Patna: The Bihar education department has released the official holiday calendar for government schools for 2026, confirming a total of 75 days off, including 10 Sundays. The schedule applies to all government, state-run, nationalised, project, higher elementary, secondary and higher secondary schools, as well as Sanskrit, Urdu and madrasa institutions. A notification was issued by Sanjay R A O, director of secondary education.
The list covers key festivals and national holidays, beginning with Makar Sankranti on January 14, followed by Basant Panchami on January 23 and Republic Day on January 26. Other major closures include Mahashivratri on February 15 and the two-day festival of Holi on March 3 and 4. Several additional festival breaks fall across March and April.
Summer and winter breaks
The longest closure of the year will be the summer vacation, running from June 1 to 20, which includes two Sundays. Winter vacation has been scheduled from December 25 to 31, totalling seven days.
Festival breaks
Schools will close for Durga Puja from October 17 to 21, while a 10-day break from November 7 to 17 has been allotted to cover Diwali, Chitragupta Puja and Chhath.
Academic guidelines
To avoid disruption to academic schedules, schools have been instructed to remain open on the days of annual functions, Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti, closing only once official programmes conclude. Students will be assigned homework for major holiday periods including summer, Diwali, Chhath and winter breaks, which will be assessed when classes resume.
The department also noted that dates for Muslim festivals may be subject to change based on moon sightings.
District education officers, programme officers and school administrations have been directed to strictly follow the holiday calendar.
