad-un-Nabi | |||
| Sep 5, 2026 | Saturday | Teachers’ Day (Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s Birthday) | 🔵 Cultural Celebration (school programs) |
| Sep (early) | — | Onam (Kerala) — 4-5 day school holiday in Kerala | 🔵 Regional (Kerala) |
| Sep (mid — moon-based) | — | Milad-un-Nabi / Id-e-Milad (Prophet’s Birthday) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| 📅 OCTOBER 2026 | Gandhi Jayanti, Navratri / Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali | |||
| Oct 2, 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | 🔴 National Holiday |
| Oct (early–mid) | — | Navratri (9 days) — cultural programs in schools | 🟡 Restricted (varies by state) |
| Oct (early–mid) | — | Durga Puja / Maha Ashtami / Maha Navami / Bijoya Dashami (4-5 days — NE India, West Bengal) | 🔵 Regional — schools closed in Guwahati |
| Oct 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra / Vijaya Dashami | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Oct (date TBC) | — | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | 🟡 Restricted |
| 📅 NOVEMBER 2026 | Diwali, Children’s Day, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Chhath Puja | |||
| Nov 8, 2026 | Sunday | Diwali / Deepavali (approx. — subject to state notification) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Nov (around Diwali) | — | Autumn Vacation / Diwali Break (3–5 days — varies by school) | 🟢 School Vacation |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Saturday | Children’s Day (Pandit Nehru’s Birthday) — programs in school | 🔵 Cultural Celebration |
| Nov (late Oct/early Nov) | — | Chhath Puja (Bihar, UP, Jharkhand — 2 days) | 🔵 Regional |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) | 🟠 Gazetted |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day | 🟡 Restricted |
| 📅 DECEMBER 2026 | Christmas, Winter Vacation begins | |||
| Dec 24, 2026 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | 🟡 Restricted |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | 🟠 Gazetted — schools closed |
| Dec 29, 2026 onwards | Tuesday | Winter Vacation 2026-27 Begins (approx.) | 🟢 School Vacation |
Seasonal School Breaks Summary — 2026
| Break | Approx. Start | Approx. End | Duration |
| Winter Vacation (ending) | Dec 20–29, 2025 | Jan 8–15, 2026 | ~2–4 weeks (state-wise) |
| Summer Vacation 2026 | Apr 27 – May 1, 2026 | Jun 10–15, 2026 | ~6–7 weeks |
| Autumn / Diwali Break | Around Dussehra / Diwali (Oct/Nov) | 3–7 days (school-specific) | ~3–7 days |
| Winter Vacation 2026-27 | Dec 25–29, 2026 | Jan 7–15, 2027 | ~2–3 weeks |
Special Regional Holidays — CBSE Schools in Guwahati (Assam)
| Date (Approx.) | Holiday | Notes |
| Jan 31 | Me-Dum-Me-Phi | Ahom community observance |
| Feb 2 | Saraswati Puja / Vasant Panchami | Students’ Day — books worshipped, schools closed |
| Apr 13–15 | Rongali Bihu (3 days) | Assamese New Year — major 3-day school closure |
| Apr 14 | Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti | National holiday (coincides with Bihu Day 2) |
| Oct (varies) | Durga Puja / Bijoya Dashami | 4–5 day school holiday across NE India |
| Oct (varies) | Ali Aye Ligang | Mising community — some schools observe |
| Nov (varies) | Kati Bihu | Smaller Bihu; schools may hold programs |
| Jan 14–15 (next yr) | Magh Bihu / Bhogali Bihu | Harvest festival — cultural programs in school |
Important: Dates for moon-sighting-based festivals (Eid, Muharram, Id-e-Milad) are tentative and confirmed annually by the Central Government. Festival dates for Diwali, Dussehra, Holi etc. may shift by 1 day depending on regional Panchang. Always refer to your school’s official circular for final holiday dates.
Key National Holidays in the CBSE Calendar 2026
All CBSE-affiliated schools observe national public holidays mandated by the Government of India. These are non-negotiable closures and form the backbone of any CBSE school holiday list. In 2026, the confirmed national holidays include:
- January 26 — Republic Day
- April 14 — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti
- April 18 — Good Friday
- August 15 — Independence Day
- October 2 — Gandhi Jayanti
- November 14 — Children’s Day
- December 25 — Christmas Day
These dates are consistent across all CBSE schools in India, regardless of state. Schools may also hold special events, morning assemblies, or cultural programs on national holidays where students are expected to attend.
