Summary of this article
January 2026 has up to 12 bank holidays.
Holidays vary by state, festivals, weekends included across locations.
Digital banking works, branch services may face delays
As the new year is just about to start, many individuals are already organising their finances, travelling and future bank business. The month of January is also full of festivals and public holidays. The holiday calendar issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has indicated that in January 2026, banks in various regions of the country will be closed for up to 12 days.
This, however, does not imply that all the banks will be closed 12 days simultaneously, as holidays in India vary by region. Some holidays are celebrated nationally, but some are restricted to certain states due to local festivals or local occasions.
The Decision-Making Process of Bank Holidays
According to the Negotiable Instruments Act, the RBI publishes a list of bank holidays every year. These holidays could be divided into three categories.
First, there are national holidays when banks in all states and union territories are closed, like Republic Day. Second are state-specific holidays, which are reliant on local festivals or significant regional events. Third are weekly holidays, that is, all Sundays, and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
When all these are put up to add the total number of holidays, it may appear very high despite the fact that many of them are only applicable to limited states.
Bank Holidays in January 2026
There are a number of bank holidays in January, most of which are regional.
On January 14, 2026, banks in Gujarat, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam will be closed due to Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu.
Banks will also be closed on January 15, in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Sikkim because of Pongal, Uttarayana Punyakala, Maghe Sankranti and Makara Sankranti festivities.
On January 16 and 17, Tamil Nadu banks will remain closed in place of Thiruvalluvar Day and Uzhavar Thirunal, respectively.
Banks will also be shut on January 23 in West Bengal, Odisha and Tripura to celebrate events like the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Saraswati Puja, Vir Surendrasai Jayanti and Basanta Panchami.
National Bank Holiday in January 2026
January 2026 will observe only one national holiday. All banks in the states and union territories will be closed on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, 2026.
This is a gazetted holiday and cuts across the entire country without regard to the location.
January 2026 Weekend Bank Holidays
Festivals are not the only ones that contribute to the total bank closure days; there is the regular weekend holiday as well.
Banks will be closed on Sundays falling on January 4, 11, 18, and 25. There will also be holidays on the second Saturdays of the month, which fall on January 10 and 24.
These are the weekend holidays which are applicable to all banks in the nation.
What Customers Need to Remember
Most of the digital services will stay operational even when the bank branches are closed during holidays. These closures usually have no impact on internet banking, mobile banking, UPI transactions and ATM withdrawals. Nevertheless, some of the services that require a branch visit, like cheque clearing, cash deposits or document-related work, might be delayed.
