Planning your trips in advance is the smartest way to make the most of your holidays—especially in a year filled with perfectly spaced long weekends like 2026. With a mix of natural long weekends, festival holidays, and strategic leave planning, 2026 offers multiple opportunities for short getaways, road trips, nature escapes, and international holidays.

If you’re someone who loves to travel, explore new destinations, or simply take a break from everyday routine, this comprehensive guide to Long Weekends in India 2026 will help you plan better, save more, and travel smarter.

Whether you prefer mountains, beaches, wildlife, culture, or solo trips, you will find the perfect weekend to travel in this detailed month-by-month breakdown.

Why Plan Your Long Weekend Travel in Advance?

Planning early for India long weekends 2026 helps you:

• Get cheaper flights and hotel rates

• Reserve premium stays before they sell out

• Avoid last-minute stress

• Plan road trips with better weather information

• Make the most of holidays with minimal leave

With this guide, you can now map out all your vacations for the year and unlock the power of holiday planning.

Complete List of Long Weekends in India 2026

Below is the month-wise list of long weekends along with travel suggestions and leave strategy.

Each listed holiday is a major Central Government gazetted holiday.

January 2026 Long Weekend

 January 24–26 (Sat–Mon) – Republic Day Long Weekend

• Holiday: Republic Day (Monday, Jan 26)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Best Destinations to Visit

• Jaipur / Udaipur – Pleasant winter weather, perfect for sightseeing

• Rann of Kutch – Ideal time for the Rann Utsav

• Auli – Skiing and snow adventures

Why This Weekend is Perfect

January weather is magical across India—ideal for both warm and cold destinations.

March 2026 Long Weekends

March 4–8 (Wed–Sun) – Holi Long Weekend

• Holiday: Holi (Wednesday, Mar 4)

• Leaves Required: 2 days (Thu–Fri)

• Travel Days: 5

Best Places

• Vrindavan & Mathura – Grand Holi celebrations

• Goa – Beachside fun and Shigmo Festival

• Kerala Backwaters – Great weather for houseboats

March 21–23 (Sat–Mon) – Eid al-Fitr Long Weekend

• Holiday: Eid al-Fitr (Saturday, Mar 21)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon)

• Travel Days: 3

Where to Go

• Lucknow – Eid delicacies and culture

• Hyderabad – Biryani, heritage walks, and festive energy

March 26–29 (Thu–Sun) – Ram Navami Weekend

• Holiday: Ram Navami (Thu, Mar 26)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Fri)

• Travel Days: 4

Travel Suggestions

• Varanasi – Witness spiritual rituals

• Rameswaram – Explore temples and blue waters

• Andaman Islands – 4-day short island escape

March 28–31 (Sat–Tue) – Mahavir Jayanti Weekend

• Holiday: Mahavir Jayanti (Tue, Mar 31)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon)

• Travel Days: 4

Destinations to Visit

• Gir National Park – Perfect time for wildlife

• Khajuraho – Temple architecture, ideal weather

April 2026 Long Weekend

April 3–5 (Fri–Sun) – Good Friday Weekend

• Holiday: Good Friday (Fri, Apr 3)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Suggested Getaways

• Wayanad / Coorg – Monsoon-like lush greenery

• Puducherry – Beaches, cafés, and French streets

May 2026 Long Weekends

May 1–3 (Fri–Sun) – Buddha Purnima Weekend

• Holiday: Buddha Purnima (Fri, May 1)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Destinations

• Dharamshala–McLeod Ganj – Buddhist monasteries

• Lumbini (Nepal) – Birthplace of the Buddha

May 27–31 (Wed–Sun) – Bakrid Long Weekend

• Holiday: Eid al-Adha (Wed, May 27)

• Leaves Required: 2 days (Thu–Fri)

• Travel Days: 5

Perfect 5-Day Trips

• Kashmir Valley – Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar

• Ladakh – Early season views, snow patches

• North-East (Meghalaya / Assam) – Lush forests and waterfalls

June 2026 Long Weekend

June 26–28 (Fri–Sun) – Muharram Weekend

• Holiday: Muharram (Fri, Jun 26)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Destinations

• Goa (off-season deals)

• Ooty / Kodaikanal – Perfect weather

• Mahabaleshwar – Early monsoon beauty

August 2026 Long Weekends

Aug 15–17 (Sat–Mon) – Independence Day Weekend

• Holiday: Independence Day (Sat, Aug 15)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon)

• Travel Days: 3

Destinations

• Amritsar – Patriotic vibe

• Cherrapunji – Peak green season

Aug 26–30 (Wed–Sun) – Milad-un-Nabi Weekend

• Holiday: Milad-un-Nabi (Wed, Aug 26)

• Leaves Required: 2 days (Thu–Fri)

• Travel Days: 5

Travel Suggestions

• Spiti Valley – Beautiful landscapes

• Sri Lanka – A quick international plan

• Bali – Great weather and beaches

September 2026 Long Weekend

Sep 4–6 (Fri–Sun) – Janmashtami Weekend

• Holiday: Janmashtami (Fri, Sep 4)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Top Picks

• Vrindavan – Celebrations in full swing

• Uttarakhand road trips – Rishikesh, Mussoorie

October 2026 Long Weekends

Oct 2–4 (Fri–Sun) – Gandhi Jayanti Weekend

• Holiday: Gandhi Jayanti (Fri, Oct 2)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Great Getaways

• Udaipur – Lakes and palaces

• Hampi – Ancient ruins and history

Oct 17–20 (Sat–Tue) – Dussehra Weekend

• Holiday: Dussehra (Tue, Oct 20)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon)

• Travel Days: 4

Destinations

• Mysore – World-famous Dussehra festival

• Varanasi – Ramleela celebrations

• Sikkim – Stunning post-monsoon landscapes

November 2026 Long Weekends

Nov 8–10 (Sun–Tue) – Diwali Weekend

• Holiday: Diwali (Sun, Nov 8)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon, Nov 9)

• Travel Days: 3

Best Places

• Udaipur / Jaipur – Royal Diwali charm

• Goa – Festivals and fireworks

Nov 21–24 (Sat–Tue) – Guru Nanak Jayanti Weekend

• Holiday: Guru Nanak Jayanti (Tue, Nov 24)

• Leaves Required: 1 day (Mon)

• Travel Days: 4

Destinations

• Amritsar – Golden Temple festivities

• Punjab countryside stays – Farm experiences

December 2026 Long Weekend

Dec 25–27 (Fri–Sun) – Christmas Weekend

• Holiday: Christmas (Fri, Dec 25)

• Type: Natural long weekend

• Travel Days: 3

Recommended Destinations

• Goa – Christmas celebrations

• Kerala – Beach and backwater holiday

• Kashmir (Winter Wonderland) – Snow activities

Conclusion: Make 2026 Your Best Travel Year

With so many long weekends in India 2026, you can easily plan:

• Multiple short trips

• Seasonal getaways

• Festival experiences

• Road trips

• Budget holidays

• International vacations

Start booking early, especially for long weekends that fall in January, March, August, and December, as these dates attract high demand.

If you love traveling, this is the perfect year to explore more of India—or even step outside the country with smart leave planning.

Let 2026 be your year of unforgettable journeys, new memories, and stress-free travel planning.