Eid-e-Milad (Milad-un-Nabi) will be observed on August 26, 2026, and it is listed as a gazetted holiday in the Central Government holiday calendar for 2026.
The National Portal of India’s holiday calendar cites the Ministry’s circular in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions as the main source of central government holiday information. The official government holiday lists also indicate that August 26 is Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad, as it is the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
If we ask whether August 26 is a government holiday, then yes for Central government offices covered by the applicable holiday schedule. The holiday is listed in the gazetted holidays for 2026. India Post’s official holiday list also marks August 26 as Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday (Id-e-Milad) and lists it as an All India holiday for 2026.
Eid-e-Milad is an important holiday for Muslims and is celebrated to honor Prophet Muhammad's birthday. It is a day of prayers, religious meetings, discussion of the Prophet's teachings, and acts of charity and community service. The approach to this event can differ among different communities and regions, and local customs play an important role in celebrations.
The date August 26 is also reflected in the official holiday calendar of the Supreme Court of India. In 2026, its calendar lists “Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad” on Wednesday, August 26, and other major holidays for the year. This is a second official note that confirms the date.
But people must keep in mind that a Central Government holiday does not mean that every office, school, private company, or business in every region of India has to be closed. Holidays can differ depending on the organisation, state government rules, and the employment or institutional calendar.
The National Portal of India distinguishes its Central holiday calendar from state and Union Territory holiday calendars, suggesting that holiday schedules can vary between jurisdictions.
State governments can also issue their own holiday notifications. For instance, official government holiday lists for Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal both list August 26, 2026, as Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad. This shows that the festival is recognised as a holiday in various state-level administrative calendars as well.
Another important point is that Muslim festivals may change according to moon sighting and government notifications. As stated in an official 2026 holiday letter, dates of holidays of Muslim festivals can change on the basis of the moon sighting and government decisions.
So employees and institutions should refer to the latest notification issued by their respective government department or organisation if there is any uncertainty.
The timing of Eid-e-Milad in 2026 also makes this week an important holiday-planning week. Raksha Bandhan will be observed on Friday, August 28, just two days after Eid-e-Milad. The Supreme Court’s 2026 calendar lists both dates, Eid-e-Milad on August 26 and Raksha Bandhan on August 28.
However, Raksha Bandhan is not exactly a gazetted holiday in the sense of central government and is not necessarily a government gazetted holiday and is organised in a way that can be different depending on the organisation and holiday schedule.
For Central Government employees, August 26 is an important date to mark on the 2026 holiday calendar. Government offices according to the Central Government holiday schedule are expected to observe Eid-e-Milad as a holiday. The employees of private companies, schools, colleges, and state-specific businesses need to check their own holiday calendars instead of assuming that the Central Government schedule automatically applies to them.
Eid-e-Milad 2026 will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 26, and it is in the Central Government’s 2026 holiday schedule as a gazetted holiday. The date is confirmed by the National Portal of India, India Post, and Supreme Court calendar.
Whilst the holiday is for government establishments covered, private organisations and institutions may have different closure arrangements. Anyone who will travel, have family, and other events in the vicinity of the date should confirm with their employer, school, or local administration the holiday date.
