Diwali in India — dates, closures & crowds

The festival of lights, at scale. When it falls in 2026, 2027, 2028, what actually closes, and how to plan around it — plus a live checker for your exact dates. Verified 2026-09.

Quick answer: Diwali in India runs Fri 6 Nov 2026 – Tue 10 Nov 2026 (approximate — lunar/decree dates). Trains and domestic flights around the dates are the year's hardest bookings. Book trains/flights the moment dates are set — weeks ahead, not days.

Destination

From

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India · Fri 6 Nov 2026 → Tue 10 Nov 2026

🪔 Diwali in India · Fri 6 Nov 2026 – Tue 10 Nov 2026 (approx.)

Trains and domestic flights around the dates are the year's hardest bookings

Full Diwali in India guide →

Public holidays in this window

Full public-holiday calendar isn't available for India yet — major events above are still checked. Confirm official holidays locally.

Holidays: nationwide public holidays only (regional ones excluded), verified 2026-09. Lunar-calendar events are approximate. Confirm anything date-critical locally.

What it is

India's biggest festival — main day approximately 8 Nov 2026, 29 Oct 2027 and 17 Oct 2028 (regional calendars vary by a day) — a five-day celebration when the whole country travels home, lights up and sets off fireworks.

Dates (approximate)

Year	Impact window
2026	Fri 6 Nov 2026 – Tue 10 Nov 2026 *
2027	Wed 27 Oct 2027 – Sun 31 Oct 2027 *
2028	Sun 15 Oct 2028 – Thu 19 Oct 2028 *

* Set by lunar calendar, moon sighting or annual decree — confirm exact dates closer to travel.

What to expect

Trains and domestic flights around the dates are the year's hardest bookings
Many businesses close on the main day and the day after; markets before are packed and brilliant
Air quality in northern cities (Delhi especially) deteriorates sharply from fireworks
Hotel prices rise in tourist cities; celebrations make evenings spectacular

How to plan around it

Book trains/flights the moment dates are set — weeks ahead, not days
Jaipur, Varanasi and Amritsar are magical for the festival itself
Sensitive to smoke? Avoid Delhi the days right after Diwali

Questions

Is Diwali a good time to visit India?

For the festival itself — lights, markets, fireworks — it's unforgettable, especially in Rajasthan and Varanasi. For ordinary sightseeing logistics it's the year's hardest week: transport sells out, some businesses close, and northern air quality dips after the fireworks. Decide which trip you're taking.

When is Diwali in 2026, 2027 and 2028?

The main day falls approximately on 8 November 2026, 29 October 2027 and 17 October 2028, within a five-day festival window. Regional calendars can shift observances by a day, so confirm locally for anything date-critical.

Plan the trip

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Other dates to know about

🎏 Golden Week in Japan 🧧 Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)🌸 Tết in Vietnam 🌙 Travelling During Ramadan 💦 Songkran in Thailand ⛪ Easter Week in Europe

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⚠️ Nationwide public holidays only; regional holidays and one-off closures aren't listed. Lunar-calendar dates (Ramadan, Tết, Diwali) are approximate. Verified 2026-09 — confirm anything date-critical with official local sources.