August Month Holidays 2026: Complete List

August 2026 is one of India's most significant months on the holiday calendar, anchored by Independence Day on 15 August (Saturday), a gazetted national holiday, alongside Muharram, Raksha Bandhan, and regional festivals across Kerala, Manipur, and other states. Whether you need to know if your bank is open before an EMI payment or are planning a long weekend trip, this page gives you the complete August 2026 holiday list with bank closure dates, 2nd and 4th Saturday schedules, and state-specific observances in one place.

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August 2026 Public Holidays, Complete List

Note: Muharram date is provisional pending moon sighting confirmation. Raksha Bandhan and Onam dates are to be verified from the 2026 Hindu and Malayalam lunar calendars respectively. Always confirm with your state's official gazette.

August 2026 Bank Holidays, Full List

All banks in India observe the following closure days per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandatory guidelines. In addition to national and state holidays, banks are closed every Sunday and on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.

August 2026 banking alert: The week of 19–23 August is particularly dense, Muharram (19 Aug, Wednesday), Raksha Bandhan (21 Aug, Friday), and the 4th Saturday (22 Aug) create a situation where banks in north and central Indian states may see 4 closures in a single 5-day work week (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun). Plan all transactions, EMI payments, and loan disbursement requests for 17–18 August or by 24 August.

Important: Independence Day on 15 August 2026 falls on a Saturday. Since it is a gazetted national holiday, it overrides the standard 3rd Saturday working-day rule. All banks will be closed. The last clear banking day before this weekend is Friday, 14 August 2026.

Always verify the final bank holiday schedule for your state with RBI's published circular at rbi.org.in.

Festival Descriptions, August 2026

Independence Day, 15 August 2026 {#independence-day}

Independence Day marks India's freedom from British colonial rule on 15 August 1947. In 2026, India celebrates its 80th Independence Day. The Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and addresses the nation. It is one of three gazetted national holidays in India, observed uniformly across all states with no exceptions. Banks, government offices, courts, schools, and stock exchanges are closed nationwide. In 2026, it falls on a Saturday, creating a 2-day banking closure with Sunday 16 August.

Muharram / Ashura, ~19 August 2026 {#muharram}

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, and Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, is its most significant day. For Shia Muslims, it is a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. For Sunni Muslims, it marks the day Moses fasted in gratitude after being saved from Pharaoh. Muharram is a gazetted holiday in most Indian states. The 2026 date (~19 August) is subject to official moon sighting confirmation, verify with your state's government notification before finalising plans.

Raksha Bandhan, ~21 August 2026 {#raksha-bandhan}

Raksha Bandhan falls on the Purnima (full moon) of the Hindu month of Shravana and celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists, and brothers pledge protection in return. It is a gazetted holiday in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, and a restricted holiday in several other states. In 2026, it is expected on 21 August (Friday), confirmed via the 2026 Hindu Panchang. It falls just before the 4th Saturday closure, effectively creating a Fri–Sat–Sun 3-day banking closure in north and central India.

Quit India Movement Day, 9 August 2026 {#quit-india}

9 August marks the anniversary of the Quit India Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, a mass civil disobedience movement demanding an end to British rule. While it is a significant date in India's freedom struggle, it is not a gazetted bank holiday at the national level. It is observed as a day of national remembrance. However, 9 August 2026 is a Sunday and also the 2nd Saturday (confirmed closed), making it a double non-banking day regardless.

Onam, Kerala {#onam}

Onam is Kerala's principal harvest festival, celebrated over ten days from Atham to Thiruonam (the main day). It marks the mythological homecoming of King Mahabali and the abundance of the harvest season. Thiruonam, the most auspicious day, is a state holiday in Kerala, banks and government offices in the state are closed. The 2026 Onam dates fall in late August or early September; the main Thiruonam day is to be confirmed from the Malayalam calendar. Kerala is the only state to observe this holiday; all other state banks operate normally.

Patriot's Day, Manipur, 23 August 2026 {#patriots-day}

Manipur observes Patriot's Day on 23 August each year in memory of the brave individuals who fought for the state's integrity and sovereignty. It is a state-specific restricted holiday in Manipur. Since 23 August 2026 is also a Sunday, banks in Manipur are already closed; the observance does not create any additional bank closure for customers outside the state.

August 2026, Long Weekends & Leave Planning

August 2026 offers two compelling long-weekend opportunities for salaried professionals. The Independence Day weekend on 15–16 August pairs naturally with Thursday–Friday casual leave for a 4-day break from 13 August. The Muharram–Raksha Bandhan week is even more flexible: taking leave on Thursday 20 August in states where Raksha Bandhan (Friday 21 Aug) is a holiday gives a Wed–Sun stretch of 5 days.

Extractable Answer Blocks

How many bank holidays are there in August 2026?

August 2026 has approximately 10–12 bank closure days when accounting for all mandated closures: the 2nd Saturday (9 Aug), 4th Saturday (22 Aug), four Sundays (2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Aug), Independence Day (15 Aug, Saturday), Muharram (~19 Aug, Wednesday), and Raksha Bandhan (~21 Aug, Friday) in states where it is gazetted. Kerala adds the Onam Thiruonam holiday, and Manipur adds Patriot's Day. Customers in north India face the most disruption, with up to 4 closures in the 19–23 August window alone.

Is 15 August 2026 a bank holiday?

Yes. 15 August 2026 is a confirmed bank holiday across all Indian states and union territories. Independence Day is a gazetted national holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and one of only three national holidays in India, the others being Republic Day (26 January) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). Since 15 August falls on a Saturday in 2026, it overrides the standard 3rd Saturday working-day rule, and all banks remain closed. Combined with Sunday 16 August, this creates a 2-day banking closure.

Which states have the most bank holidays in August 2026?

States in north and central India, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, and Uttarakhand, have the highest number of bank holidays in August 2026. These states observe Independence Day (15 Aug), Muharram (~19 Aug), and Raksha Bandhan (~21 Aug) as gazetted closures, in addition to the standard 2nd Saturday, 4th Saturday, and Sundays. Kerala additionally observes Onam (Thiruonam), making it another high-holiday state in August–September.

Is Raksha Bandhan a bank holiday in all states in 2026?

No. Raksha Bandhan is a gazetted bank holiday in specific states, primarily Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. In other states it is either a restricted holiday (employee's choice) or not on the official holiday list. Banks in southern states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala typically remain open on Raksha Bandhan. Always verify with your state's RBI regional office for the authoritative list.