Travel guide · Nepal
Nepal Public Holidays 2026
Nepal's main public holidays for 2026 — when banks and offices close, and how to plan your trip around them.
Nepal observes a long list of public holidays in 2026, most tied to Hindu and Buddhist festivals that follow the lunar and Bikram Sambat calendars — so their exact Gregorian dates shift each year and are sometimes confirmed only weeks ahead. The headline closures are the autumn festivals of Dashain and Tihar, when banks, government offices and many businesses shut for several days and much of the country travels home. Knowing the rhythm lets you enjoy the spectacle while avoiding closed offices and full buses.
The major holidays through the year
Roughly in calendar order, the festivals and observances that shape Nepal's holiday year include:
- Maghe Sankranti (mid-January) — a winter solstice harvest festival.
- Holi / Fagu Purnima (around March) — the festival of colours.
- Nepali New Year / Bikram Sambat New Year (mid-April, usually 13–14 April) — start of the year Baisakh.
- Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima (around May) — the Buddha's birth, marked especially at Lumbini.
- Dashain (late September into October) — the longest and most important festival.
- Tihar / Deepawali (late October or early November) — the five-day festival of lights.
- Chhath (shortly after Tihar) — a Terai sun-worship festival.
For full month-by-month detail and the stories behind each one, see our festival calendar of Nepal.
Why dates move each year
Because most holidays track the lunar calendar and Bikram Sambat, their Gregorian dates slide year to year, and the government confirms some only a short time in advance. To understand the dating, read our Nepali calendar (Bikram Sambat) explained guide, and always check a current official list close to your trip rather than relying on last year's dates.
Planning around the closures
Holidays affect day-to-day logistics more than anything else:
- Cash first. Banks close and ATMs can run dry during long festivals — withdraw ahead and read our money and ATMs in Nepal guide.
- Book transport early. Buses and domestic flights fill as people travel home for Dashain and Tihar.
- Mind paperwork. Avoid scheduling visa, bank or office errands on or just around major holidays.
Should you travel during the festivals?
For many visitors the Dashain–Tihar season is a highlight: homes glowing with lights, family rituals, and some of the year's clearest trekking weather. The trade-offs are crowds, closures and the need to book well ahead. To weigh it all up against the seasons, use our best time to visit Nepal guide, and for the wider day-to-day basics see the Nepal practical travel essentials collection.
Frequently asked questions
When are the biggest public holidays in Nepal in 2026?+
The two largest are Dashain and Tihar, which fall in autumn — Dashain around late September into October and Tihar a couple of weeks later, usually late October or early November. Together they bring the longest closures of the year, with offices, banks and many businesses shut and much of the country travelling home. Spring brings Holi and the Nepali New Year in mid-April.
Do banks and offices close on Nepali holidays?+
Yes. Government offices, banks, schools and many private businesses close on gazetted public holidays, and the closures stretch over several days during Dashain and Tihar. Withdraw cash in advance, since ATMs can run empty over long holidays, and avoid scheduling paperwork, bank visits or domestic flights on or immediately around the major festivals.
Are holiday dates the same every year?+
No. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar and Bikram Sambat calendars, so their Gregorian dates shift from year to year. Some holidays are also confirmed only a short time ahead by the government, so always check an up-to-date official list close to your travel dates rather than assuming last year's dates apply.
Is it a good or bad time to visit during Dashain and Tihar?+
It is a wonderful time to experience Nepali culture, with homes lit up, family gatherings and vibrant rituals, and autumn weather is among the best for trekking. The trade-offs are crowded transport as people travel home, some closed shops and offices, and the need to book buses, flights and rooms well ahead.
