🏛️ Official GAD J&K Gazette Schedule
J&K Government Gazetted Holidays & Festival Calendar
Annual holiday calendar notified by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Jammu & Kashmir. Featuring official Gazetted holidays, Restricted (Optional) leaves, Provincial Jammu & Kashmir regional observances, School summer & winter vacation schedules, and Bank holidays under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
📜 Order: GAD-ADM/2026/UTJK
📍 Coverage: All 20 Districts (Jammu & Kashmir Divisions)
⚡ Updated for Calendar Year 2026
27
Gazetted (UT-Wide)
12
Restricted / Optional
8
Provincial Specific
19
N.I. Act Bank Holidays
8
Long Weekend Trips
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Master Calendar of Holidays 2026 — Independent Public Knowledge & Research Initiative
Showing all 38 scheduled holidays
January 2026
05 Jan 2026 Monday
16 Jan 2026 Friday *
23 Jan 2026 Friday *
26 Jan 2026 Monday
February 2026
01 Feb 2026 Sunday
04 Feb 2026 Wednesday *
15 Feb 2026 Sunday / Mon
March 2026
04 Mar 2026 Wednesday
17 Mar 2026 Tuesday *
20 Mar 2026 Friday *
21 Mar 2026 Saturday
21 Mar – 22 Mar 2026 Sat – Sun *
26 Mar 2026 Thursday
31 Mar 2026 Tuesday
April 2026
01 Apr 2026 Wednesday
03 Apr 2026 Friday
13 Apr 2026 Monday
14 Apr 2026 Tuesday
20 Apr 2026 Monday
May 2026
01 May 2026 Friday
27 May – 28 May 2026 Wed – Thu *
June 2026
25 Jun 2026 Thursday *
26 Jun 2026 Friday *
29 Jun 2026 Monday
July 2026
13 Jul 2026 Monday
August 2026
15 Aug 2026 Saturday
25 Aug 2026 Tuesday *
27 Aug 2026 Thursday
28 Aug 2026 Friday *
30 Aug 2026 Sunday
September 2026
04 Sep 2026 Friday
23 Sep 2026 Wednesday
October 2026
02 Oct 2026 Friday
08 Oct 2026 Thursday *
20 Oct 2026 Tuesday
26 Oct 2026 Monday
28 Oct 2026 Wednesday
November 2026
08 Nov – 09 Nov 2026 Sun – Mon
24 Nov 2026 Tuesday
26 Nov 2026 Thursday
December 2026
17 Dec 2026 Thursday *
25 Dec 2026 Friday
* Note on Lunar Dates: Festivals marked with an asterisk (*) are subject to moon sighting and separate formal notification by the General Administration Department (GAD), Civil Secretariat, J&K.
Long Weekends in J&K 2026 (Travel & Leave Planner)
Take advantage of public holidays adjoining weekends to plan trips to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Gulmarg snow slopes, Pahalgam valleys, Patnitop pine forests, or Bhaderwah eco-trails.
Jan 24 – Jan 26, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Republic Day Long Break
Saturday to Monday break. Perfect for winter snow sports in Gulmarg or visiting Jammu city's historic temples during pleasant winter days.
Apr 11 – Apr 14, 2026
4-Day Mega Weekend
Baisakhi & Ambedkar Jayanti
Saturday (Apr 11) to Tuesday (Apr 14). Ideal 4-day window for Kashmir Spring Tulip Festival in Srinagar or Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.
May 01 – May 03, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Buddha Purnima Break
Friday to Sunday. Great time to explore blooming gardens of Srinagar, Sonamarg glacier routes, or Bhaderwah pine valleys.
Aug 15 – Aug 17, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Independence Day Break
Saturday to Monday (by taking 1 casual leave). Perfect weather for Patnitop, Sanasar paragliding, and Doodhpathri meadows.
Sep 04 – Sep 06, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Janmashtami Break
Friday to Sunday. Enjoy pleasant early autumn in Yusmarg, Pahalgam, and Jammu Raghunath Bazaar festivals.
Oct 02 – Oct 04, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Gandhi Jayanti Long Weekend
Friday to Sunday. Experience breathtaking golden Chinar leaves during autumn in Kashmir and festive Navratri in Katra.
Oct 24 – Oct 26, 2026
3-Day Weekend
UT Accession Day Break
Saturday to Monday. Excellent weather across Jammu division for Mansar Lake, Surinsar, and Shiv Khori pilgrimage circuits.
