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January 2026 School Holidays List: School, colleges to remain closed on these dates

The month begins with New Year’s Day, followed by Hazrat Ali’s birth anniversary, observed by sections of the Muslim community. Mid-January is marked by harvest festivals such as Pongal and Makar Sankranti, while Vasant Panchami is observed later in the month.

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 2, 2026 09:14 AM IST

School Holidays January 2026: Educational institutes to remain closed on these dates across this month (Representative image/AI generated)

January 2026 School Holidays List: The beginning of a new year often signals a symbolic fresh start for students, even as winter chills continue to grip large parts of northern India. Schools across several states remain closed or operate on limited schedules during this period due to cold weather conditions and year-end festivities. At the same time, January is a crucial academic month, particularly for senior students preparing for board examinations and national-level entrance tests.

With the CBSE, ICSE, and various state boards gearing up for board examinations from February, January is typically marked by pre-board exams, internal assessments, and revision schedules. The month is also significant for engineering aspirants, as JEE Main Session 1 is scheduled to be conducted in January, making it a busy period for students engaged in mock tests, final revisions, and performance improvement ahead of the main examinations.

Alongside academic activity, January also marks several religious and cultural observances across the country. The month begins with New Year’s Day, followed by Hazrat Ali’s birth anniversary, observed by sections of the Muslim community. Mid-January is marked by harvest festivals such as Pongal and Makar Sankranti, while Vasant Panchami is observed later in the month. The month concludes with Republic Day.

Here’s the list of holidays for January 2026

Here is a tentative list of holidays in January 2026, during which schools and educational institutions are likely to remain closed, subject to state-wise and board-specific notifications:

Date	Day	Holiday
January 1, 2026	Thursday	New Year’s Day
January 3, 2026	Saturday	Hazrat Ali’s Birthday
January 14, 2026	Wednesday	Pongal
January 14, 2026	Wednesday	Makar Sankranti
January 23, 2026	Friday	Vasant Panchami
January 26, 2026	Monday	Republic Day

It is important to note that the listed holidays may not apply uniformly across all states or school boards, and institutions may remain open depending on local administration decisions. Students and parents can check official notices issued by their respective schools, education boards, or state governments for confirmed holiday schedules and any changes to academic calendars during the month.