Holi — the festival of colours — occurs in early march 2026, and many schools plan holidays around it. However, exact holiday dates vary by state and school calendar, leading to confusion among parents and students.
🎉 Holi and Holika Dahan Dates in 2026
Before getting into school holidays, here’s the basic festival timing:
- Holika Dahan (bonfire ritual) in 2026 will be on March 3, Tuesday.
- Holi (main festival day of colours) will be celebrated on March 4, Wednesday.
So holi falls on march 4, with Holika Dahan the day before.
🏫 School Holiday Situation — 3 march or 4 March?
📌 Why There’s Confusion
Many parents and students are wondering: “Is school holiday on march 3 or march 4?” The answer depends on your school’s official academic calendar and state holiday list, because the government holiday list doesn’t automatically dictate school closures.
📍 March 4 — Most Schools Are Closed
Since Holi is on march 4, 2026 (Wednesday), this date is officially recognised as a school holiday in many states and school calendars.
📍 March 3 — Not Always a Holiday
- March 3 (Holika Dahan day) is not automatically a school holiday everywhere.
- In some states like Bihar, schools have declared holidays on both march 3 and march 4, giving students two days off.
- In states like Uttar Pradesh, government holidays may also include march 2, 3, and 4 (for broader festivities), which can translate into school closures depending on the local academic calendar.
📝 State‑wise Variations
Different states may officially declare additional holiday dates for holi (like 2, 3, or even 4 March), but school closures are determined by each state’s education department or the individual school board.
📘 Typical school Calendar Listings
Examples from real academic calendars show:
✔ March 4, 2026 — holi Holiday listed as a school holiday.
✔ Some schools also list March 3 and 4 as holi holidays in their annual holiday list.
But calendars differ by school and region, so checking the specific school notice is important.
🧑🎓 How to Know Your Exact school Holiday Dates
Since this year’s holi holiday timings vary locally:
📌 Check Your school Notice
- Schools usually send whatsapp notifications or circulars with confirmed holiday dates.
📌 Look at the Academic Calendar
- Your school’s official calendar (released at the start of the year) will list Holi holiday dates clearly.
📌 State education Board Notifications
- State boards sometimes publish official holiday lists that schools follow.
🎈 Summary — school Holidays for holi 2026
Date
Festival
Likely school Holiday?
March 3, 2026
Holika Dahan
Not guaranteed everywhere (state/board dependent)
March 4, 2026
Holi festival Day
Most schools officially closed
🏁 Final Tip
Because holiday policies vary across states and school boards, the best way to confirm is to check your school’s official notice board or whatsapp group — that’s where the actual school holiday dates will be posted for holi 2026.
Disclaimer:
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