comprehensive month-wise list of Hindu religious festivals, vrats, and auspicious dates for 2026, based on the Vedic Panchang (Vikram Samvat 2082–2083)

comprehensive month-wise list of Hindu religious festivals, vrats, and auspicious dates for 2026, based on the Vedic Panchang (Vikram Samvat 2082–2083):

Special Note for 2026: Adhik Maas (extra lunar month) occurs from May 17 to June 15, 2026, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. No weddings or Griha Pravesh should be performed during this period. Due to Adhik Maas, there are 26 Ekadashis in 2026 instead of the usual 24, and major festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Diwali are shifted by nearly 20 days.  (SmartPuja)

🗓️ Hindu Festival & Muhurat Calendar 2026

🌸 January 2026 (Paush – Magh)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Jan 1

Thu

Pradosh Vrat (Guru)

Jan 3

Sat

🌕 Paush Purnima

Jan 6

Tue

Sankashti Chaturthi

Jan 14

Wed

☀️ Makar Sankranti / Pongal + Shattila Ekadashi

Jan 16

Fri

Pradosh Vrat (Shukra)

Jan 18

Sun

🌑 Mauni Amavasya

Jan 23

Fri

📚 Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja

Jan 29

Thu

Jaya Ekadashi

Jan 30

Fri

Pradosh Vrat (Shukra)

❄️ February 2026 (Magh – Phalguna)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Feb 1

Sun

🌕 Magha Purnima

Feb 5

Thu

Sankashti Chaturthi

Feb 13

Fri

Vijaya Ekadashi

Feb 14

Sat

Pradosh Vrat (Shani)

Feb 15

Sun

🕉️ Maha Shivaratri

Feb 17

Tue

🌑 Phalguna Amavasya + Partial Solar Eclipse (not visible in India)

Feb 27

Fri

Amalaki Ekadashi

🎨 March 2026 (Phalguna – Chaitra)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Mar 1

Sun

Pradosh Vrat (Ravi)

Mar 3

Tue

🔥 Holika Dahan + Total Lunar Eclipse (visible in India!)

Mar 4

Wed

🎨 Holi (Dhulandi)

Mar 15

Sun

Papmochani Ekadashi

Mar 16

Mon

Pradosh Vrat (Soma)

Mar 18

Wed

🌑 Chaitra Amavasya

Mar 19

Thu

🚩 Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi) + Chaitra Navratri Begins

Mar 26

Thu

🏹 Ram Navami (Navratri ends)

Mar 27

Fri

🙏 Hanuman Jayanti

Mar 29

Sun

Kamada Ekadashi

Mar 30

Mon

Pradosh Vrat (Soma)

🌼 April 2026 (Chaitra – Vaishakh)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Apr 2

Thu

🌕 Hanuman Jayanti / Chaitra Purnima

Apr 13

Mon

Varuthini Ekadashi

Apr 15

Wed

Pradosh Vrat (Budha)

Apr 17

Fri

🌑 Vaishakha Amavasya

Apr 20

Mon

🪙 Akshaya Tritiya

Apr 27

Mon

Mohini Ekadashi

Apr 28

Tue

Pradosh Vrat (Bhauma) / Parashurama Jayanti

🌿 May 2026 (Vaishakh – Adhik Jyeshtha begins)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

May 1

Fri

🌕 Buddha Purnima (Vaishakha Purnima)

May 13

Wed

Apara Ekadashi

May 14

Thu

Pradosh Vrat (Guru)

May 16

Sat

🌑 Shani Jayanti / Jyeshtha Amavasya

May 17

Sun

⚛️ Adhik Maas (Purushottam Maas) Begins

May 27

Wed

Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik)

May 28

Thu

Pradosh Vrat – Adhik (Guru) / Vat Savitri Vrat

May 31

Sun

🌕 Adhik Jyeshtha Purnima

☀️ June 2026 (Adhik Jyeshtha ends – Jyeshtha)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Jun 11

Thu

Parama Ekadashi (Adhik)

Jun 12

Fri

Pradosh Vrat – Adhik (Shukra)

