Diwali 2026: Dates, Traditions and Where to See the Festival of Lights

Diwali 2026 runs from 6 to 10 November. Learn the dates, Lakshmi Puja timing, traditions and the best places to celebrate in India and abroad

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Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, begins this week. In 2026 the main day of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, falls on Sunday 8 November, and the five-day festival runs from Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November, according to Farmers' Almanac and MyPanchang. For travellers heading to India or to cities with large Indian communities, this is the moment when streets, riverbanks and temples are lit with thousands of oil lamps.

Below is what is known about the Diwali 2026 dates, the meaning of the festival, the best places to celebrate it and what to check before a trip.

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When is Diwali 2026 and how long does it last?

Diwali falls on the new moon (amavasya) of the month of Kartik, so its date moves each year between mid-October and mid-November, Farmers' Almanac explains. Depending on the region, the festival lasts five or six days, according to Wikipedia.

The Diwali 2026 schedule, as given by Wikipedia:

• 6 November — Dhanteras;
• 7 November — Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali);
• 8 November — Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja;
• 9 November — Govardhan Puja;
• 10 November — Bhai Dooj.

Sources differ on the last day: Wikipedia and Farmers' Almanac put Bhai Dooj on 10 November, while the astrology site astrojap.in gives 11 November and a range of 6–11 November.

According to Shubh Panchang, the auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja on 8 November is roughly 18:29–20:29, and the Pradosh Kaal period runs from 18:01 to 20:40. The next Diwali dates are 29 October 2027 and 17 October 2028.

Where is Diwali a public holiday?

The main day of Diwali is an official holiday in India, Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, Wikipedia notes. Shops and offices there may close or change their hours.

What does Diwali mean and how is it celebrated?

On the night of Lakshmi Puja the goddess Lakshmi is believed to walk the earth. Before the festival families clean and decorate their homes and draw rangoli patterns at the doorstep.

In Bengal, Kali Puja is held on the same night as Diwali. The celebration in Barasat is described as the largest in West Bengal, and Bhagalpur is also known for its festivities, with performances and fireworks.

In Nepal the festival is called Tihar (Deepawali). It lasts five days and this year runs from 7 to 11 November. On these days people honour the crow, the dog, the cow and the ox, as well as Lakshmi, and the last day, Bhai Tika, is dedicated to the bond between brothers and sisters.

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Where to celebrate Diwali 2026 in India?

Ayodhya: Deepotsav on the Saryu

Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh hosts Deepotsav, the best-known Diwali lamp festival. Its 2026 date differs between sources: EaseMyTrip, citing the state government's preparations review of 23 October, names 7 November (Chhoti Diwali) and the 10th edition; Tripprof, citing Incredible India, gives 6 November; another tourism site gives 8 November.

The programme published by the unofficial site ayodhyatourism.online:

• 6 November — Shobha Yatra procession;
• 7 November — more than 2.8 million (28 lakh) diyas lit at Ram ki Paidi, Saryu Maha Aarti, a holographic projection and a show of more than 500 drones;
• 8 November — illumination of the Ram Janmabhoomi shrine and fireworks across the city.

In 2025 Ayodhya set a Guinness record with 2,617,215 diyas on 56 ghats, counted by drones, according to EaseMyTrip. EaseMyTrip advises arriving a day early, before 6 November. The city is served by Maharishi Valmiki Airport, with Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Varanasi as alternatives.

Varanasi and Jaipur

Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali on 24 November 2026. It is not Diwali itself but a separate festival of lights on the ghats of the Ganges. Tripprof also lists Jaipur among the cities worth visiting during Diwali.

Where to celebrate Diwali outside India?

• Singapore — lights in Little India have been on every evening since 3 October, from 19:00 to midnight; 8 November is a public holiday and 9 November an extra day off in lieu, according to Pixidia.
• Leicester, United Kingdom — celebrations on 8 November, including a family day at Cossington Recreation Ground; Visit Leicester calls them among the largest in the world outside India.
• Dubai, UAE — Global Village is named by Tripprof as one of the places to mark Diwali; check the date on the venue's site.

What do travellers need to enter India for Diwali?

The following details come from secondary sources, not official ones, so check them on the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in, where e-Visa applications are filed.

• e-Tourist visa options: 30 days with double entry, 1 year or 5 years with multiple entry; total stay is limited to 180 days per calendar year (PlanMyOffbeat).
• Fees reported by VisaVerge in an older article: $10 for a 30-day visa in April–June, $25 in July–March, $40 for a one-year visa.
• Timing varies by source: at least 4 days before arrival and no earlier than 120 days; 4–30 days; or 15–20 days as advised by indiaevisa.us.
• Documents: printed ETA, original passport valid for at least 6 months, a square JPEG photo without glasses, itinerary and accommodation details.
• Entry only via designated airports (33 or 32, depending on the source) and seaports.
• Pakistani passport holders and people of Pakistani origin, as well as holders of diplomatic and official passports, cannot use the e-Visa; every traveller, including children, applies separately; the e-Visa cannot be extended or converted.

Since 1 April 2026 all foreigners and OCI holders must fill in a digital E-Arrival Card before departure, Lexology reports. Read our guide on how to fill out the India e-Arrival Card.

Crowded ghats, fireworks and busy flights make Diwali a trip where a Travel insurance policy is worth having. Buy your policy online before the festival begins.

We remind you! In our previous article, we wrote about light festivals in Germany this autumn and winter and where to see them.

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