Karnataka Public Holidays 2026

Understanding Karnataka's Holiday Calendar in 2026

Karnataka's holiday calendar tells you a lot about the state itself — it's a mix of South Indian tradition, strong Kannada cultural identity, and the cosmopolitan reality of Bengaluru, which has employees from almost every other state. If you're building a leave calendar for a Karnataka-based team, you'll need to balance official gazetted dates with the informal expectations of a diverse workforce.

Bengaluru's tech industry has its own rhythm when it comes to holidays. Ugadi gets treated with the same gravity as Diwali in the North, Dasara (Vijayadashami) is a major cultural moment tied to Mysuru's world-famous celebrations, and Kannada Rajyotsava on November 1 is a day when Bengaluru wears its identity proudly — expect muted attendance even in offices that technically remain open.

The state follows the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, and the Labour Department issues the official holiday notification each year. Manufacturing units have a separate schedule under the Factories Act. If your Bengaluru office is a tech company registered under Shops and Establishments, the gazetted list here applies directly to you.

National Holidays in Karnataka

Karnataka observes all three national holidays without exception. What's worth noting is that Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 often coincides with early Navratri in 2026, creating a natural pause in work that many teams lean into for a slightly extended break. Independence Day in 2026 falls on a Saturday — for IT companies that work a five-day week, this effectively means the holiday is absorbed into the weekend.

Karnataka-Specific Holidays

Ugadi is Karnataka's new year, and it's taken seriously. March 30, 2026 (the same day as Maharashtra's Gudi Padwa) marks the first day of the Kannada calendar. Families gather for the traditional Ugadi pachadi — a dish that combines all six tastes as a metaphor for life — and new beginnings are made. For Bengaluru businesses, expect genuinely low attendance for the couple of days around Ugadi, even if the official holiday is just one day.

Dasara in Karnataka isn't just a date on the calendar — it's a ten-day state-sponsored event centred on Mysuru. The Mysuru Dasara procession is one of the most photographed events in India, and thousands of Bengaluru residents travel to Mysuru for the occasion. Vijayadashami (the main day) in 2026 falls on October 17, a Saturday, which reduces operational impact — but don't be surprised if Friday October 16 sees lighter attendance.

Kannada Rajyotsava on November 1 marks the day Karnataka was formed in 1956. This is a holiday tied to Kannadiga identity, and in Bengaluru, you'll find Kannada flag decorations, cultural events, and a genuine sense of celebration. Non-Kannadiga employees often use this as an opportunity to learn about the state they live and work in. It's a holiday worth acknowledging beyond just marking the calendar.

Restricted Holidays in Karnataka

Karnataka's restricted holiday list typically includes dates like Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti, and a few others that cater to Karnataka's religious diversity. Employees can usually claim two restricted holidays per year, and some companies in Bengaluru allow employees to add regional festivals from their home states to the restricted list — particularly useful in a city where 40–50% of the workforce is from other states.

HR & Payroll Guidance for Karnataka — 2026

The most common mistake Karnataka-based HR teams make is treating the Bengaluru holiday calendar as if it were a national calendar. Ugadi and Kannada Rajyotsava are gazetted holidays in Karnataka, but they mean nothing to your offices in Delhi or Chennai. Meanwhile, your Bengaluru team won't automatically get Holi or Pongal. Keep these lists separate and make sure your HRMS reflects the correct state.

Dasara is also a time when leave applications spike, particularly for employees who want to travel to Mysuru or their home towns. Having a leave approval buffer built into your HRMS for the two weeks around Dasara and Diwali avoids the situation where half the team is suddenly unavailable with no forward notice.

Engage HRMS lets you set location-specific holiday calendars — so your Bengaluru team sees Ugadi and Rajyotsava in their leave module, while your Delhi team sees Holi and Dussehra. It also flags date conflicts when too many employees from the same team request leave around the same holidays.