2026 brings back last year's lost holidays: How to plan trips

This year comes with a welcome bonus for travellers and holiday planners, with a generous spread of holidays falling on Fridays and Mondays. That alignment makes it easier than ever to string together two or three day getaways. Last year, several key holidays, including Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi, Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi and Muharram, etc, were effectively lost, with as many as five holidays slipping away. It feels as though those missed breaks have been returned this year, with many of them conveniently landing on Fridays or Mondays. As a result, one can comfortably plan 10 to 12 short trips lasting two or three days over the course of the year.

What's in store for Onam?
The bigger attraction in 2026 is Onam, which falls on Wednesday, August 26. This year offers the rare chance to plan an extended ten-day Onam break. By the time schools close for the festival, setting out on a Saturday evening gives you a ready-made long weekend. While office goers may need to report on Monday, even that hurdle can be managed with a day’s adjustment. With Uthradam on Tuesday, Thiruvonam on Wednesday, the third Onam the following day and Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi right after, the holidays flow seamlessly. Add the Friday that follows and the weekend, and Onam stretches into a complete ten-day festive break.

What are puja holidays like?
The same advantage applies to the Puja holidays as well, with the Poojaveppu ceremony falling on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 20, Mahanavami, and 21, Vijayadasami). Last time, the Puja holidays stretched to three days, with the government extending the break by declaring the preceding working day a holiday. Since a similar pattern is likely this time too, it opens up the possibility of a neat five-day trip. If one sets out on a Saturday, the break can stretch across Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a return on Thursday.

January's holidays
January offers room for at least two trips. Mannam Jayanthi falls on Monday, January 2, making it easy to plan a two or three-day getaway by clubbing it with the weekend. Likewise, the Republic Day on January 26 also falls on a Monday, allowing another comfortable three-day travel plan. A late departure on Friday and a return by Monday night or Tuesday morning would be just enough to make the most of the break.

The Easter holidays 
The Easter (April 5, Sunday) holiday comes with a special advantage this year. With Maundy Thursday (April 2) included, the break stretches to a full five days, running conveniently from Thursday to Sunday to suit a short getaway. May 1, falling on a Friday, offers yet another chance for a quick three-day trip without any adjustments. August 15, however, lands on a Saturday. The Onam holidays run from August 25 to 28, creating another ideal travel window.

In September, one of the holidays missed last year, Sree Krishna Jayanti, falls on a Friday, creating the perfect opportunity for a long weekend trip from Friday to Monday. Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi follows on Monday, September 21, allowing for another two- or three-day getaway. Another previously missed holiday, October 2, also falls on a Friday this year, ideal for a short three-day escape. The Puja holidays on October 20 and 21 further open the door to a five-day travel plan.

Among the major holidays, only Diwali and Mahashivaratri festivals fall on a Sunday this year. Still, 2026 offers plenty of convenient breaks for planning longer trips. With just two holidays effectively `lost,' the year promises to be slightly more travel-friendly compared to 2025.