October 2026 will see a number of bank closures across India. These closures are a mix of national holidays, regional festivals and the regular weekend schedule that banks follow throughout the year. The number of holidays is not the same in every state because many festivals are observed only in certain regions. Along with festival closures, banks stay shut on all Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. For anyone planning to visit a bank branch for cash deposits, withdrawals or document work, it helps to know these dates in advance. October is a particularly busy month because Navratri and Durga Puja both fall in this period, creating several regional closures. Checking the holiday list for your own state before heading to a branch can save you a wasted trip.
October 2026 Bank Holiday List at a Glance
| Date | Day | Holiday or Occasion | Main Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | Nationwide |
| October 4 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | All India |
| October 10 | Saturday | Second Saturday and Mahalaya Amavasye in some regions | All India and Regional |
| October 11 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday and Sharad Navratri begins | All India and Regional |
| October 17 | Saturday | Maha Saptami | Tripura |
| October 18 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | All India |
| October 19 | Monday | Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, Ayudha Pooja and Durga Puja | Selected states |
| October 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra and Vijayadashami | Several states |
| October 21 | Wednesday | Durga Puja and Vijaya Dashami | Selected states |
| October 22 to 23 | Thursday to Friday | Extended Durga Puja | Sikkim |
| October 24 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | All India |
| October 25 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | All India |
| October 26 | Monday | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and Lakshmi Puja | Selected states |
| October 29 | Thursday | Karwa Chauth | Selected states |
| October 31 | Saturday | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti | Gujarat |
Bank closures for festival dates can differ between states and banking centres, so this table should be used as a general reference.
October 2 Bank Holiday: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October 2, 2026 falls on a Friday and is observed as Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti across the country. Since the holiday falls on a Friday and is followed by Saturday and Sunday, it creates a three day weekend for most customers. This is a good time for families to plan short trips or finish personal work. At the same time, anyone with urgent banking work should complete it before the long weekend begins, because branches will remain closed for three consecutive days in most regions. Planning ahead can help you avoid any last minute stress.
October 20 Bank Holiday: Dussehra
October 20, 2026 falls on a Tuesday and is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijayadashami. This holiday is observed in many parts of India, although the exact bank closure depends on the regional holiday schedule. The festival period also leads to additional closures in several regions around October 19 and October 21. Since Dussehra is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the country, customers should plan their banking activities well in advance to avoid any inconvenience during this festive period.
Major Regional Bank Holidays in October 2026
October has several regional holidays connected with Navratri, Durga Puja and other festivals. These holidays vary from state to state, so it is important to check your own region before planning a bank visit.
October 10: Mahalaya Amavasye
Mahalaya Amavasye falls on October 10, which is a Saturday. Bank closures are listed for this occasion in Karnataka and West Bengal. This date also happens to be the second Saturday, which is a regular bank closure. This means that in Karnataka and West Bengal, the bank closure on October 10 applies for both reasons, making it a definite holiday for banking services in those regions.
October 11: Sharad Navratri Begins
Sharad Navratri begins on October 11, which is a Sunday. Since it is already a weekly holiday, banks would remain closed regardless of the festival. However, the day marks the beginning of the nine night Navratri celebrations across the country. For customers, this means that banking services will remain unavailable on this date in all states.
October 17: Maha Saptami
October 17 is a Saturday and is observed as Maha Saptami. The regional bank holiday for this date applies to Tripura. Customers in other states may find banks open on this day unless a separate regional holiday applies. It is always a good idea to check your specific state schedule before planning any branch visit on this date.
October 19: Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Ayudha Pooja
Several regional celebrations fall on October 19. These include Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, Ayudha Pooja and Durga Puja. The listed regions include West Bengal, Tripura, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Bihar, along with other states mentioned in the holiday schedule. This makes October 19 an important holiday for banking services in several eastern and southern states. Customers in these regions should plan their banking work accordingly.
October 21: Durga Puja and Vijaya Dashami
October 21 is a Wednesday and is associated with Durga Puja and Vijaya Dashami in several regions. The listed areas include West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala and Sikkim. This creates a continuous period of bank closures in these states around Durga Puja, extending the festive holiday period for customers in these regions. Anyone with time sensitive banking work should complete it before this stretch of holidays begins.
October 22 and 23: Extended Durga Puja
October 22 and October 23 are listed as extended Durga Puja holidays in Sikkim. These are regional closures and do not apply across India. Customers in Sikkim should note these additional closure dates when planning their banking activities. For everyone else, regular banking services are expected to continue on these dates unless a separate regional holiday applies.
October 26 Bank Holiday
October 26 is a Monday and has several regional observances, including Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and Lakshmi Puja. The listed regions include Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and Tripura. The actual bank closure depends on the applicable regional holiday. Customers in these states should verify whether their local branches remain closed on this date before planning a visit.
October 29: Karwa Chauth
October 29 is a Thursday and is associated with Karwa Chauth. The listed regions include Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi NCR. This is a regional holiday and not a nationwide bank closure. Customers in these northern regions should plan their banking work with this in mind, especially if they need to visit a branch in person.
October 31: Gujarat Bank Holiday
For Gujarat, October 31 is an important date. It falls on a Saturday and is observed as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti. The holiday applies to Gujarat. Customers planning to visit bank branches in Gujarat should consider this date when scheduling branch related work. Since it falls on a Saturday, the day is already part of the weekend, but the festival holiday makes it a confirmed closure.
