Sri Lanka’s 2026 calendar brings together Buddhist Poya days, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Thai Pongal, Vesak, Eid, Deepavali, and Christmas into one busy, colourful year. This Sri Lanka Calendar 2026 guide lays out every public holiday, Poya day, and festival date, checked against Sri Lanka’s official Government Printing Department gazette, so you can plan ahead with confidence.
In short: Sri Lanka has 26 public and bank holidays and 13 Poya (full moon) holidays in 2026. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year falls on 13–14 April, Vesak Full Moon Poya Day is on 30 May, and Christmas falls on 25 December, a Friday, giving a long weekend to close out the year.
Whether you are Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, or Christian — or simply visiting the island — this calendar is built to be useful for you.
Sri Lanka Calendar 2026 at a Glance
| Quick Fact | 2026 Detail |
|---|---|
| Total public & bank holidays | 26 |
| Total Poya (full moon) holidays | 13 (12 regular + 1 special “Adhi” Poya) |
| Sinhala & Tamil New Year | 13–14 April 2026 |
| Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | 30 May 2026 |
| Independence Day | 4 February 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Deepavali | 8 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 (Friday) |
| Busiest holiday months | April and May (8 holidays between them) |
A small but interesting fact: January 1 is not an official public holiday in Sri Lanka. It is one of the few countries where offices open as usual on New Year’s Day, because the island’s own New Year — the Sinhala and Tamil New Year — is celebrated in April instead.
Sri Lanka Calendar 2026 PDF Free Download
You can now access monthly PDF files for the Sri Lanka Calendar 2026 directly below.
Public & Bank Holidays in Sri Lanka 2026 (Full List)
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 03 Jan | Saturday | Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day |
| 15 Jan | Thursday | Tamil Thai Pongal Day |
| 01 Feb | Sunday | Navam Full Moon Poya Day |
| 04 Feb | Wednesday | Independence Day |
| 15 Feb | Sunday | Maha Shivaratri Day |
| 02 Mar | Monday | Medin Full Moon Poya Day |
| 21 Mar | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramadan Festival Day)* |
| 01 Apr | Wednesday | Bak Full Moon Poya Day |
| 03 Apr | Friday | Good Friday |
| 13 Apr | Monday | Day Before Sinhala & Tamil New Year |
| 14 Apr | Tuesday | Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day |
| 01 May | Friday | Adhi Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| 01 May | Friday | International Labour Day |
| 28 May | Thursday | Eid al-Adha (Hajj Festival Day)* |
| 30 May | Saturday | Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| 31 May | Sunday | Day Following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| 29 Jun | Monday | Poson Full Moon Poya Day |
| 29 Jul | Wednesday | Esala Full Moon Poya Day |
| 26 Aug | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday)* |
| 27 Aug | Thursday | Nikini Full Moon Poya Day |
| 26 Sep | Saturday | Binara Full Moon Poya Day |
| 25 Oct | Sunday | Vap Full Moon Poya Day |
| 08 Nov | Sunday | Deepavali |
| 24 Nov | Tuesday | Il Full Moon Poya Day |
| 23 Dec | Wednesday | Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day |
| 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day |
Note: Dates marked with an asterisk (*) follow the lunar Hijri calendar and are confirmed only after the moon is officially sighted, so they can shift by a day. Always check the latest gazette closer to the date.
This list reflects the calendar released by Sri Lanka’s Government Printing Department. All Saturdays and Sundays are separately observed as bank holidays, on top of this list.
Full Moon Poya Days 2026 — Complete List
Poya Day marks the full moon in the Buddhist lunar calendar. Around 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, and every Poya carries its own name and its own story from the life of the Buddha or the history of Buddhism on the island. Workers are legally entitled to a paid day off on every Poya, and the sale of alcohol and meat is restricted from the day before until the Poya ends.
| Poya (Full Moon) | Date 2026 | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Duruthu | 03 Jan | Saturday |
| Navam | 01 Feb | Sunday |
| Medin | 02 Mar | Monday |
| Bak | 01 Apr | Wednesday |
| Adhi Vesak (special) | 01 May | Friday |
| Vesak | 30 May | Saturday |
| Poson | 29 Jun | Monday |
| Esala | 29 Jul | Wednesday |
| Nikini | 27 Aug | Thursday |
| Binara | 26 Sep | Saturday |
| Vap | 25 Oct | Sunday |
| Il | 24 Nov | Tuesday |
| Unduvap | 23 Dec | Wednesday |
Why Does Vesak 2026 Appear on Two Different Dates?