Dec 25 – Dec 27, 2026
3-Day Weekend
Christmas & Winter Solstice
Friday to Sunday. Experience pristine snowfall, ski courses in Gulmarg, and Christmas celebrations in colonial mountain churches.
J&K School Vacation Calendar 2026 (Summer & Winter Zones)
Official vacation frameworks issued by the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) and Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) for all government and recognized private schools across the Union Territory.
Jammu Division (Summer Zone Plains)
Covers plain areas of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur districts facing intense summer heat.
- Summer Vacations: June 01 – July 15, 2026 (45 Days)
- Pooja / Diwali Break: 5 Days during Navratri/Diwali
- Short Winter Break: Jan 01 – Jan 10, 2026 (10 Days)
- New Academic Session: Starts in April 2026 (Uniform Calendar)
Kashmir Division & Jammu Winter Zone
Covers all 10 Kashmir districts and hilly winter zones of Jammu (Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri hills, Gool, Chenab Valley).
- Primary & Middle (Winter): Dec 01, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 (90 Days)
- High / Higher Secondary: Dec 11, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 (80 Days)
- Short Summer Break: July 01 – July 10, 2026 (10 Days)
- School Reopening: March 01, 2026 (Subject to weather)
GAD Administrative Rules & Holiday Guidelines
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881: Holidays declared under Section 25 of the N.I. Act apply strictly to all Public Sector Banks, Private Commercial Banks, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) branches, and Treasury offices across Jammu & Kashmir.
- Restricted Holidays (RH) Entitlement: Regular employees of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir are eligible to avail a maximum of two (2) Restricted Holidays in a calendar year with prior sanction from their respective Drawing & Disbursing Officers (DDO) or Head of Department (HoD).
- Local Holiday Sanctioning Powers: Deputy Commissioners / District Magistrates of the 20 districts are empowered under standing GAD orders to declare up to two local district-specific holidays per year on occasions of traditional melas, local historical anniversaries, or prominent pilgrimages.
- Holidays on Weekends: When a notified Gazetted Holiday coincides with a Sunday or a Second/Fourth Saturday, no compensatory off is granted unless specifically sanctioned by an executive order of the Lieutenant Governor's administration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — J&K Holidays 2026
Common queries regarding GAD holiday notifications, regional leaves, bank closures, and school calendars in Jammu & Kashmir.
Who issues the official J&K Government Holiday Calendar?
The General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Jammu and Kashmir, officially notifies the annual schedule of Gazetted and Restricted holidays under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and executive orders issued from the Civil Secretariat.
What is the difference between Gazetted and Restricted (Optional) holidays in J&K?
Gazetted holidays are mandatory public holidays observed across all UT government departments, civil secretariats, educational institutions, and public sector undertakings. Restricted holidays (RH) are optional leaves; employees can choose up to two Restricted Holidays in a calendar year based on personal faith or regional observance.
Are provincial holidays applicable across all of Jammu & Kashmir?
No. Provincial holidays are observed only in the specific administrative division (Jammu Division or Kashmir Division). For instance, Nauroz and Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib are observed in Kashmir Division, whereas Mela Bahu Fort is observed in Jammu Division.
How are Islamic festival dates finalized in J&K?
Festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Shab-i-Qadr, Muharram, and Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi depend upon lunar moon sighting. GAD J&K issues specific confirmatory orders prior to the festival based on declarations by the Grand Mufti and official Ruet-e-Hilal bodies.
What are the school summer and winter vacation schedules in J&K for 2026?
In the Jammu Summer Zone (plain areas), schools observe summer break from late May/early June to mid-July (approx. 45 days) and a short winter break in January. In Kashmir Division and Jammu Winter Zone (hilly districts), schools observe winter vacation of 70 to 80 days from early December to late February, plus a short 10-day summer break in July.
Is Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's Birthday an official public holiday in J&K?
Yes, September 23 (Birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji) is a Gazetted Public Holiday across the entire Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Is Accession Day celebrated as a public holiday in Jammu & Kashmir?
Yes, October 26 is commemorated as UT Accession Day and is observed as a full Gazetted Public Holiday across all government offices, banks, and educational institutions in Jammu & Kashmir.
Can District Magistrates declare local holidays in J&K?
Yes. Deputy Commissioners (District Magistrates) are authorized under GAD rules to declare up to two local holidays within their respective district borders on account of local historic fairs, melas, or religious pilgrimages (e.g., Kailash Yatra in Doda or Jhiri Mela in Jammu).
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