Bakrid 2026 Holiday Shifted to 28th May: State-Wise Notification Roundup

Bakrid 2026 Holiday Shifted to 28th May: State-Wise Notification Roundup

Published: 26 May 2026

The holiday on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid / Eid-ul-Adha) for 2026 has been officially rescheduled across India. Originally notified for 27 May 2026 (Wednesday) in most government calendars, the holiday now falls on 28 May 2026 (Thursday), following confirmation of the moon sighting. Several central and state authorities issued fresh notifications in the days leading up to the festival to formalize the change.

Below is a consolidated summary of the orders issued by the central government, Gujarat, Kerala, and West Bengal.

Why the date changed

Bakrid is observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, and the exact Gregorian date depends on the sighting of the moon. While the Government of India had pencilled in 27 May 2026 in its annual list of holidays (circulated under O.M. No. 12/2/2023-JCA dated 3 July 2025), the actual sighting confirmed that Bakrid would be celebrated on 28 May 2026. This triggered a cascade of revised notifications across central and state administrations.

1. Central Government (Delhi / New Delhi)

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) issued Office Memorandum F. No. 12/3/2023-JCA dated 22 May 2023, signed by Director (JCA) Amit Pankaj.

Key points:

• The holiday for Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) has been shifted from 27 May 2026 to 28 May 2026 for all Central Government administrative offices in Delhi / New Delhi.

• For offices outside Delhi, the Central Government Employees Coordination Committees — or, where such committees are not functioning, the Head of Office — may decide the date based on the concerned State Government's decision.

The memorandum has been circulated to all ministries, constitutional bodies (UPSC, CVC, C&AG, Supreme Court, High Courts, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha Secretariats), the Prime Minister's Office, Central Administrative Tribunals, and the chief secretaries of all state governments.

2. Gujarat

The High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad issued Notification No. C.2101/2026 dated 25 May 2026, signed by the Registrar General, for publication in the Gujarat Government Gazette (Part-I, Central Section).

Key points:

• Thursday, 28 May 2026, has been declared a public holiday on account of Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri-Eid) for the High Court of Gujarat, the Courts of the District Judiciary in the State, and their offices.

• Wednesday, 27 May 2026, will be a working day, replacing the earlier scheduled holiday.

The notification has been forwarded to the Legal Department of the Government of Gujarat, the Advocate General, the Bar Council of Gujarat, the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association, all Principal District Judges, Family Courts, the Small Causes Court, and the Industrial Court, among others.

3. Kerala

The General Administration (Coordination) Department, Government of Kerala, issued G.O.(Rt) No. 2590/2026/GAD dated 24 May 2026, signed by Secretary K. Biju IAS.

Key points:

• Unlike Delhi and Gujarat, Kerala has retained 27 May 2026 as a holiday (as originally notified under G.O. (P) Nos. 14 and 15/2025/GAD dated 31 October 2025) and additionally declared 28 May 2026 (Thursday) as a holiday.

• The 28 May holiday applies to all government offices in Kerala, including:

  • All Public Sector Undertakings

  • All Educational Institutions (including professional colleges)

  • All institutions covered under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (i.e., banks and financial institutions)

Effectively, Kerala will observe a two-day holiday on 27 and 28 May 2026.

4. West Bengal

The Finance Department (Audit Branch), Government of West Bengal, issued Notification No. 1814-F(P2) dated 22 May 2026, signed by Additional Chief Secretary P. K. Mishra.

Key points:

• The earlier holidays notified for 26 May 2026 (Tuesday)—the day before Id-Ud-Zoha—and 27 May 2026 (Wednesday)—Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid)—stand cancelled.

• 28 May 2026 (Thursday) has been declared a public holiday under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid).

• Consequently, 26 May 2026 (Tuesday) and 27 May 2026 (Wednesday) will be working days for all offices, institutions, and establishments covered by the original notification.

West Bengal therefore swaps two earlier holidays for a single revised one on the actual day of the festival.

Quick comparison

Takeaway

The pattern is consistent: confirmation of the moon sighting pushed Bakrid from Wednesday, 27 May, to Thursday, 28 May 2026. Most administrations—including the Centre, Gujarat, and West Bengal—moved the holiday by a day and restored the originally notified date as a working day. Kerala is the outlier, choosing to keep 27 May as a holiday and add 28 May on top, giving residents and employees a longer break.

Employees, court officers, students, and banking customers in each jurisdiction should plan their week according to the notification applicable to them. Offices outside Delhi under the Central Government should specifically follow the decision of the State Government in which they are located, as directed in the DoPT memorandum.