Holiday Guide for Assam in 2026

Assam celebrates a wide range of holidays owing to its rich cultural heritage and diversity. For HR teams, staying on top of these state-notified days is essential to ensure timely payroll processing, leave planning, and compliance. 

This comprehensive guide gives you a breakdown of the following: 

• Assam’s official public holidays in 2025 
• Assam’s official bank holidays in 2025 
• Optional holidays for diverse employee groups 
• Payroll sensitive dates to keep a watch out for 

Let’s begin. 

What are the Official Public Holidays in Assam in 2026?

The Government of Assam has officially notified 35 holidays for 2026 through its General Administrative Department (GAD) via notification File No. e-221561/440 dated 17th November 2025. These include a list of national holidays, state-specific festivals, and other religious observances.  

Here is the list of Assam’s Public Holidays for 2026:

HR Action Tip: 

• Ensure these public holidays are reflected in your company’s leave calendar, HRMS, and payroll systems. 
• Communicate these in advance with employees to avoid confusion and maintain compliance.  

 What are the Bank Holidays in Assam in 2026?

Bank holidays in Assam generally align with the public holidays, in addition to it every second and fourth Saturdays of each month are also closed as mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 

Here’s the list of Bank Holidays in Assam for 2025:

Note: This list is in line with RBI guidelines and Assam government notifications.

HR Action Tip:

• Align salary disbursals, fund transfers, and reimbursement cycles in advance to avoid disruptions during bank closures. 
• Pay special attention to the annual bank account closing on 01-04-2026 and plan your payroll processing schedules accordingly. 
• Coordinate with your finance team to ensure timely employee payments during holiday clusters, especially during the Bohag Bihu (April) and Durga Puja (October) periods. 

What are the Optional Holidays in Assam in 2026?

Optional holidays provide flexibility for employees to observe specific days of cultural significance to their communities or religious beliefs. These are not mandatory holidays but are often accommodated by the HR team. 

Here’s a list of Optional (Restricted) Holidays in Assam in 2026:

Note: Ali Aye Ligang (18-02-2026) is a full holiday in 11 specific districts (Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli, Charaideo, and Biswanath) and a restricted holiday in other districts.

HR Action Tip:

• Implement a transparent system for restricted holiday applications to ensure fair distribution and prevent conflicts. 
• Maintain clear documentation of which employees have selected which holidays to avoid approval bottlenecks. 
• Consider the nature of work and staffing requirements when approving restricted holidays, especially during critical business periods.

Payroll-Sensitive Dates to Watch Out for HR Professionals

These holidays could impact payroll processing, bank operations, or compliance filing. 

Here’s a list of them: 

Critical HR Planning Tips

• Plan payroll processes 7 to 10 days advance to account for bank closures and holiday clusters.
• Communicate with finance teams about potential delays during lunar-dependent festive dates.
• Monitor government announcements for any changes in Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha dates through electronic/print media.
• Ensure backup resources are available for critical functions during high-holiday periods.
• Update your HRMS with accurate holiday calendars to prevent leave approval errors.
• For Bohag Bihu and Durga Pooja periods, stagger leave approvals to maintain adequate staffing.
• Flag the annual bank closing (01-04-2026) in your financial planning calendar.