If you’ve seen an older calendar listing Vesak on May 1, here’s what happened. In 2026, two full moons fall within the same lunar month cycle — a rare event caused by how the lunar and solar calendars drift apart. The government’s original calendar marked May 1 as Vesak Poya and May 30 as an extra “Adhi Poson” Poya.
Sri Lanka’s senior Buddhist clergy, the Maha Sangha, pointed out that the correct astrological alignment (the Visakha Nekatha) for Vesak actually falls on May 30, not May 1. Following their request, the government officially moved Vesak Full Moon Poya Day to 30 May 2026, and May 1 was renamed Adhi Vesak Poya. Because Vesak fell on a Saturday, the following Sunday, 31 May, was also declared a public holiday, in line with past practice.
Sinhala & Tamil New Year 2026 (Aluth Avurudu / தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு)
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is Sri Lanka’s biggest shared celebration, marking the sun’s move from Meena Rashi (Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (Aries). Homes are cleaned, hearths are lit at exact auspicious moments, and families across both communities share milk rice, visit relatives, and play traditional Avurudu games.
In 2026, the New Year dawns on Tuesday, 14 April, at 9:32 AM. The auspicious times below (the Nekath) are released each year by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and followed by households across the island.
| New Year Ritual | Date & Time (2026) | Direction / Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Ritual herbal bath (Old Year) | 13 April, Monday | — |
| Nonagathaya (neutral period) | 14 April, 3:08 AM – 3:56 PM | Time for religious observance |
| New Year dawns | 14 April, 9:32 AM | — |
| Lighting the hearth & cooking milk rice | 14 April, 10:51 AM | Wear red, face South |
| Start work, transactions & first meal | 14 April, 12:06 PM | Wear red, face South |
| Anointing with oil | 15 April, 6:55 AM | Face East |
| First departure from home | 17 April, 5:38 AM | Face North |
| Leaving for regular work | 20 April, 6:27 AM or 6:50 AM | Face South or East |
| Planting trees | 23 April, 9:01 AM | Wear gold/yellow, face North |
Festivals & Religious Days for Every Community
Sri Lanka’s holiday calendar reflects its four major faiths. Here is what each celebrates in 2026.
Buddhist Festivals
Vesak (30 May) is the most sacred date on the Buddhist calendar, marking the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. Streets fill with lanterns, decorative thoranas (welcome arches), and free food stalls known as dansal. Poson (29 June) commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, celebrated with particular grandeur in Anuradhapura and Mihintale. The Esala Poya season (29 July) also brings the famous Kandy Esala Perahera, a procession of drummers, dancers, and decorated elephants honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Hindu & Tamil Festivals
Thai Pongal (15 January) is a harvest festival thanking the Sun God, marked by boiling fresh milk and rice until it overflows the pot — a symbol of abundance. Maha Shivaratri (15 February) is dedicated to Lord Shiva, observed with night-long prayer and fasting. Deepavali, the festival of lights, falls on 8 November and is celebrated with oil lamps, sweets, and family visits, especially in the Northern and Eastern provinces and in Colombo’s Tamil neighbourhoods.
Muslim Festivals
Eid-ul-Fitr (expected 21 March) marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month with prayers and family feasts. Eid al-Adha (expected 28 May) commemorates the spirit of sacrifice. Milad-un-Nabi (expected 26 August) celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. As these follow the lunar Hijri calendar, exact dates are confirmed only once the moon is sighted.
Christian Festivals
Good Friday (3 April) and Christmas Day (25 December) are the two official Christian holidays, observed with church services, family meals, and — around Christmas — carolling and decorated streets in Colombo, Negombo, and other coastal towns with large Catholic communities.
