COUNTRYSpec

Public holidays in Nepal

37 days in 2026 · 8 in 2027

Back to NepalSouth Asia

Next public holiday

Ghatasthapana

घटस्थापना

After it: Phulpati, Saturday 17 October

Sunday, 11 October 2026

Nepal's government sets its holidays one Nepali year at a time. The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes the list in the Nepal Gazette before each Bikram Sambat year begins in mid-April, and the dates follow the lunar calendar, so almost nothing falls on the same Gregorian day twice. In 2026 the two notices that cover the year, together with three election days in March, give 37 dates off for everyone. Saturday is the weekly day off, and the notice lists every Saturday of the year by date.

The calendar is built round two Hindu festivals. Dashain closes offices for seven days in a row, from Phulpati on Saturday 17 October to Dwadashi on Friday 23 October in 2026, after Ghatasthapana a week earlier. Tihar follows with five days, from Laxmi Puja on Sunday 8 November to the day after Bhai Tika on Thursday 12 November. Around them sit Buddhist and Kirat festivals, three Lhosar new years, Christmas and the two Eids, which the notice gives as days off across the country.

The 2027 dates on file run only to early April. The notice for Bikram Sambat 2084, which will cover the rest of 2027, had not been published on 30 September 2026.

Days off in 2026
37Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
27Monday to Friday
On a weekend
10Saturday or Sunday
Long weekends
11and 4 with one day of leave