Regular Weekend Bank Closures in October 2026
Apart from festival and regional holidays, banks observe regular weekend closures.
- Sundays: Banks remain closed on October 4, October 11, October 18 and October 25
- Second Saturday: The second Saturday falls on October 10, 2026
- Fourth Saturday: The fourth Saturday falls on October 24, 2026
These weekend closures apply separately from festival related holidays. Customers should account for both when planning their bank visits, especially during a month with so many festival closures.
Bank Holidays Can Vary by State
One of the most important things to understand about the October 2026 bank holiday list is that not every holiday applies to every state. Some holidays are nationwide, while others are linked to particular festivals or regional observances. For example, October 31 is specifically listed as a bank holiday in Gujarat for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti, while Karwa Chauth on October 29 applies to selected northern regions. Similarly, Durga Puja related closures are concentrated in several eastern and northeastern states. This is why customers should always consider their specific state and banking centre before planning an important branch visit.
October 2026 Bank Holidays for Gujarat
For readers in Gujarat, the key dates are:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| October 2 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| October 4 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday |
| October 10 | Saturday | Second Saturday |
| October 11 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday |
| October 18 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday |
| October 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| October 24 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday |
| October 25 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday |
| October 31 | Saturday | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti |
This Gujarat focused list is useful for customers planning physical bank visits during the festive month. Since October has both Dussehra and Sardar Patel Jayanti as bank holidays in Gujarat, customers should plan their branch work accordingly. Keeping this list handy can help you avoid unnecessary trips.
Digital Banking During Bank Holidays
Physical bank branches may remain closed on holidays, but digital banking channels continue to work. Services such as UPI, mobile banking applications, internet banking and ATMs allow customers to carry out many routine banking activities even when a branch is closed. Customers can use UPI for instant money transfers, mobile banking for bill payments and account checks, and ATMs for cash withdrawals. However, services that require a branch visit may need to be scheduled around the applicable holiday. Using digital banking during holidays helps avoid unnecessary inconvenience and keeps your financial tasks on track.
Proposed Bank Strike in October 2026
A proposed nationwide bank strike beginning October 26, 2026, linked to a demand for a five day banking week, could affect banking operations if industrial action takes place. Physical branch transactions could face additional disruption. Because strike related arrangements can change, customers with important branch work should keep track of the latest information before the proposed date. It is always safer to complete urgent work well in advance rather than waiting until the last moment.
School and Regional Holiday Impact
The festive period in October also affects school schedules in some regions. Longer autumn breaks are noted in places such as West Bengal, where Durga Puja is associated with an extended holiday period, and Telangana, where Dasara holidays are listed from October 10 to October 22. These schedules are separate from bank holidays but reflect the wider impact of the festive calendar during October. Families planning travel or events during this period should keep both school and bank holidays in mind.
How to Plan Your Bank Visit in October 2026
Customers can avoid unnecessary branch visits by checking the applicable holiday before visiting. A simple approach is:
- Check the date of your planned bank visit
- Check whether it falls on a Sunday or second or fourth Saturday
- Check the holiday applicable to your state
- Complete urgent branch related work before the closure where possible
- Use available digital banking services for routine transactions
- Check the latest applicable holiday schedule if your transaction is time sensitive
Following these steps can save you time and help you plan your banking activities more efficiently during a month with many holidays.
October 2026 Bank Holidays: Important Dates
The most important dates to remember are:
- October 2: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
- October 10: Second Saturday and regional Mahalaya Amavasye observance
- October 11: Sunday and Sharad Navratri beginning
- October 17: Maha Saptami in Tripura
- October 19: Regional Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, Ayudha Pooja and Durga Puja holidays
- October 20: Dussehra and Vijayadashami
- October 21: Regional Durga Puja and Vijaya Dashami holidays
- October 22 to 23: Extended Durga Puja in Sikkim
- October 24: Fourth Saturday
- October 25: Sunday
- October 26: Regional Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and Lakshmi Puja
- October 29: Regional Karwa Chauth
- October 31: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti in Gujarat
Conclusion
The October 2026 bank holidays calendar includes a mix of national holidays, regional festivals and regular weekend closures. Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 is a nationwide holiday, while Dussehra and the surrounding Durga Puja and Navratri dates result in closures across different regions. Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays also remain regular bank holidays. For Gujarat, October 2, October 20 and October 31 are among the key dates, with October 31 marked for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti. Since bank holidays can vary by state and banking centre, customers should check the applicable date before planning an important physical branch visit. Digital services such as UPI, mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs can remain useful when branches are closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the main October 2026 bank holidays?
A1. Major holidays include Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, Dussehra on October 20, and regional festivals like Durga Puja, Maha Ashtami, Karwa Chauth and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti in Gujarat on October 31.
Q2. Is October 31 a bank holiday in Gujarat?
A2. Yes, October 31, 2026 is listed as a bank holiday in Gujarat for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti.
Q3. Which Saturdays are bank holidays in October 2026?
A3. The second Saturday falls on October 10 and the fourth Saturday falls on October 24, 2026.
Q4. Will digital banking services work during October 2026 bank holidays?
A4. Yes, digital banking services including UPI, mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs remain available during bank holidays.
Q5. Is there a bank strike proposed in October 2026?
A5. A proposed nationwide bank strike beginning October 26, 2026 is linked to a demand for a five day banking week. Customers should check the latest updates before the proposed date.