Diwali 2026: Sunday, November 8
Diwali — also called Deepavali — falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The date tracks the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartik (Kartik Amavasya), which is why it moves every year on the Gregorian calendar. Dhanteras, the opening day of the five-day festival, is Friday, November 6, 2026.
Why the date changes every year
Diwali falls on the darkest night of the lunar month — Kartik Amavasya, the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, the Gregorian date drifts year to year, landing somewhere between mid-October and mid-November.
This is the same reason Buddhist Lent, Ramadan and Easter move. It means there is no simple formula you can compute from the Gregorian year alone; the date comes from a Panchang (Hindu almanac) computed from sunrise, moonrise and location. Communities in different countries occasionally observe it a day apart for exactly this reason.
The five days, and which one people mean
Asked "when is Diwali", almost everyone means the third day. But families plan around a longer stretch, and search results often mix them up:
| Day | Observance | 2026 date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhanteras — buying gold, silver or utensils for prosperity | Nov 6 (Fri) |
| 2 | Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali | Nov 7 (Sat) — check your local Panchang |
| 3 | Main Diwali — Lakshmi Puja, lamps, fireworks | Nov 8 (Sun) |
| 4 | Govardhan Puja / Balipratipada | Nov 9 (Mon) — varies by region |
| 5 | Bhai Dooj — the brother–sister observance | Nov 10 (Tue) — varies by region |
A caveat worth knowing
The later days in particular can be listed a day earlier or later depending on which Panchang you follow and where you live. The main Diwali date of November 8, 2026 is the one that published calendars agree on; treat the surrounding days as approximate unless your own community has published something specific.
What people actually do
- Lighting diyas — small oil lamps, the image Diwali is best known for
- Lakshmi Puja — the evening prayer to the goddess of wealth, timed to the evening hours
- Rangoli — coloured powder designs at doorways
- Sweets and gifts — the social high point of the Hindu festive year
- Business new year — for many Gujarati and North Indian business communities, Diwali closes one financial year and opens the next
Where Diwali is recognised in the United States
Diwali is not a federal holiday, and it will not close your bank or delay your mail. But recognition has been moving quickly at state and city level, and it is worth knowing which end of the scale your state sits on:
| Place | Status | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | State holiday since 2024 | Formal recognition; does not require closures |
| Connecticut | State holiday since 2025 | Added to the state holiday list |
| California | AB 268, effective January 2026 | Authorised school closures and paid leave — the law has since been the subject of litigation, so check current status |
| New York City | Public school holiday since 2023 | NYC public schools close; in 2026 the festival falls on a Sunday, so there is no separate weekday closure |
If you need the day off work
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, which covers Diwali for Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist employees. That usually means using leave, swapping shifts or adjusting hours rather than a paid holiday.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Diwali 2026?
Sunday, November 8, 2026. That is the main Lakshmi Puja day.
Why does Diwali change date every year?
It follows Kartik Amavasya, the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, the Gregorian date shifts by about ten days to three weeks between years.
When is Deepavali 2026?
Deepavali is another name for Diwali — same festival, same date: November 8, 2026.
When is Diwali 2027?
Friday, October 29, 2027.
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Friday, November 6, 2026 — two days before the main Diwali night.
Is Diwali a federal holiday in the US?
No. Federal offices, USPS and the stock markets stay open. Recognition is at state and school-district level.
Do New York City schools close for Diwali in 2026?
By law NYC public schools observe Diwali, but in 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so there is no additional weekday closure in the school calendar.
How long does Diwali last?
The formal festival runs five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. Most people treat the third day — Lakshmi Puja night — as the main event.
Is Diwali only a Hindu festival?
No. Jains mark Mahavira's nirvana and Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, which is part of why the date matters well beyond Hindu communities.
Can the date differ between countries?
Yes. Because the Panchang depends on local sunrise and moonrise, diaspora communities sometimes observe it on a neighbouring date to the Indian calendar.
Official sources
- Royal Museums Greenwich — When is Diwali — confirms Sunday 8 November 2026
- New York State Senate — Diwali school holiday legislation (2023) — NYC public school holiday law
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — Religious Accommodations — Title VII accommodation rules
Last verified against official sources on September 26, 2026.