2026

Public holidays in Nepal in 2026

  1. 11 January: Prithvi Jayanti, National Unity Dayपृथ्वी जयन्तीThe birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified modern Nepal in 1768, kept as National Unity Day on Poush 27.Sunday
  2. 15 January: Maghe Sankrantiमाघे सङ्क्रान्तिMaghe Sankranti, or Maghi, Magh 1, the first day of the month of Magh.Thursday
  3. 19 January: Sonam Lhosarसोनम ल्होछारSonam Lhosar, the new year of the Tamang community.MondayDate moves
  4. 30 January: Martyrs' Dayसहिद दिवसMartyrs' Day, Magh 16, remembers the first four martyrs of Nepal, members of the Praja Parishad executed under the Rana regime: Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Shukraraj Shastri, Gangalal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand.Friday
  5. 15 February: Mahashivaratriमहाशिवरात्रीMaha Shivaratri, the night kept in reverence of Shiva.SundayDate moves
  6. 18 February: Gyalpo Lhosarग्याल्पो ल्होसारGyalpo Lhosar, the Tibetan new year, a day off across the country.WednesdayDate moves
  7. 19 February: National Democracy Dayराष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र दिवसNational Democracy Day, Falgun 7, commemorates the revolution of 1951 that ended Rana rule.Thursday
  8. 4 March: Election holidayनिर्वाचन बिदाThree days off from 4 to 6 March 2026 for the general election that followed the dissolution of parliament after the Gen Z protests of September 2025.WednesdayDate moves
  9. 5 March: Election holidayनिर्वाचन बिदाThree days off from 4 to 6 March 2026 for the general election that followed the dissolution of parliament after the Gen Z protests of September 2025.ThursdayDate moves
  10. 6 March: Election holidayनिर्वाचन बिदाThree days off from 4 to 6 March 2026 for the general election that followed the dissolution of parliament after the Gen Z protests of September 2025.FridayDate moves
  11. 8 March: International Women's Dayअन्तर्राष्ट्रिय महिला दिवसInternational Women's Day on 8 March, a day off for everyone, men included.Sunday
  12. 21 March: Eid al-Fitrईद उल फित्रEid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. The notice lists it with no date, as the day of the festival.SaturdayDate moves
  13. 27 March: Ram NavamiरामनवमीThe birthday of Rama, on the list for Bikram Sambat 2082. In 2027 it falls after the end of the 2083 list.FridayDate moves
  14. 14 April: Nepali New Yearनव वर्षNepali New Year, Baisakh 1, the first day of the Bikram Sambat calendar. It fell on Tuesday 14 April in 2026.TuesdayDate moves
  15. 1 May: Buddha Jayanti and Ubhauliबुद्ध जयन्तीThe full moon of Baisakh, known as Chandi Purnima, marks the birth of the Buddha. Nepal counts Lumbini as his birthplace. The same day is Ubhauli, the festival of the Kirat peoples: the Rai, Limbu, Yakkha and Sunuwar.FridayDate moves
  16. 28 May: Eid al-Adhaबकर ईदEid al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, listed like Eid al-Fitr for the day it falls.ThursdayDate moves
  17. 29 May: Republic Dayगणतन्त्र दिवसRepublic Day, Jestha 15. It marks 28 May 2008, when the newly elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and ended the monarchy.FridayDate moves
  18. 28 August: Raksha Bandhanरक्षाबन्धनRaksha Bandhan, also Janai Purnima, when Brahmins renew their sacred thread and the bond between brothers and sisters is celebrated.FridayDate moves
  19. 4 September: Shri Krishna Janmashtamiश्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमीThe birth of Krishna, kept on Bhadra 19 in 2083.FridayDate moves
  20. 19 September: Constitution Dayसंविधान दिवसConstitution Day, Asoj 3, which the notice also calls National Day. The constitution came into force on 20 September 2015.SaturdayDate moves
  21. 11 October: Ghatasthapanaघटस्थापनाGhatasthapana, the beginning of Dashain, a day off on its own a week before the main run.SundayDate moves
  22. 17 October: PhulpatiफूलपातीPhulpati, the seventh day of Dashain, when the jamara is brought from the Gorkha palace to Kathmandu. The seven-day Dashain holiday starts here.SaturdayDate moves
  23. 18 October: Dashain holidayदशैं बिदाDays off inside the Dashain run. The notice gives the whole run from Phulpati to Dwadashi without naming each day.SundayDate moves
  24. 19 October: Dashain holidayदशैं बिदाDays off inside the Dashain run. The notice gives the whole run from Phulpati to Dwadashi without naming each day.MondayDate moves
  25. 20 October: Maha NavamiमहानवमीMaha Navami, the last day of Navaratri, inside the Dashain run.TuesdayDate moves
  26. 21 October: Vijaya Dashamiविजया दशमीVijaya Dashami, when elders put tika of rice, yoghurt and vermilion and jamara on younger relatives and bless them.WednesdayDate moves
  27. 22 October: EkadashiएकादशीEkadashi, the eleventh day, as the Dashain celebrations continue.ThursdayDate moves
  28. 23 October: Dwadashiद्वादशीDwadashi, the last of the seven consecutive Dashain days off.FridayDate moves
  29. 8 November: Laxmi Pujaलक्ष्मीपूजाLaxmi Puja opens the Tihar holiday. Cows are worshipped in the morning and Laxmi, goddess of wealth, in the evening.SundayDate moves
  30. 9 November: Tihar holidayतिहार बिदाDays off inside the Tihar run from Laxmi Puja to the day after Bhai Tika. The Nepal Sambat new year also falls in this week.MondayDate moves
  31. 10 November: Tihar holidayतिहार बिदाDays off inside the Tihar run from Laxmi Puja to the day after Bhai Tika. The Nepal Sambat new year also falls in this week.TuesdayDate moves
  32. 11 November: Bhai TikaभाइटीकाBhai Tika, the fifth day of Tihar, when sisters and brothers wish each other safety and exchange gifts.WednesdayDate moves
  33. 12 November: Tihar holidayतिहार बिदाDays off inside the Tihar run from Laxmi Puja to the day after Bhai Tika. The Nepal Sambat new year also falls in this week.ThursdayDate moves
  34. 15 November: Chhath Parvaछठ पर्वChhath, the festival dedicated to the Hindu sun god, a day off across the country.SundayDate moves
  35. 24 December: Dhanya Purnima, Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwasधान्य पूर्णिमाThe full moon that marks the end of the rice harvest: Udhauli for the Kirat peoples, and Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwas on the same day.ThursdayDate moves
  36. 25 December: Christmas Dayक्रिसमस डेChristmas Day, on the list as the festival of the Christian community and a day off for everyone.FridayDate moves
  37. 30 December: Tamu Lhosarतमू ल्होछारTamu Lhosar, the new year of the Gurung community. In 2026 it shares 30 December with Dura Mhaipu Nakuma.WednesdayDate moves

Long weekends

Long weekends in Nepal in 2026

Runs of three days or more off, with weekends counted, and the working days that join a holiday to a weekend when taken as leave.

