Bihar Education Department Unveils 2026 School Holiday Calendar with 75 Days Off

The Bihar Education Department has unveiled the 2026 school holiday calendar, granting students a total of 75 days off, including significant festival breaks. The schedule features early holidays for festivals like Makar Sankranti and Holi, a lengthy summer vacation in June, and extended breaks for Durga Puja and Diwali. Schools will remain open during national events to ensure academic continuity. This comprehensive plan allows families to effectively organize travel and study schedules throughout the year.

By Ambika Singh Dec 3, 2025, 18:50 IST

Bihar School Holidays List 2026: Education Department Releases Full Calendar With 75 Days Off

The Bihar Education Department has officially published the complete holiday calendar for all government schools for the year 2026. This comprehensive list encompasses holidays for primary, middle, secondary, higher secondary, project schools, Sanskrit schools, Urdu schools, and Madrasas throughout the state.

As per the latest notification, students will enjoy a total of 75 holidays in 2026, which includes 10 Sundays accounted for within the schedule. This announcement was made by Sanjay R.A.O., Director of Secondary Education, representing the Education Department.

Festive Holidays Commence Early in the Year

The holiday schedule for 2026 kicks off in January, featuring several significant festivals during the initial three months. Schools will be closed on the following important dates:

Makar Sankranti – 14 January

Basant Panchami – 23 January

Republic Day – 26 January

Sant Ravidas Jayanti – 1 February

Mahashivratri – 15 February

Holi – 3 & 4 March

March and April will also feature several festival holidays, providing students with a break after exams and ongoing academic activities.

20-Day Summer Break in June

Students will experience the longest break of the year in June, with summer vacation scheduled from 1 June to 20 June, totaling 20 days, including two Sundays. This nearly three-week break will allow students ample time for travel, relaxation, and leisure.

At the year's end, schools will also observe a 7-day winter vacation from 25 December to 31 December.

Extended Breaks for Durga Puja and Diwali

The holiday list for Bihar also includes extended vacations for major festivals. According to the schedule:

Durga Puja Holidays: 17 October to 21 October (5 days)

Diwali + Chitragupt Puja + Chhath Puja: 7 November to 17 November (10 days)

These extended breaks are anticipated to provide relief to students, teachers, and families, as these festivals involve significant cultural and traditional celebrations across Bihar.

Schools to Remain Open During National Events

The Education Department has issued clear guidelines to ensure that the academic calendar remains uninterrupted. Schools will remain operational on days when major national events occur, such as:

Republic Day

Independence Day

Gandhi Jayanti

Annual school functions

Institutions will conduct official programs first, and schools will close only after the events conclude.

The department has also clarified that dates for Muslim festival holidays may vary based on moon sightings, and final decisions will be communicated at the appropriate time.

Conclusion

With a well-organized yearly holiday plan totaling 75 days, the Bihar Education Department aims to balance academic activities with sufficient breaks for students. From extended summer and winter vacations to significant festival holidays, the 2026 holiday calendar ensures both learning continuity and necessary rest.

This advance announcement enables schools, teachers, and families to efficiently plan travel, study schedules, examinations, and events throughout the year.