Planning a visit to the post office in 2026? Knowing the post office holidays 2026 list in advance saves you a wasted trip — it matters more than a generic calendar because post offices also close on Sundays and observe state-specific festivals on top of the national list. India Post — run by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications — follows the central government’s official holiday calendar, so its branches close on gazetted holidays plus Sundays. This guide gives you the complete verified 2026 list, explains why holidays differ between states, and shows how to check your own branch’s notices.
Note: this page covers closed days in 2026 only. For daily opening and closing times, see our companion guide to India Post office timings.
Post Office Holidays 2026: The Complete List
The post office holidays 2026 list below follows the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) holiday memorandum for central government offices, which India Post observes, including two updates issued during 2026 itself:
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 4 March 2026 | Wednesday | Holi |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr |
| 26 March 2026 | Thursday | Ram Navami |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Buddha Purnima |
| 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 26 August 2026 | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi (Id-e-Milad) |
| 4 September 2026 | Friday | Janmashtami |
| 2 October 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali (Deepavali) |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak’s Birthday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Two dates in this list were changed after the original 2026 calendar was issued: Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) was moved from 27 May to 28 May 2026 by a DoPT order, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday (14 April) was declared a closed holiday for all central government offices by a separate memorandum in April 2026.
Month-Wise View: Major Post Office Holidays in 2026
If you are planning around the big travel and festival months, here is the post office holidays 2026 calendar organised month by month:
- January: Republic Day (26 Jan, Monday) — the only holiday in the month.
- March: the busiest holiday month — Holi (4 Mar), Id-ul-Fitr (21 Mar), Ram Navami (26 Mar), and Mahavir Jayanti (31 Mar).
- April: Good Friday (3 Apr) and Ambedkar Jayanti (14 Apr).
- May: Buddha Purnima (1 May) and Id-ul-Zuha (28 May).
- June: Muharram (26 Jun).
- August: Independence Day (15 Aug) and Milad-un-Nabi (26 Aug).
- September: Janmashtami (4 Sep).
- October: Gandhi Jayanti (2 Oct) and Dussehra (20 Oct).
- November: Diwali (8 Nov, a Sunday) and Guru Nanak’s Birthday (24 Nov).
- December: Christmas Day (25 Dec, Friday).
Remember that the dates of festivals based on the lunar calendar — Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram, and Milad-un-Nabi — are notified subject to the sighting of the moon, so confirm them closer to the date if your visit is critical.
Why Post Office Holidays 2026 Differ Across States
Here is the detail most holiday lists get wrong: the DoPT’s 2026 list contains 14 compulsory holidays observed by every central government office, plus 3 optional festivals chosen from a list of 12. For offices in Delhi/New Delhi, DoPT picked Holi, Ram Navami, and Janmashtami.
Outside Delhi, the three optional festivals are chosen state by state by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in each state capital — so post offices in other states may observe different regional festivals among their three. India Post’s 23 postal circles also issue their own regional holiday notices covering state-specific festivals such as Pongal, Onam, Bihu, or Ganesh Chaturthi, in line with the state government’s calendar.
Practical takeaway: the table above is the all-India backbone, but if you are in Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, or Maharashtra, check your circle’s notice — your branch may close for a regional festival that does not appear on the Delhi list. So when comparing versions of the post office holidays 2026 list online, prefer the one that explains this state-wise mechanism.
Gazetted vs Restricted Holidays: What It Means for Your Visit
Gazetted holidays (the list above) mean full closure — counters, mail booking, Speed Post, and savings-bank services all stay shut. Within the post office holidays 2026 framework, restricted holidays work differently: they are optional days on which central government employees may take leave (up to two from the restricted list), but post offices themselves remain open with normal staffing.
One more weekly rule that is not a holiday at all: most post offices are closed on Sundays, but Saturdays are working days — including the second and fourth Saturdays. (The “banks close on 2nd/4th Saturday” rule does not apply to post office counters.) So a Saturday visit is fine unless the date is also a gazetted holiday.
How to Check Your Branch’s Holiday Notice Before Visiting
Before an important visit — a Speed Post booking, a savings-bank transaction, or collecting a parcel — verify the day with one of these official channels:
- Ask your branch directly. The most reliable method: every post office displays its holiday notices, and counter hours and regional holidays are set circle by circle.
- Use the Locate Post Office tool on indiapost.gov.in to find your office’s details.
- Call the India Post helpline on the toll-free number 1800 266 6868 (IVRS available round the clock except on gazetted holidays).
- Check the Dak Sewa app, India Post’s official mobile app, for post office search and service information.
Online services keep running on holidays — tracking on indiapost.gov.in works 24×7 — but nothing booked or collected at a counter moves until the branch reopens, so factor the closure into delivery expectations.
Post Office Holidays 2026 FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about the post office holidays 2026 list:
Is the post office open on Saturdays in 2026?
Yes. Post offices work on Saturdays, including the second and fourth Saturdays, with the same or slightly shorter counter hours than weekdays. They close only if the Saturday is a gazetted holiday from the post office holidays 2026 list — for example, Id-ul-Fitr on 21 March 2026 and Independence Day on 15 August 2026.
Are post offices closed on all gazetted holidays?
Yes. On gazetted holidays — the 18 closed days in the post office holidays 2026 list — all physical branches remain shut: mail booking, Speed Post counters, and savings-bank services all pause until the next working day.
Do post offices in my state follow the same holiday list?
Mostly. The 14 compulsory holidays apply everywhere, but 3 of the 17 DoPT-listed holidays are chosen state-wise, and each postal circle adds regional festival holidays. Check your circle’s notice for state-specific days like Pongal, Onam, or Bihu.
What is the difference between a gazetted and a restricted holiday?
A gazetted holiday means full closure of the post office. A restricted holiday is an optional leave day for employees — the post office itself stays open and works normally.
Can I track my parcel on a post office holiday?
Yes. Online tracking on indiapost.gov.in works round the clock, including on holidays. Only counter services and physical movement of articles pause until the branch reopens.
Conclusion
The post office holidays 2026 calendar gives you 18 confirmed closed days — from Republic Day on 26 January to Christmas on 25 December — built on the central government’s official holiday list with two mid-year updates. Use the all-India table above as your backbone, remember the state-wise variation in the three optional festivals, and always confirm regional holidays with your own postal circle before an important visit.
Related: India Post office timings · post office near me · India Post customer care number. Official source: Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).