School Holidays in October 2026: Check State-Wise School Closure Dates and Latest Updates

School Holidays October 2026: School students in India can expect several holidays in October 2026 as the month includes Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra and state-specific festive holidays. The exact number of school holidays, however, will vary depending on the state education department, school board and individual school calendar.

According to the 2026 holiday calendars, Gandhi Jayanti will be observed on October 2, while Dussehra/Vijayadashami falls on October 20. Several schools may also observe extended autumn or Dussehra breaks around these dates. 

Students and parents should note that a festival being listed as a public or gazetted holiday does not automatically mean that every school will remain closed for additional days. The final school closure dates should be checked against the respective state education department or school circular.

School Holidays in October 2026: Important Dates

October 2026 School Holidays: State-Wise Updates

The school holiday schedule is not uniform across India. State governments and education departments can prescribe additional holidays or longer festive breaks. Here are the key updates available for October 2026.

Delhi School Holidays October 2026

Schools in Delhi will observe Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and Dussehra on October 20, subject to the applicable Directorate of Education and individual school calendars. The central government holiday list for Delhi also includes October 26 and October 29 as restricted holidays. 

Parents and students in Delhi should check the school's academic calendar for any additional autumn or Dussehra vacation dates.

Uttar Pradesh School Holidays October 2026

In Uttar Pradesh, October 2 and October 20 are among the major holidays listed in the 2026 calendar. The Central Government holiday list for Uttar Pradesh also identifies Dussehra on October 20 as a gazetted holiday. 

The actual duration of the Dussehra break for schools can differ according to the state education department and individual school calendars.

Telangana School Holidays October 2026

Telangana has several important holidays in October. The Telangana State Calendar 2026 lists:

• October 2: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi
• October 18: Saddula Bathukamma
• October 19: Maharnavami
• October 20: Vijaya Dasami
• October 21: Following day of Vijaya Dasami
• October 26: Birthday of Hazrath Syed Mohd. Juvanpuri

West Bengal School Holidays October 2026

West Bengal's 2026 holiday calendar includes Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and Dussehra-related holidays around October 19 and 20. The official central-government holiday list for West Bengal also identifies October 19 as an additional Dussehra holiday and October 20 as Dussehra. 

Students should check the West Bengal school education department's academic calendar for the complete Durga Puja vacation, as school vacation periods can extend beyond individual public holidays.

Will Schools Be Closed for Dussehra 2026?

October 20, 2026 is Dussehra/Vijayadashami, but the duration of the school holiday will vary by state and school. Some institutions may remain closed only on the festival date, while others may provide a longer autumn or Dussehra break.

For example, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) holiday list for 2026 schedules an autumn break from October 15 to October 24, covering the Dussehra period. 

Diwali School Holidays 2026: Important Update

Students looking for Diwali school holidays in October 2026 should note that Diwali will not fall in October this year. Diwali/Deepavali is on November 8, 2026, according to the 2026 holiday calendar. 

As a result, schools that provide a Diwali vacation are likely to schedule the break in November rather than October, although the exact dates will depend on the state and individual school.