Daily Auspicious & Inauspicious Times
Sri Lankan and South Indian almanacs also track short daily windows believed to favour or disfavour starting new tasks, journeys, or transactions. These recur every day, but the exact clock times shift depending on the day of the week and your location, so treat the times below as an example rather than a fixed daily schedule — always check a same-day Panchangam for precise timings.
| Period | Example Time | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Yamagandam | 06:00 AM – 07:30 AM | Inauspicious |
| Amruthakalam (morning) | 07:30 AM – 09:00 AM | Auspicious |
| Gulikakalam | 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Inauspicious |
| Abhijith Muhurtham | 11:55 AM – 12:45 PM | Auspicious |
| Rahukalam | 01:30 PM – 03:00 PM | Inauspicious |
| Amruthakalam (evening) | 02:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Auspicious |
Month-by-Month Sri Lanka Calendar 2026
| Month | Tamil | Key Dates in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| January | ஜனவரி | Duruthu Poya (3rd), Thai Pongal (15th) |
| February | பிப்ரவரி | Navam Poya (1st), Independence Day (4th), Maha Shivaratri (15th) |
| March | மார்ச் | Medin Poya (2nd), Eid-ul-Fitr (21st, tentative) |
| April | ஏப்ரல் | Bak Poya (1st), Good Friday (3rd), Sinhala & Tamil New Year (13th–14th) |
| May | மே | Adhi Vesak Poya & Labour Day (1st), Eid al-Adha (28th, tentative), Vesak Poya (30th), Day After Vesak (31st) |
| June | ஜூன் | Poson Poya (29th) |
| July | ஜூலை | Esala Poya (29th) |
| August | ஆகஸ்ட் | Milad-un-Nabi (26th, tentative), Nikini Poya (27th) |
| September | செப்டம்பர் | Binara Poya (26th) |
| October | அக்டோபர் | Vap Poya (25th) |
| November | நவம்பர் | Deepavali (8th), Il Poya (24th) |
| December | டிசம்பர் | Unduvap Poya (23rd), Christmas Day (25th) |
Important International Days Observed in Sri Lanka
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| 08 Mar | International Women’s Day |
| 22 Mar | World Water Day |
| 07 Apr | World Health Day |
| 05 Jun | World Environment Day |
| 05 Oct | World Students’ Day |
| 16 Oct | World Food Day |
| 10 Dec | Human Rights Day |
Sri Lanka at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Commercial Capital | Colombo |
| Administrative Capital | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
| Official Languages | Sinhala, Tamil |
| Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) |
| National Flower | Blue Water Lily (Nil Manel) |
| National Animal | Sri Lankan Elephant |
| National Bird | Sri Lankan Junglefowl |
| Independence Day | 4 February 1948 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many public holidays are there in Sri Lanka in 2026?
Sri Lanka has 26 official public and bank holidays in 2026, including 13 Poya (full moon) days, national days, and festivals from the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian calendars.
Q2: When is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in 2026?
It falls on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, with the New Year dawning at 9:32 AM. 13 April is observed as the day before the New Year.
Q3: When is Vesak Full Moon Poya Day in 2026?
Vesak is officially observed on Saturday, 30 May 2026. An earlier calendar had listed 1 May, but this was revised after the Maha Sangha requested the correct astrological date; 1 May is now marked as the special “Adhi Vesak” Poya instead.
Q4: Is January 1 a public holiday in Sri Lanka?
No. Unlike most countries, 1 January is a normal working day in Sri Lanka, since the island’s main New Year celebration is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.
Q5: What is a Poya Day, and why is it a holiday?
Poya Day marks the full moon in the Buddhist lunar calendar. Sri Lanka observes 12 regular Poya holidays a year (13 in 2026), each named after its lunar month and tied to an event in Buddhist history.
Q6: Are shops, banks, and alcohol sales closed on Poya days?
Government offices, banks, and schools close on every Poya day, and the sale of alcohol and meat is officially restricted, though many tourist hotels and licensed restaurants are exempt.
Q7: When is Deepavali in Sri Lanka in 2026?
Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and is an official public holiday.