The Punjab government has shared the 2026 holiday schedule - some months, like June or December, pack several days off one after another; yet others don't offer much excitement. As per a recent notice (No. 06/01/2025-2PP3/781) from the Department of Personnel, state-run offices will close for 30 official holidays other than the regular weekend closures.
January and September among the leanest months
As the year 2026 is around the corner, residents have the questions like which is the best month and which is not the best month to plan a holiday in the year. January and September usually have fewer breaks. In 2026, January only has Republic Day on the 26th; otherwise, it’s regular workdays from start to finish.
September month in the year 2026 offers the least number of holidays. Janmashtami, will be celebrated on 4th September. Means after the January month, the September month offers the least number of holidays. Residents are advised not to plan vaccinations in these two months.
On the opposite side, June and December 2026 will bring big time-off chances - packed with back-to-back days off one after another.
In June, the region marks the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji that will be observed on June 18, followed by Kabir’s birth anniversary on the very next day that is 19th June, sliding right into Saturday followed by a Sunday for a solid four-day pause.
Similarly the December month of 2026 is a perfect month to plan a vacation. In the year Christmas, which is December 25th, falls on a Friday, followed by a weekend right after the festive day. And the holiday list does not stop here, right after the weekend, the Monday that is 28th is marked as a holiday in Punjab govt calendar for the remembrance event at Fatehgarh Sahib offering a long weekend to stretch into another full-length break.
Even though Jan and Sep bring fewer public holidays, nearly every month in Punjab’s 2026 schedule still packs major cultural, faith-based, or state observances - so workers rarely face endless grind without a break.
April, March or November tend to have lots of festivals - Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab - usually timed near weekends so people get a longer time off.
Punjab’s personnel department released a holiday schedule with 30 days off, featuring Sikh observances along with big national and local celebrations. Starting January 26 with Republic Day, it runs through the year until December 28's Shaheedi Sabha in Fatehgarh Sahib.
The birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji will show up afterward - it depends on the moon cycle.
For the residents planning getaways, big celebrations, or gatherings next year, skip January and September. Still, no need to stress; by slipping in downtime at smart times, like midyear or near Christmas, residents can unwind often enough.