Quick Answer: Are Banks Closed on Diwali 2026?
Yes, banks are closed on Diwali in 2026. In 2026, main Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday, November 8, so every bank in India is shut by default. However, multiple states also mandate bank branch closures on Monday, November 9, for Govardhan Puja, and some extend closures to Tuesday or Wednesday for Bhai Dooj.
The 2026 Diwali Banking Calendar Reality
Diwali is not a single-day event. It spans a five-day festive sequence starting from Dhanteras and finishing with Bhai Dooj. Because Diwali 2026 occurs on a Sunday, the actual disruption to physical banking depends on which state you live in and which surrounding dates your local government designates as holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
According to official schedules published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), bank closures are divided into national holiday closures, state-specific religious observances, and standard weekend rules.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Branch Status | Key Affected Regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 6, 2026 | Friday | Dhanteras | Open | Normal operations nationwide. High footfall at gold and cash counters. |
| November 7, 2026 | Saturday | Narak Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali | Open in most states (Closed in Tamil Nadu) | This is the first Saturday of the month, which is an open working day for Indian banks. Tamil Nadu banks close because the state marks main Deepavali on this date. |
| November 8, 2026 | Sunday | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja / Kali Puja | Closed Nationwide | All commercial, cooperative, and private banks are closed across all states and union territories. |
| November 9, 2026 | Monday | Govardhan Puja / Balipratipada / New Year | Closed in select states | Bank branches close in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. Open in southern states. |
| November 10-11, 2026 | Tuesday - Wednesday | Bhai Dooj / Ningol Chakkouba | Closed in select states | Bank branches close in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, and Himachal Pradesh on either Tuesday or Wednesday based on local notifications. |
State-by-State Diwali Holiday Guide for 2026
Because the Reserve Bank of India grants state governments authority under the Negotiable Instruments Act to declare holidays, the Monday and Tuesday following Diwali see drastically different branch schedules. If you need physical banking services, look at your specific state below:
| State / Region | Saturday (Nov 7) | Sunday (Nov 8) | Monday (Nov 9) | Tuesday (Nov 10) / Wednesday (Nov 11) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Diwali) | Closed (Laxmi Puja / Balipratipada) | Closed / Open (Bhai Dooj observed regionally) |
| Gujarat | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Diwali) | Closed (Vikram Samvat New Year) | Closed (Bhai Bij) |
| Delhi (NCT) | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Diwali) | Open or restricted holiday | Open |
| Uttar Pradesh | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Diwali) | Closed (Govardhan Puja) | Closed (Bhai Dooj) |
| West Bengal | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Kali Puja) | Open | Closed (Bhatridwitiya) |
| Assam | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Diwali) | Open | Closed (Bhai Dooj) |
| Karnataka | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Deepavali) | Closed (Balipadyami) | Open |
| Tamil Nadu | Closed (Deepavali) | Closed (Sunday) | Open | Open |
| Kerala | Open (1st Sat) | Closed (Deepavali) | Open | Open |
What Stays Open and What Closes on Diwali?
While physical branches lock their doors, financial infrastructure keeps running behind the scenes. Here is how your daily banking tools function during Diwali 2026.
1. Digital Payments (UPI, IMPS, Net Banking)
Status: 100% Open and Operational. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) runs UPI on a 24x7x365 settlement network. You can send payments, settle restaurant bills, and buy festival gifts through Google Pay, PhonePe, and banking apps without pause. The Reserve Bank of India also operates NEFT and RTGS round the clock every day of the year.
2. Bank ATMs and Cash Deposit Kiosks
Status: Open, but monitor cash reserves. Standalone automated teller machines (ATMs) and cash recycling kiosks located inside e-lobbies remain open throughout Sunday, November 8, and the surrounding holidays. However, cash delivery vans do not run on festive bank holidays. High withdrawal activity over Dhanteras and Diwali weekend often empties neighbourhood ATMs quickly. Plan to withdraw needed paper currency by Friday, November 6.
3. Post Offices and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
Status: Closed on Sunday, November 8. The Department of Posts classifies Diwali as a compulsory nationwide holiday. According to the official India Post Holidays List, administrative offices, physical delivery, and post office counters will not operate on Sunday, November 8. Digital IPPB services via the mobile application will continue uninterrupted.
4. Central and State Government Offices
Status: Closed. Central government administrative offices treat Diwali (Deepavali) as one of the 14 mandatory gazetted public holidays each year. Because the date is a Sunday, administrative offices are closed anyway.
5. Stock Markets (BSE and NSE)
Status: Closed for normal trade, open for Muhurat Trading. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) close for regular commercial trading on Diwali. However, stock exchanges conduct a special one-hour evening trading session known as Muhurat Trading on Sunday evening to celebrate the new financial year.
Do Private Banks Stay Open When PSU Banks Close?
A frequent search query asks whether private institutions like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, or Axis Bank stay open when State Bank of India or Punjab National Bank shut down. The answer is clear: no. Private commercial banks adhere to the same Negotiable Instruments Act regulations issued by the Reserve Bank of India. If your state government and regional RBI branch declare a holiday on November 8 or November 9, private bank counters remain closed just like public bank counters.
Practical Banking Checklist for Diwali 2026
- Withdraw festival cash early: Take out cash by Friday afternoon (November 6) to avoid empty ATMs during the weekend rush.
- Hold off on clearing physical cheques: The Cheque Truncation System (CTS) rests on Sundays and bank holidays. A cheque deposited on Saturday afternoon or Monday in closed states will not settle until Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Use instant digital routes: For urgent fund transfers, rely on UPI, IMPS, or NEFT, which process immediately regardless of bank calendar closures.
- Check local branch notices: If you live in Maharashtra, Gujarat, or Karnataka, check whether your local branch closes on Monday, November 9, or Tuesday, November 10.