Regional Holidays for CBSE Schools in Guwahati and Northeast India
If your child studies at one of the CBSE schools in Guwahati, the holiday list has some unique additions compared to national schedules. Assam and the broader Northeast region celebrate several culturally significant festivals that are recognized as school holidays:
- Rongali Bihu (April 13-15): The Assamese New Year is a major 3-day celebration. Most schools in Guwahati remain closed or hold special cultural programs.
- Saraswati Puja / Vasant Panchami (January/February): Widely celebrated in Assam and West Bengal, this is considered a special day for students.
- Ali Aye Ligang: Observed by the Mising community; some schools in the region grant leave.
- Me-Dum-Me-Phi (January 31): Ahom community observance — some schools may grant a local holiday.
- Durga Puja / Navratri: Major festive break in October for schools across Northeast India.
Parents of children enrolled in CBSE schools in Guwahati should always refer to their school’s official holiday notice, as local administration and state government directives may add region-specific closures throughout the year.
How to Use the CBSE Holiday List 2026 for Better Academic Planning
Having the CBSE holiday list is only useful if you know how to leverage it. Here are practical tips for students, parents, and educators:
For Students
- Map out your study schedule using the holidays as natural break points. Use long weekends for revision and shorter breaks for rest.
- Identify the dates before and after major breaks — these are often underused revision windows before exams.
- For Class 10 and 12 students: do not treat winter vacation as a full break. Use it for practical exam preparation and pre-board revision.
For Parents
- Plan family vacations around the CBSE summer vacation 2026 window to avoid disrupting school attendance.
- Use the Republic Day and other national holiday long weekends for short local trips.
- Coordinate with your child’s teachers before pulling them out of school for extended trips — especially during term-time months.
For Educators
- Use the holiday calendar to design unit tests, PTMs, and project deadlines well in advance.
- Build buffer days into the teaching schedule for unexpected school closures due to weather, elections, or other local events.
- Share the holiday list with parents at the start of each term for transparent communication.
CBSE Holiday List 2026 vs. Other Education Boards
While this guide focuses on the CBSE Holiday List 2026, it is worth noting how CBSE compares with other boards in terms of holiday patterns:
| Education Board | Summer Vacation (Approx.) | Key Difference |
| CBSE | Late April – June | Nationally standardized; regional additions allowed |
| ICSE | Mid-May – Late June | Slightly shorter summer vacation in some schools |
| State Boards | Varies significantly by state | More regional festivals recognized; longer local breaks |
Why Choose a CBSE School in Guwahati for Your Child?
The CBSE holiday calendar is just one reason why CBSE-affiliated schools remain the top choice for families across India, including in cities like Guwahati. Here is why families consistently prefer CBSE schools for their children’s education:
- Nationally recognized curriculum that prepares students for competitive exams like JEE, NEET, and UPSC.
- Structured academic calendar with balanced breaks that support mental health and holistic development.
- Freedom of movement — CBSE students can transfer to any CBSE school across India without losing continuity.
- Strong focus on co-curricular activities, sports, and life skills alongside academics.
- Consistent board examination standards and nationally benchmarked results.
International School Guwahati is among the leading CBSE schools in Guwahati, offering a world-class education experience rooted in the CBSE framework. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, experienced faculty, and a strong emphasis on holistic development, it remains a preferred choice for families in the region.
Conclusion: Stay Ahead with the CBSE Holiday List 2026
The CBSE Holiday List 2026 is more than a list of days off from school — it is a planning tool that shapes the entire academic experience. From the CBSE summer vacation 2026 that gives students a well-earned break to the winter vacation 2026 that marks the final push toward board exams, every holiday on this calendar plays a role in the rhythm of the school year.
Whether you are a parent coordinating family schedules, a student mapping out study plans, or an educator designing the annual teaching timeline, this month-wise guide gives you everything you need to stay prepared. For families in Guwahati and the Northeast, remember to account for regional holidays like Rongali Bihu and Saraswati Puja that may not appear on the national list.
Stay updated by following your school’s official communications and checking the CBSE website for any last-minute holiday additions due to weather conditions, elections, or government notifications.
