Holiday Guide for Kerala in 2026

Kerala, often called “God’s Own Country,” is well known for its unique blend of Hindu, Christian, and Muslim traditions.

Because of this, Kerala offers a rich and diverse holiday calendar comprising national, religious and state holidays like Onam and Vishu. 

Thus, it is important for the HR team, businesses, and employees to recognize these holidays for workforce planning, payroll compliance, and leave management. 

This complete guide will give you an overview of: 

•  Kerala’s official public holidays in 2026
• Kerala’s official bank holidays in 2026
• Optional holidays for diverse groups of employees 
• Payroll-relevant dates to keep an eye on 

Let’s get started.

What are the Official Public Holidays in Kerala in 2026?

The Government of Kerala has officially notified a comprehensive list of holidays for 2026, including national holidays, state-specific festivals, and religious observances. The Kerala Gazette notification (G.O. (P) No. 15/2025/GAD, Dated 31st October 2025) declares 22 gazetted public holidays for the calendar year 2026.

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

*Islamic holidays are subject to lunar sightings and may shift by a day.

The following festivals/occasions fall on Sundays and may be avoided from the gazetted holiday list. Banks will observe holidays on these dates if they coincide with regular Sunday closures.

• 15-02-2026 (Sunday) – Maha Sivaratri
• 05-04-2026 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
• 08-11-2026 (Sunday) – Deepavali

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. Pay special attention to the lunar-dependent Islamic holidays and monitor government announcements for any date changes. 

The annual bank closing (01-04-2026) is critical for financial planning—coordinate with your finance team to ensure timely payroll processing.

What are the Bank Holidays in Kerala in 2026?

Bank holidays in Kerala include all the official public holidays listed above, plus all 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, as mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 

Here’s the list of Bank Holidays in Kerala for 2026:

Note: This list is in line with RBI guidelines and Kerala government notifications. All second and fourth Saturdays of each month are observed as bank holidays.

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. 

The extended Onam period (25-28 August) requires strategic workforce planning, as employees typically seek extended leaves during this major festival

What are the Optional (Restricted) Holidays in Kerala in 2026?

Restricted holidays allow government, quasi-government, and public sector undertaking employees from specific communities to observe important festivals relevant to their traditions. These holidays are community-specific and are permitted based on employee eligibility criteria.

Here’s the list of Restricted Holidays in Kerala for 2026:

Note: Employees may select a limited number of restricted holidays as per company policy and local notifications.

Payroll-Sensitive Dates to Watch Out for HR Professionals

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

Critical HR Planning Tips

• Plan payroll processes 7 to 10 days in advance to account for bank closures and holiday clusters.
• Monitor government announcements for any changes in Islamic holiday dates (Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha, Muharram, Milad-i-Sheriff).
• Mark 01-04-2026 (annual bank closing) as a critical date in your financial planning calendar.
• For the extended Onam period (25 –28 August), implement staggered leave approval systems to maintain adequate staffing.
• Ensure backup resources are available for critical functions during major festival periods.
• Update your HRMS with accurate holiday calendars and bank closure dates to prevent processing errors.
• Coordinate with the finance team about the impact of lunar-dependent festivals on payroll cycles.