Year Guide · Verified Dates
Hindu Calendar 2026
Everything the Hindu calendar means for 2026 — the lunisolar system behind it, all 12 months, every major festival date, this year's Adhik Maas (leap month), and the Panchanga that computes them, all in one place.
The Hindu calendar (Panchang) is a lunisolar system — its months follow the Moon's phases, while a periodic correction (an inserted leap month, Adhik Masa) keeps the whole calendar anchored to the solar year and its seasons. This is why Hindu festival dates shift by roughly 10–12 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar most years, occasionally jumping by a full month when a leap month falls between them — exactly what happens in 2026.
2026 corresponds to Vikram Samvat 2082–83 and Shaka Samvat 1947–48 — see Vikram Samvat and Shaka Samvat for what these year-counts mean and how they differ.
2026 special case
Adhik Jyeshtha — this year has a leap month
2026 carries an Adhik Masa (leap month) — an extra, repeated Jyeshtha running roughly May 17 to June 15, 2026, also called Purushottam Maas. This is why Raksha Bandhan (Aug 28) and Diwali (Nov 8) fall noticeably later this year than in 2025. Weddings and Griha Pravesh are traditionally avoided during an Adhik Masa; see Adhik Maas explained for why the leap month exists at all.
The 12 Hindu months
From Chaitra to Phalguna — each named after the Nakshatra the Moon was traditionally full in that month.
Chaitra
New Year begins; Ram Navami falls here.
Vaishakha
Named after the Vishakha Nakshatra.
Jyeshtha
The hottest month in much of India.
Ashadha
Guru Purnima falls here.
Shravana
Raksha Bandhan falls here.
Bhadrapada
Ganesh Chaturthi & Janmashtami fall here.
Ashwina
Navratri & Dussehra fall here.
Kartika
Diwali falls here.
Margashirsha
Krishna's favourite month, per the Gita.
Pausha
Named after the Pushya Nakshatra.
Magha
Vasant Panchami falls here.
Phalguna
Maha Shivaratri & Holi fall here.
Full guide to all 12 Hindu calendar months → · How the month system actually works →
Major Hindu festivals in 2026
Verified dates for New Delhi, India — cross-checked against multiple published Panchang sources.
Makar Sankranti
Vasant Panchami
Maha Shivaratri
Holi
Chaitra Navratri begins
Ram Navami
Hanuman Jayanti
Akshaya Tritiya
Adhik Jyeshtha begins
Guru Purnima
Raksha Bandhan
Janmashtami
Ganesh Chaturthi
Sharad Navratri begins
Dussehra
Dhanteras
Diwali
Bhai Dooj
Chhath Puja
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Bhai Dooj and a few Ekadashi/Purnima-linked dates can shift by a day on regional Panchangs depending on sunrise-tithi rules — always confirm with your local priest for ceremony timing.
The Panchanga: what computes these dates
Every Hindu calendar date is derived from the Panchanga ("five limbs") — five daily astronomical coordinates tracked since antiquity:
Tithi
The lunar day — 30 per month, based on the Moon-Sun angle.
Nakshatra
Which of 27 lunar mansions the Moon occupies.
Yoga
A combined Sun-Moon angular measure.
Karana
Half a Tithi — 11 recurring Karanas.
Vara
The weekday, each ruled by a Graha.
Full Panchanga explained → · See today's Hindu date → · Today's Tithi & this month's Tithi calendar →
Tithi, Paksha, and why festival dates move
Each lunar month splits into two Pakshas (fortnights): Shukla Paksha (waxing moon, ending at Purnima/full moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon, ending at Amavasya/new moon). Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi within a specific Paksha and month — Diwali, for instance, always falls on Kartika Amavasya, regardless of which Gregorian date that turns out to be in a given year.
From the Shop
Premium print-ready calendars
Our current print-ready PDF calendars cover 2027, laid out month by month in Sanskrit, Hindi, English and Tamil editions, in A3 or A4. From ₹99 — great for planning ahead once 2026 is underway.
Frequently asked questions
What Vikram Samvat and Shaka Samvat year is 2026?
2026 spans Vikram Samvat 2082–83 (changing at Chaitra, around March 19, 2026) and Shaka Samvat 1947–48. Use our Vikram Samvat calendar & converter to check any other year.
Why is there an extra month (Adhik Maas) in 2026?
A lunar year of 12 months runs about 354 days — roughly 11 days shorter than the 365-day solar year. Every 2–3 years, that gap adds up to a full extra lunar month, so the Panchang inserts a repeated month (Adhik Masa) to catch back up. In 2026 that's an extra Jyeshtha, from roughly May 17 to June 15, which is also why Raksha Bandhan and Diwali fall later this year than in 2025.
Why do Hindu calendar dates change every year on the Gregorian calendar?
Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar — its months follow the Moon while a leap month periodically re-syncs it to the solar year. This is why festival dates drift within a roughly month-wide window most years, and occasionally jump by nearly a full month right after a leap month like 2026's is inserted.
Is the Hindu calendar the same everywhere in India?
The core Panchanga principles are shared, but regional calendars differ in real ways — Tamil Nadu and Kerala use solar calendars with different month names, Gujarat's year starts at Diwali rather than Chaitra, and more. See our Hindu Calendar regional guide for the full picture.
Where can I get a printable Hindu calendar?
Our shop has premium print-ready PDF calendars in five languages. The current edition covers 2027 — ideal for planning your wall calendar ahead of the year.