January 2026 starts the year with a busy and meaningful calendar filled with festivals, national holidays, religious observances and global awareness days. From colorful harvest festivals to days of national pride and international causes, the first month of the year offers many opportunities to celebrate, reflect and participate.
The month includes major Indian festivals such as Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti as well as important national occasions such as Republic Day, Indian Army Day and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti. January also highlights global celebrations including World Braille Day, International Education Day and World Leprosy Day, which draw attention to inclusion, learning and public health.
These events together make January 2026 culturally rich and socially significant:-
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January 2026 Holidays in India
(These holidays are widely celebrated throughout India or in several states. Actual holidays may vary depending on the state and region.)
January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day
6 January (Tuesday)- Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
January 13 (Tuesday) – Lohri (celebrated mainly in North India)
14 January (Wednesday) – Makar Sankranti
15 January (Thursday) – Pongal (Tamil Nadu)/Indian Army Day
23 January (Friday) – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti
26 January (Monday) – Republic Day
January 30 (Friday) – Martyrs’ Day / Martyrs’ Day (observed; not a full public holiday in many states)
January 2026: Festivals, National and International Days
January is also marked by several important national days, religious observances and international awareness events, reflecting the cultural, historical and social diversity of India.
Key Dates to Remember
January 1 – Global Family Day
January 2 – World Introvert Day
January 3 – Paush Purnima, International Mind-Body Wellness Day
4 January – World Braille Day
5 January – National Bird Day
6 January – Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, World Day of War Orphans
January 7 – Mahayana New Year
8 January – African National Congress Foundation Day, Earth Rotation Day
9 January – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)
10 January – World Hindi Day
11 January – Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
12 January – National Youth Day
13 January- Lohri
14 January- Makar Sankranti, Shattila Ekadashi
15 January – Pongal, Indian Army Day, voting for BMC elections (Mumbai)
January 16 – National Startup Day, counting of votes for BMC elections
January 17 – Benjamin Franklin Day
18 January- Magh Amavasya
January 19 – Kokborok Day
January 20 – Penguin Awareness Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
21 January – Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya Foundation Day
January 22 – Weed Free Wednesday
23 January-Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti
24 January – National Girl Child Day, International Education Day
25 January – National Voters’ Day, National Tourism Day
26 January – Republic Day, International Customs Day
27 January – National Geographic Day
28 January – Lala Lajpat Rai’s birth anniversary, KM Cariappa’s birth anniversary
29 January – Jaya Ekadashi, Indian Newspaper Day
30 January – Martyr’s Day / Martyr’s Day, World Leprosy Day
January 31 – International Zebra Day
January represents a powerful blend of tradition, patriotism and global awareness. From celebrating harvest festivals and religious occasions to celebrating days dedicated to youth, education, democracy and social responsibility, this month sets the tone for the year ahead.
(This article is for your general information only. Zee News does not confirm its accuracy or reliability.)