Quick answer: In 2026 the big autumn festivals arrive about three weeks later than in 2025, because the year has an extra lunar month (Adhika Jyeshtha). Sharad Navratri runs 11–19 October, Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is Tuesday 20 October, Sharad Purnima is 25 October and Karwa Chauth is 29 October in India (28 October in the USA and Canada). Diwali follows on Sunday 8 November.

This calendar lists every major Hindu festival and vrat in October 2026 with the date in India and, where it differs, the date for NRIs in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, UAE and Singapore. All dates follow Drik Panchang for New Delhi, with diaspora dates calculated for each country.

October 2026 Hindu Festival Calendar at a Glance

Date (India)DayFestival / VratNRI note
Oct 6TueIndira EkadashiSame date worldwide
Oct 10SatSarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya) — end of Pitru PakshaUSA & Canada: Fri Oct 9
Oct 11SunSharad Navratri begins — GhatasthapanaSame date worldwide
Oct 16–17Fri–SatSaraswati Avahan & Saraswati Puja (Navratri)Follow your local panchang
Oct 17SatTula Sankranti — Sun enters Libra (sidereal)Same date worldwide
Oct 17–21Sat–WedDurga Puja, Kolkata — Maha Shashthi (17) to Sindoor Khela (21)Diaspora pujas usually run the nearest weekend
Oct 19MonDurga Ashtami & Maha Navami (Ayudha Puja)USA, Canada, UK: Ashtami on Sun Oct 18
Oct 20TueDussehra / VijayadashamiEastern Australia & NZ: Wed Oct 21
Oct 21WedMysore Dasara — Jamboo SavariMysuru follows the sunrise tithi
Oct 22ThuPapankusha EkadashiUSA: Wed Oct 21
Oct 25SunSharad Purnima / Kojagari Lakshmi PujaUSA: Sun Oct 25
Oct 26MonValmiki Jayanti (Ashwina Purnima)USA: Sun Oct 25
Oct 29ThuKarwa Chauth (with Sankashti Chaturthi)USA & Canada: Wed Oct 28

Sharad Navratri 2026 — 11 to 19 October

The nine nights of Devi worship begin with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October and end with Maha Navami on Monday 19 October. Because one tithi is skipped this year, Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall on the same day in India (19 October), while the USA, Canada and the UK keep Ashtami on Sunday 18 October. Garba and Dandiya nights abroad cluster on the weekends of 10–11 and 16–18 October. Day-by-day colours, Devi forms and NRI puja steps: Navratri 2026 complete NRI guide. For the ten-day journey to Vijayadashami, see Sharad Navratri to Dussehra 2026.

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Dussehra / Vijayadashami — Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Vijayadashami marks Rama’s victory over Ravana and Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, with Ravana Dahan, Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Vidyarambham. The Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 pm IST on 20 October to 2:11 pm IST on 21 October, so most of India celebrates on the 20th. Mysuru, which follows the tithi at sunrise, holds its Jamboo Savari procession on Wednesday 21 October, and eastern Australia also observes Dussehra on the 21st. Muhurat, rituals and city timings: Dussehra 2026 complete guide.

Sharad Purnima and Valmiki Jayanti — 25 and 26 October 2026

Sharad Purnima, the night of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, falls on Sunday 25 October: families keep vigil and leave kheer in the moonlight. Ashwina Purnima continues into Monday 26 October in India, the day Valmiki Jayanti honours the poet of the Ramayana. In the USA both are observed on Sunday 25 October. Guides: Sharad Purnima 2026 and Valmiki Jayanti 2026.

Karwa Chauth — Thursday, 29 October 2026 (Wednesday 28 October in the USA)

Married women keep a nirjala fast from sunrise until the moon is sighted. In India Karwa Chauth is on Thursday 29 October; in the USA and Canada the vrat falls on Wednesday 28 October, so moonrise there is that evening. City-wise moonrise times: Karwa Chauth 2026.

Tula Sankranti — Saturday, 17 October 2026

The Sun enters sidereal Libra on 17 October. In Tamil Nadu this begins the month of Aippasi; it is also observed as Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery in Karnataka. Note that in 2026 Karthika Masam does not begin in October: in the Telugu and Kannada (amanta) calendar it starts on 10 November, the day after Diwali, and runs to 8 December. See Karthika Masam 2026.

Coming up in early November 2026

  • Ahoi Ashtami — Sunday 1 November (guide)
  • Dhanteras — Friday 6 November (guide)
  • Diwali / Lakshmi Puja — Sunday 8 November (Diwali 2026)
  • Govardhan Puja — Tuesday 10 November in India (Monday 9 November in the USA, UK, Canada and UAE)
  • Bhai Dooj — Wednesday 11 November in India (Tuesday 10 November in the USA, UK, Canada and UAE)
  • Full list: November 2026 Hindu festival calendar

NRI tips for October 2026

  • Check the country, not just the date: Ashtami, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth and Govardhan Puja shift by a day between India, the Americas and Australia this year. Use your local panchang or the NRI notes above.
  • Plan around weekends: Navratri opens on a Sunday and Diwali falls on a Sunday, so the two biggest celebrations need little time off work.
  • Livestreams: Mysore Dasara (21 October), Delhi Ramleela Ravana Dahan (20 October) and Kolkata Durga Puja pandals are widely streamed.
  • Sharad Purnima kheer: a moonlit balcony or window ledge for 30 minutes works in any city.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra in 2026?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in India, the USA, Canada, the UK, the UAE and Singapore. Eastern Australia and New Zealand observe it on Wednesday, 21 October, and Mysuru’s Jamboo Savari is also on the 21st.

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When does Navratri 2026 start and end?

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana and ends with Maha Navami on Monday, 19 October, followed by Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October.

Why are festivals so late in 2026?

2026 has an extra lunar month, Adhika Jyeshtha (17 May to 15 June). Every lunar festival after it — from Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami to Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali — falls roughly 19 days later than in 2025.

When is Karwa Chauth 2026?

Karwa Chauth is on Thursday, 29 October 2026 in India and Wednesday, 28 October 2026 in the USA and Canada.

Is Karthika Masam in October 2026?

No. In 2026 Karthika Masam (Telugu/Kannada calendar) runs from 10 November to 8 December, after Diwali. Karthika Purnima is on 24 November.

Dates follow Drik Panchang for New Delhi (India) and for each listed country; local temples may differ by a day. Last checked 4 October 2026.