Jun 15

Mon

🌑 Adhik Maas Ends

Jun 25

Thu

Nirjala Ekadashi (most important Ekadashi of the year)

Jun 27

Sat

Pradosh Vrat (Shani)

Jun 29

Mon

🌕 Vat Purnima Vrat / Jyeshtha Purnima

🌧️ July 2026 (Ashadha – Shravan begins)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Jul 10

Fri

Yogini Ekadashi

Jul 12

Sun

Pradosh Vrat (Ravi)

Jul 14

Tue

🌑 Ashadha Amavasya

Jul 16

Thu

🚩 Jagannath Rath Yatra

Jul 25

Sat

🪷 Devshayani Ekadashi (Chaturmas Begins)

Jul 26

Sun

Pradosh Vrat (Ravi)

Jul 29

Wed

🌕 Guru Purnima

Jul 30

Thu

🕉️ Shravan Maas Begins

🌊 August 2026 (Shravan – Bhadrapada)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Aug 9

Sun

Kamika Ekadashi

Aug 10

Mon

Pradosh Vrat (Soma)

Aug 12

Wed

🌑 Hariyali Amavasya + Total Solar Eclipse (not visible in India)

Aug 18

Tue

🐍 Nag Panchami

Aug 21

Fri

🌸 Varalakshmi Vratam

Aug 23

Sun

Shravana Putrada Ekadashi

Aug 25

Tue

Pradosh Vrat (Bhauma)

Aug 28

Fri

🌕 Raksha Bandhan / Shravan Purnima + Partial Lunar Eclipse (visible in India)

🌺 September 2026 (Bhadrapada)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Sep 4

Fri

🦚 Janmashtami

Sep 7

Mon

Aja Ekadashi

Sep 8

Tue

Pradosh Vrat (Bhauma)

Sep 11

Fri

🌑 Bhadrapada Amavasya

Sep 14

Mon

🐘 Ganesh Chaturthi

Sep 23

Wed

Anant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)

Sep 27

Sun

🌕 Bhadrapada Purnima / Pitru Paksha Begins

🍂 October 2026 (Ashwin – Kartik)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Oct 10

Sat

🌑 Mahalaya Amavasya (Pitru Paksha Ends) / Sharad Navratri Begins

Oct 17

Sat

Durga Ashtami

Oct 18

Sun

Maha Navami

Oct 19

Mon

🏹 Dussehra / Vijayadashami

Oct 30

Fri

🌙 Karwa Chauth

🪔 November 2026 (Kartik)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Nov 6

Fri

💰 Dhanteras

Nov 7

Sat

🪔 Choti Diwali / Naraka Chaturdashi

Nov 8

Sun

🪔 DIWALI / Lakshmi Puja

Nov 9

Mon

Govardhan Puja / Annakut

Nov 10

Tue

💞 Bhai Dooj

Nov 11–14

☀️ Chhath Puja

Nov 21

Sat

Devutthana Ekadashi (Tulsi Vivah)

Nov 27

Fri

🌕 Kartik Purnima / Dev Deepawali

🌾 December 2026 (Kartik – Margashirsha)

Date

Day

Festival / Occasion

Dec 6

Sun

Utpanna Ekadashi

Dec 8

Tue

Pradosh Vrat

Dec 10

Thu

🌑 Margashirsha Amavasya

Dec 21

Mon

Mokshada Ekadashi / Gita Jayanti

Dec 23

Wed

Pradosh Vrat

Dec 26

Sat

🌕 Margashirsha Purnima

📅 Key Muhurat Reminders for 2026

The most auspicious months for Hindu weddings in 2026 are April–May (Vaishakh–Jyeshtha), October–November (Kartik), and November–December (Margashirsha). Avoid months like Bhadrapada (Aug–Sep), Paush (Dec–Jan), and Adhik Maas.  (GrahaGuru)

For important events, consult a qualified astrologer with your birth details, and avoid inauspicious periods like Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda Kaal, and Gulika Kaal.  (GrahaGuru)

Note: Dates may vary by one day based on your local Panchang and regional sunrise timings (e.g., Maharashtra Panchang vs North India). Always cross-check with Kalnirnay or your local pandit for Pune-specific timings.