Holi 2026
Holi 2026 falls on (Rangwali Holi) in Delhi, India, with the Holika Dahan bonfire on the evening of (computed for local sunset).
Two dating conventions exist for this pair. Calendars that date the bonfire to the day on which the full moon prevails at sunrise (the Udaya convention, which several national holiday lists and panchangs adopt in some years) place Holika Dahan on and Rangwali Holi on . Classical texts followed by this site require the bonfire during Pradosh while the full moon is still current, which gives the pair shown above. Observance follows family and temple tradition.
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Holi
Holi is the festival of colours, celebrated on the day after the Holika Dahan bonfire. It is the most exuberant festival of the Indian year — streets fill with groups throwing gulal and spraying water, and the usual social boundaries relax for a day.
The morning belongs to colours and water fights, the afternoon to family visits and sweets like gujiya and thandai. In the Braj region the celebrations stretch over a week, with the lathmar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon, and the festival also carries a harvest and spring-welcoming significance in agrarian communities.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Sukla Purnima |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 17:56 (-1 day) – 17:08 |
| Nakshatra | Magha |
| Sunrise | 06:44 IST |
| Sunset | 18:22 IST |
| Moonrise | 18:22 |
| Moonset | 06:32 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:33 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 18:22 – 19:58 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 00:08 (+1 day) – 00:57 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is computed for local sunset.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | 17:56 (-1 day) – 17:08 | computed for local sunset | |
| 2027 | Monday | 18:22 (-1 day) – 16:13 | computed for local sunset |
Other years
Related
Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Holi in 2026?
- Holi 2026 falls on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 (Rangwali Holi) in Delhi, India, with the Holika Dahan bonfire on the evening of Monday, 2 March 2026 (computed for local sunset).
- What is Holi?
- Holi is the festival of colours, celebrated on the day after the Holika Dahan bonfire. It is the most exuberant festival of the Indian year — streets fill with groups throwing gulal and spraying water, and the usual social boundaries relax for a day.
- How is Holi observed?
- The morning belongs to colours and water fights, the afternoon to family visits and sweets like gujiya and thandai. In the Braj region the celebrations stretch over a week, with the lathmar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon, and the festival also carries a harvest and spring-welcoming significance in agrarian communities.
- Why might Holi fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).
- Why do some calendars show a different Holika Dahan date in 2026?
- Calendars that date the bonfire to the day on which the full moon prevails at sunrise (the Udaya convention) place Holika Dahan on 2026-03-03 and Rangwali Holi on the next morning. Classical texts followed by this site require the bonfire during Pradosh while the full moon is still current, which gives the dates shown above. Both readings are genuine traditions; observance follows family and temple custom.