Year Guide · Karnataka
Kannada Calendar 2026 ಕನ್ನಡ ಕ್ಯಾಲೆಂಡರ್
The Kannada calendar is lunisolar: months follow the Moon, and festival dates move against the Gregorian calendar each year. Here is everything it means for 2026: the new year, the months, and the date of every major festival.
Ugadi
March 19, 2026
Shaka 1948 begins · Parabhava Samvatsara
Lunisolar (Chandramana), Shalivahana Shaka
Karnataka
2026 at a glance
Adhik Jyeshtha — 2026 has a leap month
2026 carries an Adhik Masa (leap month): an extra, repeated Jyeshtha running roughly May 17 to June 15, 2026. That is why the festivals after it — Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Diwali — all fall noticeably later in 2026 than in 2025. Weddings and Griha Pravesh are traditionally avoided during the leap month. See Adhik Maas explained.
Kannada calendar 2026: what to know
In 2026, Ugadi falls on a Thursday (March 19). Set against 2027, this year's Moon-based festivals fall: Ugadi 19 days earlier, Ganesh Chaturthi 10 days later, Varamahalakshmi Vrata 8 days later. Fixed to the solar calendar or a civil date, these stay on (almost) the same day in both years: Makara Sankranti, Kannada Rajyotsava. The 11 dates listed below run from January to November 2026.
Kannada months in 2026
The twelve months of the Kannada year, in order.
| Month | Approx. Gregorian |
| Chaitra | Mar–Apr |
| Vaishakha | Apr–May |
| Jyeshtha | May–Jun |
| Ashadha | Jun–Jul |
| Shravana | Jul–Aug |
| Bhadrapada | Aug–Sep |
| Ashwayuja | Sep–Oct |
| Kartika | Oct–Nov |
| Margashira | Nov–Dec |
| Pushya | Dec–Jan |
| Magha | Jan–Feb |
| Phalguna | Feb–Mar |
Lunar months start on a new moon or full moon, so the exact Gregorian dates change every year. See how the months work.
Kannada festivals in 2026
Dates follow the Karnataka government holiday notification for 2026.
Makara Sankranti
Ugadi
Basava Jayanti
Varamahalakshmi Vrata
Ganesh Chaturthi
Mahanavami / Ayudha Puja
Vijayadashami (Mysuru Dasara)
Kannada Rajyotsava
Naraka Chaturdashi
Balipadyami / Deepavali
Kanakadasa Jayanti
Tithi-based festivals can shift by a day between Panchangs depending on local sunrise. For ceremony timing, confirm with your local Panchang or priest.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kannada New Year in 2026?
Ugadi falls on March 19, 2026. Shaka 1948 begins · Parabhava Samvatsara.
What day of the week is Ugadi 2026?
Ugadi 2026 falls on a Thursday, March 19, 2026.
What is the Samvatsara name for the Kannada year?
Kannada and Telugu calendars name each year from the 60-year Samvatsara cycle. The year starting at Ugadi 2026 is Parabhava; the one starting at Ugadi 2027 is Plavanga. See the full Samvatsara list.
More Kannada calendar years
See the Kannada Calendar 2027, or the Kannada Calendar guide for how the system works. For the pan-Indian picture, see Hindu Calendar 2026.
Other regional calendars for 2026
Assamese 2026 · Bengali 2026 · Gujarati 2026 · Hindi 2026 · Malayalam 2026 · Marathi 2026 · Odia 2026 · Punjabi 2026 · Tamil 2026 · Telugu 2026