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Karnataka School Holidays 2026: Schools in Karnataka grant gazetted and restricted holidays to students and teachers. Gazetted holidays include mandatory public holidays granted by the central and state governments. Whereas, restricted ones include holidays that are not mandated by the government/s. It is up to the discretion of school authorities to decide whether to grant or not grant optional holidays.
In this blog, you will find the Karnataka School Holidays Calendar 2026 that will help you in keeping track of the various holidays and vacations in the academic year 2026-27.
Contents
Karnataka School Holidays 2026: Gazetted/Public Holidays
Here is a list of gazetted or public Karnataka School Holidays:
| Holiday/ Day of Festival | Date | Importance of Day |
| Winter Vacations | 21st December – 31st December, 2026 | A refreshing start to the year with holidays to relax and reset. |
| Uttarayana Punyakala, Makara Sankranti | 15th January, 2026 | Celebrates the sun’s transition into Capricorn, marking the harvest season. |
| Republic Day | 26th January, 2026 | Commemorates India’s Constitution and democratic spirit. |
| Maha Shivratri | 15th February, 2026 | A night of devotion to Lord Shiva with fasting and prayers. |
| Ugadi Festival | 19th March, 2026 | Marks the traditional New Year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. |
| Good Friday | 3rd March 2026 | A day of reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | 19th or 20th March, 2026 | A sacred day marking the end of Ramadan with prayers and feasts. |
| Basava Jayanthi/Akshaya Tritiya | 20th April, 2026 | Honours Saint Basavanna and marks an auspicious day for prosperity. |
| May Day | 1st May, 2026 | Celebrates workers’ rights and labour contributions worldwide. |
| Summer Vacations | 04th May – 30th May, 2026 | Time for travel, leisure, and rejuvenation. |
| Bakrid (Eid-al-Adha) | 28th June, 2026 | The Islamic festival of sacrifice symbolises devotion and generosity. |
| Last Day of Moharam | 14th July, 2026 | Marks the end of the first month of the Islamic calendar. |
| Independence Day | 15th August, 2026 | Celebrates India’s freedom with patriotic events and flag hoisting. |
| Eid Milad (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) | 25th or 26th September, 2026 | A significant day for the Muslim community, honouring Prophet Muhammad. |
| Mahanavami, Ayudhapooja | 19th October, 2026 | A festival celebrating tools, weapons, and knowledge. |
| Gandhi Jayanthi | 2nd October, 2026 | Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi |
| Mahalaya Amavasye | 10th October, 2026 | New moon day honouring departed ancestors |
| Maharshi Valmiki Jayanthi | 26th October, 2026 | Honours the great sage Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana. |
| Tula Sankramana | 17th October, 2026 | A significant day in the Hindu calendar, marking the sun’s movement. |
| Naraka Chaturdashi | 8th, November 2026 | Celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. |
| Balipadyami, Deepavali | 9th November, 2026 | The festival of lights symbolises good over evil. |
| Kannada Rajyothsava | 1st November, 2026 | Celebrates Karnataka’s state formation and rich heritage. |
| Kanakadasa Jayanthi | 8th November, 2026 | Honours poet-saint Kanakadasa and his devotional contributions. |
| Huthri (Coorg Harvest Festival) | 5th December, 2026 | A joyous festival celebrating the paddy harvest in Coorg. |
Explore: Regional Festivals in India
Karnataka School Holidays 2026: Restricted/Optional Holidays/Local Holidays
In this section, we have a list of restricted/optional holidays for Karnataka schools:
| Holiday/ Day of Festival | Date | Importance |
| New Year | 1st January, 2026 | Welcoming the new year with celebrations and resolutions. |
| Holi | 04th March, 2026 | The festival of colours, celebrates joy and the victory of good over evil. |
| Holy Saturday | 04 April, 2026 | Observed by Christians as the day Jesus Christ lay in the tomb before resurrection. |
| Shab-e-Qadar | 15th or 16th March, 2026 | A sacred night in Ramadan, believed to be when the Quran was revealed. |
| Jumat-Ul-Wida | 20th March, 2026 | The last Friday of Ramadan, a special day of prayers and blessings. |
| Rama Navami | 26th March, 2026 | Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. |
| Buddha Poornima | 1st May, 2026 | Marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. |
| Varamahalakshmi Vrata | 28th August, 2026 | A day of devotion to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity and well-being. |
| Rug-Upakarma, Yajur Upakarma | 26th August, 2026 | Rituals performed by Brahmins to renew spiritual practices. |
| Sri Krishna Janmashtami | 4th September, 2025 | Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna with fasting and festivities. |
| Swarna Gowri Vrata | 13th September, 2026 | A sacred day for worshipping Goddess Gowri, symbolising purity and prosperity. |
| Vishwakarma Jayanthi | 17th September, 2026 | Honours Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect of the universe. |
| Brahma Shri Narayana Guru Jayanthi | 26th September, 2026 | Celebrates the birth anniversary of the great spiritual leader and social reformer. |
| Guru Nanak Jayanthi | 24th November, 2026 | Marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. |
| Christmas Eve | 24th December, 2026 | The night before Christmas, celebrated with prayers and gatherings. |
Also Read: ️Essay on Festivals: Samples in 150, 250 Words
Summer Vacation in Karnataka Schools
The summer vacation in Karnataka occurs in May and goes on till June-July. These are the most sought-after vacations by students because they can go on trips and do other recreational activities during the summer vacation. These may vary depending on the different schools.
Winter Vacation in Karnataka Schools
The winter vacations happen in December and can be extended in January depending upon the severity of the cold. Different schools have different periods of winter vacation.
Also Read: Essay on Winter Vacation ✍️: Samples in 150, 250 Words
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