Tamil Nadu's government has formally concluded the holiday schedule of 2026 Pongal, one of South India's largest cultural and harvest festivities. On the general calendar of the state and for students, teachers throughout the state, parents and pupils enjoyed the lavish "five days" of free vacation this year, offering a time for families to visit their rural communities and partake in traditional Jallikattu and Samathuva Pongal holidays.
The 2026 Pongal Holiday Calendar
The 2026 period for Pongal fits the bill for a long weekend. The state gazette and School Education Department’s directions say the holidays start on Jan. 14 (Wednesday) and run until Jan. 18 (Sunday).
Official Dates for School Holidays
| Date | Day | Occasion | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Bogi Pandigai / Makar Sankranti | Holiday |
| Jan. 15, 2026 | Thursday | Thai Pongal | Public Holiday |
| Jan. 16, 2026 | Friday | Mattu Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day | Public Holiday |
| Jan. 17, 2026 | Saturday | Kaanum Pongal / Uzhavar Thirunal | Public Holiday |
| Jan. 18, 2026 | Sunday | Weekend Holiday | Holiday |
Schools will officially reopen Monday the 19th of January 2026. The majority of venues will close their sessions on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 13, after traditional “Samathuva Pongal” observances on campus.
Detailed Breakdown of the Break
- Bogi Pandigai (Jan 14): The day for people to discard the old and welcome the new. Students will take the day off when families start their cleaning rituals and morning bonfires.
- Thai Pongal (Jan 15): Main harvest festival for the Sun God. This is a compulsory public holiday for all public education and government entities.
- Mattu Pongal & Thiruvalluvar Day (Jan 16): A day for the revered Tamil poet and the cattle. That is an important state holiday, after all.
- Kaanum Pongal (Jan 17): This date is for family reunions and travel, observed on Saturday. And since Sunday follows, it effectively seals a five-day break.
Special Instructions for Boards and Schools
There should be no special classes or coaching sessions for 10th and 12th Grade students over these 5 days. Tamil Nadu School Education Department. This order seeks to ensure students are not deprived of their cultural heritage and time spent with families.
Meanwhile, TNSTC started serving almost 12,000 special buses from the evening on January 12 to avoid large migration. In hostel environments, it is well advised to arrange in advance with school wardens to avoid the busy holiday season for students leaving in early mornings.
Upcoming Holidays in January 2026
January remains a festive month for students. Another long weekend, however, is predicted in the last week of the month on the heels of the Pongal break:
Monday: Republic Day (Jan. 26): Public holiday. This combined with the previous Saturday and Sunday leaves a three-day weekend for schools that do not observe Saturday classes.
