India · long weekend
Christmas weekend 2026.
Christmas falls on a Friday, so the central calendar gives a three-day weekend with no leave needed.
- Dates
- Fri, 25 Dec – Sun, 27 Dec, 2026
- Days off
- 3 days in a row
- Leave needed
- None
Christmas Day is on the central government's gazetted holiday list every year, and in 2026 it falls on a Friday. That makes Friday 25 to Sunday 27 December a three-day weekend with no leave needed for anyone on the central calendar. State governments and private employers set their own lists, so check yours.
New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027) is not on the central list, so a second long weekend there depends on your employer. For Goa over Christmas and New Year, our Goa guide compares the areas for Christmas week and for New Year's Eve.
Questions.
- Is Christmas a public holiday in India?
- Yes. Christmas Day (25 December) is a gazetted holiday on the central government list every year. State lists and private employers may differ.
- Is New Year's Day a holiday?
- It is not on the central government list. Some states and employers give the day off, so check your own calendar.
Sources: DoPT office memorandum F.No. 12/2/2023-JCA of 16 July 2026 (2027 gazetted holidays, central offices in Delhi), as reproduced by staffnews.in. Checked 2026-10-28.