If you’ve been waiting for the perfect year to travel more often, 2026 is going to be your dream year! The upcoming calendar is perfectly aligned for frequent travelers — with public holidays, festivals, and weekends beautifully spaced out to give you 14 long weekends. With just a little smart planning, you can turn these extended breaks into short, refreshing getaways throughout the year. From mountain escapes and serene beaches to cultural experiences and heritage trails — 2026 offers endless opportunities to explore India like never before.

January – Start the New Year with a Holiday

The year kicks off with not one but two long weekends!

• New Year (January 1, Thursday): Take leave on January 2 (Friday) and enjoy a 4-day break from January 1 to 4.
• Republic Day (January 26, Monday): Enjoy a 3-day weekend to celebrate the nation.

Perfect Destinations: Goa, Nainital, Mussoorie, or Jaipur – ideal for winter vacations filled with charm and comfort.

February–March – Festival-Filled Escapes

March brings a string of festivals such as Holi (March 3), Ram Navami (March 26), and Mahavir Jayanti (March 31).
By adding just a day or two of leave, you can easily plan a 5-day travel stretch.

Perfect Destinations: Experience Holi celebrations in Varanasi or Mathura-Vrindavan, or explore the heritage marvels of Khajuraho and Hampi.

April – Beach Time and Easter Vibes

With Good Friday (April 3) followed by Easter (April 5), you can take April 2 (Thursday) off for a 4-day vacation.

Perfect Destinations: Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, Puducherry’s French streets, or Goa’s golden beaches make for an idyllic spring break.

May – Escape the Heat in the Hills

Labour Day (May 1, Friday) creates a ready-made long weekend.
It’s the perfect time to escape to the mountains for some cool weather.

Perfect Destinations: Shimla, Manali, Ooty, Mount Abu, or Mussoorie — enjoy nature and peace at their best.

June – Monsoon Adventures Begin

With Muharram falling on June 26 (Friday), you can plan a scenic monsoon getaway.

Perfect Destinations: Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, the Konkan coast, or even Rajasthan for its rain-soaked desert charm.

July – Tea Gardens and Waterfalls

Rath Yatra on July 16 (Thursday) gives you the perfect chance for another long weekend if you take July 17 (Friday) off.

Perfect Destinations: Munnar, Coorg, Meghalaya’s waterfalls, or Kerala’s misty hills.

August – Festivals and Family Time

August features Milad-un-Nabi (August 25) and Raksha Bandhan (August 28), creating great opportunities for extended weekends if you add one or two leave days.

Perfect Destinations: Jaipur, Udaipur, Darjeeling, or the Andaman Islands for a mix of culture and relaxation.

September – Post-Monsoon Adventures

Janmashtami (September 4, Friday) and Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14, Monday) open up two long weekends.

Perfect Destinations: Goa, Kerala, or Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura National Park for nature and wildlife lovers.

October – The Golden Month for Travel

October is every traveler’s favorite with Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, Friday) and Dussehra (October 20, Tuesday).
Take October 19 (Monday) off and enjoy a rejuvenating 4-day trip.

Perfect Destinations: Uttarakhand’s hill towns, Rajasthan’s deserts, or Sikkim’s trekking trails.

November – Heritage and Spiritual Escapes

Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24, Tuesday) offers a travel window if you take November 23 (Monday) off.

Perfect Destinations: Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Agra, or Rishikesh for adventure and spirituality combined.

December – End the Year with Celebration

Christmas (December 25, Friday) brings the last long weekend of the year. Add a day off on December 24 or 28 for a festive 4-day break.

Perfect Destinations: Shillong, Goa, Daman, or South India’s coastal towns — perfect for ending the year on a refreshing note.

Final Takeaway

The year 2026 is full of opportunities to travel smarter, not harder. With 14 long weekends, you can plan mini-vacations across India without exhausting your annual leave. Whether you love mountains, beaches, forests, or forts, every month offers a perfect reason to pack your bags and explore.