Bank Holidays October 2026: RBI Releases List, Banks Closed For 16 Days

The Reserve Bank of India has released the bank holiday calendar for October 2026, indicating that banks will remain closed for 16 days due to major festivals like Dussehra and Durga Puja.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially released the bank holiday calendar for the month of October 2026. According to the schedule, banks across various states in India will remain closed for a total of 16 days during this month. This extensive list of holidays is primarily due to a series of major national and regional festivals, including Navratri, Dussehra, Chhath Puja, and Durga Puja. Customers are advised to plan their financial activities in advance to avoid any inconvenience during this festive season.

Saturday Holiday Update for October 2026

A significant update regarding Saturday holidays has also emerged for October 2026. While there is usually a standard rule for bank holidays on Saturdays, this particular month presents a unique situation. Out of the 5 Saturdays in October 2026, banks will remain closed on 4 of them. While the second and fourth Saturdays are official holidays across the country, the third and fifth Saturdays will also see closures in specific regions due to falling festivals. Only the first Saturday of the month remains a full working day for banks nationwide, unless otherwise specified by local RBI regional offices.

Comprehensive List of Bank Holidays in October 2026

The following is the detailed breakdown of the days when physical banking operations will be suspended in various parts of India:

October 2, 2026: Banks will be closed across all states and union territories in India on account of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. This is a national holiday.
October 4, 2026: Banks will remain closed nationwide as it is a Sunday.
October 10, 2026: Banks are closed in Karnataka and Kolkata due to Mahalaya Amavasye. Additionally, being the second Saturday of the month, banks will be closed across the entire country.
October 11, 2026: Banks will remain closed nationwide as it is a Sunday.
October 17, 2026: Banks in Tripura will be closed to celebrate Maha Saptami.
October 18, 2026: Banks will remain closed nationwide as it is a Sunday.
October 19, 2026: Banks will be closed in Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya for Dussehra (Maha Ashtami)/Maha Navami/Ayudha Puja/Durga Puja/Vijaya Dashami/Durga Ashtami.
October 20, 2026: Banks will be closed in Tripura, Gujarat, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh for Dussehra/Vijaya Dashami/Maha Navami/Ayudha Puja. Banks are closed in almost all states except Manipur and Sikkim.
October 21, 2026: Banks will be closed in Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Kerala, and West Bengal for Vijaya Dashami/Durga Puja (Dashain).
October 22, 2026: Banks in Sikkim will remain closed for Durga Puja (Dashain) celebrations.
October 23, 2026: Banks in Sikkim will remain closed for Durga Puja (Dashain) celebrations.
October 24, 2026: Banks will be closed across the country as it is the fourth Saturday of the month.
October 25, 2026: Banks will remain closed nationwide as it is a Sunday.
October 26, 2026: Banks will be closed in Tripura, Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Himachal Pradesh for Lakshmi Puja/Accession Day/Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti.
October 29, 2026: Banks in Himachal Pradesh will be closed on account of Karwa Chauth.
October 31, 2026: Banks in Gujarat will be closed due to the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Availability of Digital Banking Services

Despite the long list of physical bank closures, customers need not worry about their urgent financial transactions. The RBI and commercial banks have ensured that digital banking services will remain fully operational throughout the month. Customers can use online banking, mobile applications, and UPI-based payment systems from the comfort of their homes. Services such as fund transfers, bill payments, and account management can be performed instantly even on bank holidays. ATMs will also continue to provide cash withdrawal services, although physical branch visits won't be possible on the specified dates.