International days
New Year's Eve 2026 नव वर्ष की पूर्व संध्या
The Last Night of the Year
Thursday, 31 December 2026
New Year's Eve on 31 December is the last evening of the calendar year, when people across India gather to see off the old year and welcome the new one at midnight.
How the date is fixed: Fixed date: 31 December, the last day of the Gregorian calendar year
Why New Year's Eve is celebrated
New Year's Eve is a time to look back and look ahead. People review the year that is ending, thank friends and family, and plan resolutions for the months to come. In India it has become a popular evening of celebration, especially among young people in towns and cities.
History and story of New Year's Eve
The custom follows the Gregorian calendar, which starts the year on 1 January. Because of time zones, the new year reaches Pacific island nations such as Kiribati first and places such as American Samoa among the last. India, at five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich time, welcomes it well before Europe does.
How New Year's Eve is celebrated
People gather at homes, hotels, clubs and public squares for dinner, music and dance. At midnight they count down the last ten seconds, then cheer, hug and burst crackers. Many watch the televised celebrations, and some prefer a quiet evening of prayer. Several gurdwaras, temples and churches hold special midnight services or kirtans to begin the year with blessings.
In Uttarakhand, hill stations such as Mussoorie, Nainital and Auli fill up with tourists hoping for a snowy year end. Police usually issue traffic plans for the Dehradun to Mussoorie road and run checks against drunk driving, so visitors should plan their travel and hotel bookings early.
Important days and moments
- Evening celebrations (Thursday, 31 December 2026)
Dinners, parties and family get-togethers at homes, hotels and public places across the country. - Midnight countdown (11:59 pm to 12 midnight)
People count down the final seconds of the year, then greet one another as fireworks and music mark 1 January. - Watch night services (Late evening to midnight)
Churches, gurdwaras and temples hold prayers and kirtans so that devotees can enter the new year with blessings.
New Year's Eve across India
Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi host some of the biggest parties. In Kolkata, Park Street is lit up for the week from Christmas to the new year.
Other names and related festivals
- 31st Night
- Old Year's Night
- Year End
New Year's Day 1 Jan 2026
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year's Eve in 2026?
New Year's Eve falls on Thursday, 31 December 2026.
Is New Year's Eve a bank holiday?
New Year's Eve is not a bank holiday in any of the states covered here in 2026, so banks stay open unless the day is a Sunday or a second or fourth Saturday.
Where is New Year's Eve a restricted holiday?
New Year's Eve is a restricted (optional) holiday for state government employees in Goa in 2026: employees may take it off, but offices stay open.
Is New Year's Eve a central government holiday?
No. New Year's Eve is not a holiday for central government offices in 2026.
Is the stock market closed on New Year's Eve?
No. New Year's Eve is not a trading holiday on NSE and BSE in 2026.
What are the other names of New Year's Eve?
New Year's Eve is also known as 31st Night, Old Year's Night, Year End.
Is 31 December a holiday in India?
No. New Year's Eve is a normal working day. Celebrations mostly take place in the evening after work.
Which country celebrates the new year first?
Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean is among the first to enter the new year because of its position near the International Date Line.
What should visitors to Mussoorie note on New Year's Eve?
Expect heavy traffic and full hotels. Police often regulate vehicles on the hill road, so book stays early and follow local advisories.
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Holidays and festivals calendar: October and November 2026
Central government holidays for all of India and major festivals. For bank, state government and school holidays, open your state: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.
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Friday, 2 October Gandhi Jayanti Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom struggle and the voice of truth and non-violence. |
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Sunday, 11 October Sharad Navratri Sharad Navratri is the nine night autumn festival of the Goddess Durga, beginning with Ghatasthapana and leading up to Dussehra, with fasting, prayer, garba... |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
Saturday, 17 October Durga Puja Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura with grand pandals, dhak drums, prayers and feasts, especially in West Bengal and ea... |
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Tuesday, 20 October Dussehra Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil, recalling Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana and Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura. |
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Sunday, 8 November Diwali Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja, rows of diyas, sweets and family gatherings on the new moon... |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Sunday, 15 November Chhath Puja Chhath Puja is a four day festival of Bihar and eastern India in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising Sun while standing in water. |
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Tuesday, 24 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Prakash Purab, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, with prayers, nagar kirtans, langar and lit up gurdw... |
25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
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Public holiday Major festival Today
- Sat, 17 Oct
Durga Puja - Tue, 20 Oct
Dussehra - Sun, 8 Nov
Diwali - Sun, 15 Nov
Chhath Puja - Tue, 24 Nov
Guru Nanak Jayanti