September is a comparatively quiet month on Sri Lanka’s holiday calendar after the back-to-back celebrations of August, but it still carries real significance for planning purposes. The month centres around a single full moon Poya holiday, an important procession in Mahiyangana, and a widely observed Hindu festival that matters greatly to Sri Lanka’s Tamil community. This Sri Lanka Calendar September 2026 guide brings together every relevant date, checked against the Government Printing Department gazette and Hindu panchang calculations, so you can plan bank visits, travel, and religious observances with confidence.
In short: September 2026 has one gazetted public holiday, which happens to fall on a weekend this year, along with the usual weekend bank holidays. Below is the complete holiday table, details on each occasion, and a free downloadable calendar you can save for offline use.
Sri Lanka September 2026 Public Holidays at a Glance
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| September 5 | Saturday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 6 | Sunday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 12 | Saturday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 13 | Sunday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 14 | Monday | Vinayagar / Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu observance) |
| September 19 | Saturday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 20 | Sunday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
| September 26 | Saturday | Binara Full Moon Poya Day (Public Holiday, coincides with weekend) |
| September 27 | Sunday | Bank Holiday (Weekend) |
Only Binara Poya is a gazetted national public holiday in September 2026, and since it falls on a Saturday this year, it does not add an extra weekday off the way some other months’ Poya holidays do.
Sri Lanka September 2026 Calendar – Download PDF
To help with planning, we have prepared a printable, one-page Sri Lanka Calendar for September 2026 covering Binara Poya, Vinayagar Chaturthi, the Mahiyangana Perahera period, and all bank holidays listed above. You can download the PDF using the link at the top of this page, save it directly to your phone for offline access, or print it for your office or home noticeboard. The download is completely free, and the file is updated promptly if the Government Printing Department issues any revision to the gazetted date.
Binara Full Moon Poya Day – September 26, 2026
Binara Poya, falling on Saturday, September 26, 2026, marks the full moon of Binara, the sixth month of the traditional Sinhala calendar. Sri Lankan Tamils commonly refer to it as பினர பௌய. This Poya holds particular importance for Buddhist women, as it commemorates the founding of the Bhikkhuni Sasanaya, the Order of Female Buddhist Monastics. According to tradition, the very first Bhikkhuni ordained was Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s stepmother and aunt, who raised him after his mother’s passing.
As the Vas rains-retreat season continues through Binara month, resident monks remain in their monasteries for meditation, and devotees across the island observe Sil, offer alms, and listen to sermons dressed in white. Pilgrims also use the day to climb sacred sites such as Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) and Mihintale. Because September 26 lands on a Saturday, banks and government offices that are already closed for the weekend see no additional midweek closure this year, though temples remain just as active.
Mahiyangana Perahera
A notable cultural highlight tied to Binara Poya is the Mahiyangana Perahera, held in the town of Mahiyangana in Uva Province, one of the most historically significant Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, believed to mark the location of the Buddha’s first visit to the island. The procession features traditional drummers, dancers, and decorated elephants, drawing pilgrims from across the country during the Binara Poya period. It is smaller in scale than the Kandy Esala Perahera but holds deep religious meaning for devotees who trace the earliest roots of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to this location.
Vinayagar Chaturthi – September 14, 2026
For Sri Lanka’s Hindu Tamil community, September opens with விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி (Vinayagar Chaturthi), also widely known as Ganesh Chaturthi, falling on Monday, September 14, 2026. The festival celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings, and is observed at Hindu temples (kovils) across Colombo, Jaffna, and the hill country’s plantation districts.
Devotees install clay idols of Lord Ganesha at home and in temple pandals, offer prayers, and prepare kozhukattai (steamed rice dumplings), his favourite sweet. In Colombo, temples such as the well-known kovils around Bambalapitiya and Kochchikade see large gatherings, with special poojas, bhajans, and cultural programmes running through the following days, before idols are ceremonially immersed in water at the close of the festivities. While it is not a gazetted public holiday in Sri Lanka, it is one of the most visible Hindu festivals on the island each year, and many Tamil-owned businesses and schools with a significant Tamil student population adjust their schedules accordingly.
Weekend and Bank Holidays in September 2026
September 2026 has eight weekend days functioning as bank holidays: September 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27. Since Binara Poya falls on one of these Saturdays, the total number of distinct bank holiday days in September is also eight, unlike months where a Poya lands mid-week and adds an extra closure. Private businesses, shops, and offices generally follow a normal working schedule through the rest of the month, aside from religious observance at temples on Poya day itself.
Travel and Planning Tips for September 2026
- If visiting Mihintale or Sri Pada around September 26, expect larger pilgrim crowds due to Binara Poya observances.
- Plan around September 14 if you are visiting Hindu temples in Colombo or Jaffna, since Vinayagar Chaturthi draws large crowds and special evening programmes.
- Since Binara Poya coincides with a weekend this year, expect normal weekday banking hours for the rest of the month.
- September generally offers a calmer travel window compared to the festival-heavy months of April and August, making it a good time for quieter sightseeing.
- Always check with your bank or courier service directly for exact September holiday closures, as some private institutions may observe additional half-days around Poya.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the public holidays in Sri Lanka in September 2026?
September 2026 has one gazetted public holiday: Binara Full Moon Poya Day, which falls on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
2. When is Poya Day in September 2026?
Binara Full Moon Poya Day falls on Saturday, September 26, 2026, and since it lands on a weekend, it does not create an extra weekday holiday this year.
3. What is Binara Poya?
Binara Poya commemorates the founding of the Bhikkhuni Sasanaya, the Order of Female Buddhist Monastics, first established by Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s stepmother.
4. Is Binara Poya a bank holiday?
Yes, Binara Poya is a gazetted public holiday, though in 2026 it coincides with a Saturday, which is already a standard bank holiday.
5. When is Vinayagar Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi) in 2026?
Vinayagar Chaturthi falls on Monday, September 14, 2026, according to Hindu panchang calculations, marking the birth of Lord Ganesha.
6. Is Vinayagar Chaturthi a public holiday in Sri Lanka?
No, it is not a gazetted public holiday, but it is widely and visibly celebrated by Sri Lanka’s Hindu Tamil community at temples in Colombo, Jaffna, and the hill country.
7. What is the Mahiyangana Perahera?
The Mahiyangana Perahera is a Buddhist procession held in Mahiyangana, Uva Province, during the Binara Poya period, commemorating the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
8. How many bank holidays are there in Sri Lanka in September 2026?
There are eight bank holiday days in September 2026, all falling on weekends, since Binara Poya coincides with a Saturday this year.
9. Is September a good time to visit Sri Lanka?
September offers a calmer travel period compared to the festival-heavy months of April and August, making it suitable for quieter sightseeing, though pilgrimage sites see more footfall around Binara Poya.
10. Where can I download the Sri Lanka Calendar for September 2026?
A free, printable PDF version of this Sri Lanka Calendar for September 2026 is available at the download link provided at the top of this article.