  • 5daysThu 15 Jan to Mon 19 JanWith Fri 16 Jan taken as leave · Maghe Sankranti, Sonam Lhosar
  • 3daysSat 17 Jan to Mon 19 JanSonam Lhosar
  • 3daysFri 30 Jan to Sun 1 FebMartyrs' Day
  • 5daysWed 18 Feb to Sun 22 FebWith Fri 20 Feb taken as leave · Gyalpo Lhosar, National Democracy Day
  • 5daysWed 4 Mar to Sun 8 MarElection holiday, Election holiday, Election holiday, International Women's Day
  • 3daysFri 27 Mar to Sun 29 MarRam Navami
  • 4daysSat 11 Apr to Tue 14 AprWith Mon 13 Apr taken as leave · Nepali New Year
  • 3daysFri 1 May to Sun 3 MayBuddha Jayanti and Ubhauli
  • 4daysThu 28 May to Sun 31 MayEid al-Adha, Republic Day
  • 3daysFri 28 Aug to Sun 30 AugRaksha Bandhan
  • 3daysFri 4 Sept to Sun 6 SeptShri Krishna Janmashtami
  • 9daysSat 17 Oct to Sun 25 OctPhulpati, Dashain holiday, Dashain holiday, Maha Navami, Vijaya Dashami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi
  • 6daysSat 7 Nov to Thu 12 NovLaxmi Puja, Tihar holiday, Tihar holiday, Bhai Tika, Tihar holiday
  • 9daysSat 7 Nov to Sun 15 NovWith Fri 13 Nov taken as leave · Laxmi Puja, Tihar holiday, Tihar holiday, Bhai Tika, Tihar holiday, Chhath Parva
  • 4daysThu 24 Dec to Sun 27 DecDhanya Purnima, Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwas, Christmas Day

2027

Public holidays in Nepal in 2027

  1. 11 January: Prithvi Jayanti, National Unity Dayपृथ्वी जयन्तीMonday
  2. 15 January: Maghe Sankrantiमाघे सङ्क्रान्तिFriday
  3. 30 January: Martyrs' Dayसहिद दिवसSaturday
  4. 7 February: Sonam Lhosarसोनम ल्होछारSundayDate moves
  5. 19 February: National Democracy Dayराष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र दिवसFriday
  6. 6 March: Mahashivaratriमहाशिवरात्रीSaturdayDate moves
  7. 8 March: International Women's Dayअन्तर्राष्ट्रिय महिला दिवसMonday
  8. 9 March: Gyalpo Lhosarग्याल्पो ल्होसारTuesdayDate moves

Regional

Holidays kept in parts of Nepal

Public holidays in 2026 that are days off only in the regions listed, by their ISO 3166-2 codes.

  1. 2 March: Fagu Purnima (hill and Himalayan districts)फागुपूर्णिमाFagu Purnima, or Holi, the festival of colours. The 56 Himalayan and hill districts take the full-moon day off.MondayDate moves
  2. 3 March: Fagu Purnima (Terai districts)फागुपूर्णिमा (तराई)Holi in the 21 Terai districts, from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west, is kept a day after the hills.TuesdayDate moves
  3. 18 March: Ghode Jatra (Kathmandu Valley)घोडेजात्राGhode Jatra, the horse festival, a holiday in the Kathmandu Valley only.WednesdayDate moves
  4. 29 August: Gai Jatra (Kathmandu Valley and the Newar community)गाईजात्राGai Jatra, a day off in the Kathmandu Valley and for the Newar community across the country.SaturdayDate moves
  5. 25 September: Indra Jatra (Kathmandu Valley)इन्द्रजात्राIndra Jatra, a holiday in the Kathmandu Valley only.FridayDate moves

