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Ladakh

Holiday Guide for Ladakh in 2026

Ladakh’s dramatic landscapes are matched by a distinct holiday framework shaped by national observances, Islamic festivals, and deeply rooted Buddhist traditions. 

For HR teams operating in Leh, Kargil, or district-specific locations, understanding what applies where is critical for payroll accuracy, leave planning, and statutory compliance. 

This guide decodes the official 2026 Ladakh holiday notification into simple, actionable tables. 

Official Public Holidays in Ladakh 2026

These holidays apply across the entire Union Territory of Ladakh and are mandatory for all government offices and institutions. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
26 January 2026  Monday  Republic Day 
04 March 2026  Wednesday  Holi 
21 March 2026*  Saturday  Nauroz 
21 March 2026*  Saturday  Eid-ul-Fitr 
14 April 2026  Tuesday  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Birthday 
01 May 2026  Friday  Buddha Purnima 
27 May 2026*  Wednesday  Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) 
26 June 2026*  Friday  Ashoora (Muharram) 
15 August 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
26 August 2026*  Wednesday  Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi 
02 October 2026  Friday  Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday 
20 October 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra 
08 November 2026  Sunday  Diwali (Deepavali) 
24 November 2026  Tuesday  Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday 
09 December 2026  Wednesday  Losar 
25 December 2026  Friday  Christmas Day 

Local (District-Specific Holidays in Ladakh in 2026)

These holidays apply only to specific districts or sub-divisions, not the entire UT. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
16 February 2026  Monday  Mela Dosmochey (Leh District & Zanskar only) 
04 June 2026*  Thursday  Eid-e-Ghadeer (Kargil District only) 
24 June 2026  Wednesday  Hemis Tsechu (Leh District only) 
04 August 2026*  Tuesday  Chehlum / Youm-e-Arbaeen (Kargil District only) 

HR Action Tip: 

Employee work location determines eligibility. Always map holidays to the district, not headquarters.

Bank Holidays in Ladakh 2026

As previously mentioned, banks observe all the public holidays enumerated above. Additionally, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks are closed on all Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.  

Date  Day  Holiday 
26 January 2026  Monday  Republic Day 
16 February 2026  Monday  Mela Dosmochey (Leh & Zanskar only) 
04 March 2026  Wednesday  Holi 
21 March 2026*  Saturday  Nauroz 
21 March 2026*  Saturday  Eid-ul-Fitr 
01 April 2026  Wednesday  Annual Bank Closing 
14 April 2026  Tuesday  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Birthday 
01 May 2026  Friday  Buddha Purnima 
27 May 2026*  Wednesday  Eid-ul-Azha 
26 June 2026*  Friday  Ashoora 
04 August 2026*  Tuesday  Chehlum (Kargil only) 
15 August 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
26 August 2026*  Wednesday  Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi 
02 October 2026  Friday  Gandhi Jayanti 
20 October 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra 
08 November 2026  Sunday  Diwali 
24 November 2026  Tuesday  Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday 
09 December 2026  Wednesday  Losar 
25 December 2026  Friday  Christmas Day 
All Sundays     
2nd and 4th Saturdays     

Restricted Holidays in Ladakh in 2026

Employees may choose any two restricted holidays during the year. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
03 January 2026*  Saturday  Hazrat Ali’s Birthday 
05 January 2026  Monday  Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday 
13 January 2026  Tuesday  Lohri 
17 January 2026*  Saturday  Shab-i-Miraj 
15 February 2026  Sunday  Maha Shivratri 
03 March 2026  Tuesday  Tangpe Chongya 
13 March 2026*  Friday  Shab-i-Qadr 
19 March 2026  Thursday  1st Navratra 
20 March 2026*  Friday  Jumat-ul-Vida 
26 March 2026  Thursday  Ram Navami 
03 April 2026  Friday  Good Friday 
14 April 2026  Tuesday  Baisakhi / Vaisakhi 
04 June 2026*  Thursday  Eid-e-Ghadeer 
18 June 2026  Thursday  Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji 
05 July 2026  Sunday  Guru Hargobind Singh Ji’s Birthday 
28 August 2026  Friday  Raksha Bandhan 
28 August 2026*  Friday  Friday after Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi 
04 September 2026  Friday  Janmashtami 
20 October 2026  Tuesday  Mahanavami 

HR Action Tip: 

Collect restricted holiday choices early in the year to avoid staffing gaps during summer and festival clusters.

Payroll-Sensitive Dates to Watch Out for HR Professionals

Here are some of the holiday clusters that might impact payroll processing and other key HR activities: 

Date  Day  Reason 
21 March 2026  Saturday  Eid-ul-Fitr + Nauroz 
01 April 2026  Wednesday  Annual bank account closing 
27 May 2026  Wednesday  Eid-ul-Azha 
15 August 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
08 November 2026  Sunday  Diwali 
09 December 2026  Wednesday  Losar 

Got questions?

How many public holidays does Ladakh observe in 2026?

Ladakh observes 16 UT-wide public holidays in 2026, along with district-specific local holidays and restricted holidays employees can opt into.

Is Losar an official public holiday in Ladakh?

Yes. Losar is a gazetted public holiday in Ladakh, reflecting its strong Buddhist cultural identity.

How should HR manage payroll during multiple regional holidays?

Use district-wise holiday mapping and process payroll early during March, May, and December.

Do local holidays apply to all employees?

No. Local holidays apply only to the specified district or sub-division, such as Leh or Kargil.

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