Updated on December 6, 2025

If you’re the kind of traveller who waits for public holidays to align like puzzle pieces, 2026 is your year. The calendar is sprinkled with ready-to-use long weekends, midweek festivals you can stretch into mini-vacations, and built-in breathing spaces perfect for spontaneous escapes.

With flight prices rising and boutique stays filling up fast, this is the year to plan your 2026 long weekend trips early and turn every month into an adventure.

January 2026: Winter Escapes & Crisp Landscapes

January offers two effortless long weekends—ideal for winter travel in India. Skip the crowded beaches and head towards quieter, scenic winter havens such as:

• Aravallis (Udaipur region) – cool mornings, golden landscapes
• Almora – terraced slopes glowing in soft winter sun
• Bhitarkanika – mangrove safaris at their seasonal best
• Kinnaur & Upper Kashmir – for snow lovers seeking postcard-perfect views

January Holidays 2026

• Jan 1 – New Year’s Day
• Jan 23 – Vasant Panchami (Restricted Holiday)
• Jan 26 – Republic Day

Long Weekends:

• Jan 1–4
• Jan 23–26

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February–March 2026: Festivals, Spring Colours & Slow Travel

Late winter blends into spring with festivals that create natural travel pockets. While Holi is the obvious pick, places like Garhwal’s hill villages, Karnataka’s temple towns, and Jaisalmer’s calm post-winter charm offer more intimate experiences.

Late March brings clear skies—perfect for exploring Gwalior, Badami, and Gujarat’s stepwells.

Festival Holidays 2026:

• Mar 3 – Holi
• Mar 20 – Ugadi / Gudi Padwa
• Mar 26 – Ram Navami
• Mar 31 – Mahavir Jayanti

Long Weekends:

• Feb 28–Mar 3
• Mar 26–31 (1 leave)

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April 2026: Early Summer Breaks & Island Weather

Good Friday creates a neat compact holiday. April is warm yet pleasant—great for:

• Andaman Island hopping
• Assam river cruises
• Odisha’s quiet golden beaches
• Early-season treks in Sikkim & Kumaon

April Holidays 2026:

• Apr 3 – Good Friday
• Apr 5 – Easter Sunday

Long Weekend:

• Apr 3–5

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May 2026: Hill Stations & Offbeat Summer Retreats

May divides India into hot and hotter—making this the perfect month for offbeat summer destinations:

• Binsar – forests, views, and cool winds
• Tawang – monasteries + mountain calm
• Yercaud – misty coffee estates
• Pelling & West Sikkim – tranquil and scenic
• Dibang Valley (Arunachal) – untouched landscapes and drifting clouds

May Holiday 2026:

• May 1 – Labour Day / Buddha Purnima

Long Weekend:

• May 1–3

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June 2026: Monsoon Arrives & Landscapes Turn Green

June’s long weekend aligns with the first monsoon showers. Perfect for rain lovers:

• Coorg – misty coffee country
• Sahyadris – lush treks and waterfalls
• Lonar Lake – surreal monsoon glow
• Matheran – rainforest-like greenery

Prefer dry weather? Ladakh opens for the season.

June Holiday 2026:

• Jun 26 – Muharram (Ashura)

Long Weekend:

• Jun 26–28

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July 2026: Full Monsoon Magic

July is monsoon at its peak—expect fog, chai breaks, overflowing waterfalls, and dreamlike landscapes.

Top July getaways:

• Valparai – tea slopes drenched in mist
• Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges – rain-fed beauty
• Darjeeling – monsoon haze and tea aromas
• Wayanad – forested trails and wildlife

July Holiday 2026:

• Jul 16 – Rath Yatra

Long Weekend:

• Jul 16–19 (1 leave)

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August 2026: Mid-Monsoon Breaks & Cultural Trails

Midweek holidays in August give you the flexibility to craft your own long weekend.

Great August destinations:

• Shillong – post-heavy-rain freshness
• Mysuru – heritage circuit in monsoon light
• Bhopal – lakeside slow travel
• Kochi – washed-clean streets and art corners
• Udaipur – lakes full and glowing

August Holidays 2026:

• Aug 25 – Milad-un-Nabi
• Aug 28 – Raksha Bandhan

Long Weekend:

• Aug 24–28 (1–2 leaves)

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September 2026: India’s Most Photogenic Month

September is calm, colourful, and incredibly scenic—perfect for rejuvenating breaks.

Try:

• Coorg – coffee blossoms & rolling hills
• Dindi (Godavari) – riverside slow life
• Panchgani – strawberry fields & valley views
• Varkala & Gokarna – beaches reopen, crowds thin

September Holidays 2026:

• Sep 4 – Janmashtami
• Sep 14 – Ganesh Chaturthi

Long Weekends:

• Sep 4–6
• Sep 12–14

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October 2026: Peak Travel Season Begins

October brings festive air, clear skies, and ideal temperatures across India. With two big holidays, you can finally tick off that bucket-list destination.

Where to go:

• Ziro Valley – high meadows & Apatani culture
• Spiti – crystal-clear post-monsoon views
• Jodhpur – blue lanes & regal forts
• Sunderbans – early winter wildlife sightings

October Holidays 2026:

• Oct 2 – Gandhi Jayanti
• Oct 20 – Dussehra / Dasara

Long Weekends:

• Oct 2–4
• Oct 17–20 (1 leave)

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November 2026: Early Winter Bliss

November offers cool winds and soft light—perfect for slow, scenic holidays before December crowds arrive.

Top picks:

• Mandawa – fresco trails & heritage havelis
• Rann of Kutch – quiet salt flat vistas
• Satpura – wildlife + peaceful forests
• Munnar – misty mornings & tea gardens

November Holiday 2026:

• Nov 24 – Guru Nanak Jayanti

Long Weekend:

• Nov 21–24 (1 leave)

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December 2026: Festive Month & Warm Winter Trips

December may not offer many holidays, but its festive charm makes it India’s most-travelled month. Book early!

Where to go:

• Pondicherry – French corners lit for Christmas
• Manali – early snow
• Wayanad – cool, green, peaceful
• Nashik / Pune wine region – perfect winter vineyards

December Holiday 2026:

• Dec 25 – Christmas Day

Long Weekend:

• Dec 25–27

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Plan Your 2026 Travels Ahead

With some smart planning and a few well-placed leaves, 2026 can easily become your most travel-heavy year yet. From winter escapes to monsoon getaways and festive-season adventures, there’s a perfect long weekend waiting every month.