Observances

Days marked in Nepal that are not days off

  1. 23 January: Basanta Panchamiवसन्त पञ्चमीBasanta Panchami, the Saraswati Puja, closes schools and other educational institutions only.FridayDate moves
  2. 4 June: National Day for the Abolition of Caste Discrimination and Untouchabilityजातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछुत उन्मूलन राष्ट्रिय दिवसThe national day for ending caste discrimination and untouchability. It is marked across the country and offices stay open.ThursdayDate moves
  3. 4 September: Gaura Parvaगौरा पर्वGaura Parva, off for those who keep it. Wikipedia places it in Sudurpashchim Province.FridayDate moves
  4. 7 September: Civil Service Dayनिजामती सेवा दिवसCivil Service Day, marked with offices open.MondayDate moves
  5. 8 September: Gen Z Martyrs' Dayजेनजी सहिद दिवसGen Z Martyrs' Day, new in the list for Bikram Sambat 2083, the first list published after the Gen Z protests of September 2025. It is marked with offices open.TuesdayDate moves
  6. 14 September: Teej (women employees)हरितालिका तीजHaritalika Teej, a fast kept by women, and a day off for women employees only.MondayDate moves
  7. 4 October: Jitiya Parva (women employees)जितिया पर्वJitiya, a day off for women employees who keep the festival.SundayDate moves
  8. 11 November: Phalgunanda Jayanti (Kirat)फाल्गुनन्द जयन्तीThe birthday of Phalgunanda, off for followers of the Kirat religion.WednesdayDate moves
  9. 24 November: Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh)गुरु नानक जयन्तीThe birthday of Guru Nanak, off for Nepali Sikhs. The notice gives no date; this one is from timeanddate.TuesdayDate moves
  10. 3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilitiesअन्तर्राष्ट्रिय अपाङ्गता दिवसInternational Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, a day off for employees with disabilities.ThursdayDate moves
  11. 30 December: Dura Mhaipu Nakuma (Dura community)दुरा म्हैप्रु नकुमाDura Mhaipu Nakuma, a day off for the Dura community across the country.WednesdayDate moves

The Gregorian dates here are converted from the two gazette notices, and each weekday the notices print matches the converted date. timeanddate's 2026 list differs on several days: it puts Holi on 19 and 20 March where the notice for 2082 gives 2 and 3 March, and it has no entry for Prithvi Jayanti, Martyrs' Day or Ram Navami.

A holiday that lands on a Saturday is not moved. In 2026 that happens to Constitution Day on Saturday 19 September and to Phulpati, the first day of Dashain, on Saturday 17 October; in early 2027 Martyrs' Day and Maha Shivaratri both fall on a Saturday.

Hospitals, the police, immigration, fire brigades, the post and other daily services keep working through public holidays, and staff take the days back in turn. Nepali embassies abroad set their own holidays, up to 18 days, with the host country's calendar in mind.

No 2027 date after Ghode Jatra on 6 April is on file, and neither Eid is dated for 2027: the notice gives both only as the day of the festival. Mohammad Jayanti, Siruwa Pawani and the Bhoto Jatra of Matsyendranath also carry no printed date and are left out.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in Nepal

How many public holidays does Nepal have in 2026?

The file counts 37 dates off for everyone in 2026, ordinary Saturdays left aside. The figure takes in the three one-off election days of March and the whole of the Dashain and Tihar runs. Days kept by one community or in one valley come on top.

When is Dashain in 2026?

Ghatasthapana, the first day of the festival, falls on Sunday 11 October 2026. The seven consecutive days off run from Phulpati on Saturday 17 October to Dwadashi on Friday 23 October, with Vijaya Dashami, the day of tika and blessings from elders, on Wednesday 21 October. The dates follow the lunar calendar, so Dashain moves each year between late September and mid-October.

Why do Nepali holidays change date every year?

Most of them are set by tithi, the lunar day, and by the Bikram Sambat calendar, whose months do not line up with the Gregorian ones. A Nepali month can run from 29 to 32 days, and the lengths change from year to year. The government therefore publishes a new list each year in the Nepal Gazette, some six weeks before Baisakh 1; the notice for 2083 is dated Falgun 18, 2082. Only the days tied to international dates, such as 1 May, 8 March, 3 December and Christmas, keep their Gregorian day, and even those are printed in the notice under their Nepali date.

Is Saturday the weekend in Nepal?

Saturday is the weekly day off. The gazette notice for Bikram Sambat 2083 opens by listing every Saturday of the year, month by month, as a holiday for government offices and public bodies. Wikipedia adds that most private offices close only on Saturday, and that it is not compulsory for private businesses to close on the other public holidays.

Is Holi a holiday everywhere in Nepal?

Every district gets a day off for Fagu Purnima, though not on the same day. The 56 Himalayan and hill districts keep the full moon and the 21 Terai districts the day after: Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 March in 2026, Sunday 21 and Monday 22 March in 2027.

Which holidays apply only to some people?

The notice sets several days off for particular groups. Women employees have Teej and Jitiya, employees with disabilities have 3 December, and schools close for Basanta Panchami. The Newar community has Gai Jatra across the country, and the Kathmandu Valley alone has Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra and the Bhoto Jatra. Followers of the Kirat religion, Muslims and Sikhs have the birthdays of Phalgunanda, Mohammad and Guru Nanak.

Dates from Written from the sources, read 2026-09-30. The page counts from Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the day it was built.