Important Days and Events in India 2026 – Social Media Content Calendar
A good social media calendar helps you plan before an important date suddenly appears on your feed.
For businesses, creators, social media managers and marketing teams in India, the year is filled with festivals, national occasions, international awareness days, cultural events and commercial dates that can inspire useful content.
But every important day does not deserve a post from every brand. The goal is to know what is coming, choose the dates that make sense for your audience and prepare your content early.
This 2026 social media content calendar covers major events from January to December. It includes Indian festivals, national observances, international days, important Kerala dates and useful commercial occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Black Friday and Christmas.
Major Indian and Kerala holiday dates in this calendar were checked against the 2026 Government of India and Government of Kerala schedules. International observances were cross checked with United Nations calendars and relevant official sources.
Some religious dates can change. Islamic festivals in particular depend on the sighting of the moon. The Government of Kerala itself marks certain Islamic holidays as subject to change depending on the appearance of the moon. Hindu festival observance can also vary slightly by location, tradition and panchang. Always check locally before publishing time sensitive festival content.
This is a social media planning calendar, not an official public holiday calendar.
The 2026 social media calendar for India includes major national occasions such as Republic Day and Independence Day, festivals such as Holi, Vishu, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali and Christmas, international awareness days, Kerala specific occasions and commercial events. Brands should not post about every date. Choose events that are relevant to your audience, industry, location and brand voice. For dates based on moon sighting, confirm the final local date before scheduling your post.
2026 Social Media Content Calendar for India
January 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Mannam Jayanti, Kerala |
| 4 January | World Braille Day |
| 9 January | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas |
| 10 January | World Hindi Day |
| 12 January | National Youth Day, Swami Vivekananda Jayanti |
| 13 January | Lohri |
| 14 January | Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu |
| 15 January | Indian Army Day |
| 16 January | National Startup Day |
| 23 January | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti, Parakram Diwas, Vasant Panchami |
| 24 January | National Girl Child Day, International Day of Education |
| 25 January | National Voters’ Day, National Tourism Day |
| 26 January | Republic Day, International Day of Clean Energy |
| 27 January | International Holocaust Remembrance Day |
| 28 January | International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, Data Privacy Day |
| 30 January | Martyrs’ Day, Mahatma Gandhi Punyatithi |
National Startup Day, National Girl Child Day and other major Indian observances have also been cross checked with Government of India sources. International January observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
February 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 2 February | World Wetlands Day |
| 4 February | World Cancer Day, International Day of Human Fraternity |
| 10 February | Safer Internet Day, World Pulses Day |
| 11 February | International Day of Women and Girls in Science |
| 12 February | National Productivity Day |
| 13 February | World Radio Day |
| 14 February | Valentine’s Day |
| 15 February | Maha Shivaratri |
| 17 February | Global Tourism Resilience Day |
| 19 February | Expected beginning of Ramadan. The date may change depending on moon sighting. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti |
| 20 February | World Day of Social Justice |
| 21 February | International Mother Language Day |
| 28 February | National Science Day |
Safer Internet Day and National Science Day were cross checked with Indian government sources. Major international February observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
March 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 March | Zero Discrimination Day |
| 3 March | Holika Dahan, World Wildlife Day |
| 4 March | Holi, National Safety Day |
| 8 March | International Women’s Day |
| 12 March | World Kidney Day |
| 13 March | World Sleep Day |
| 15 March | World Consumer Rights Day |
| 19 March | Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri begins |
| 20 March | International Day of Happiness Eid ul Fitr according to the current Kerala government calendar. Eid may change depending on moon sighting. |
| 21 March | Eid ul Fitr according to the current Government of India holiday calendar. The final date may change depending on moon sighting. International Day of Forests, World Poetry Day, World Down Syndrome Day |
| 22 March | World Water Day |
| 23 March | World Meteorological Day |
| 24 March | World Tuberculosis Day |
| 26 March | Ram Navami |
| 27 March | World Theatre Day |
| 30 March | International Day of Zero Waste |
| 31 March | Mahavir Jayanti, end of the financial year in India |
There is an important difference in the currently published Eid ul Fitr dates. The Kerala government calendar lists 20 March 2026, while the central government schedule lists 21 March 2026. Both should be treated as provisional because the actual observance depends on moon sighting.
International March observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
April 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 April | April Fool’s Day |
| 2 April | Maundy Thursday, World Autism Awareness Day, Hanuman Jayanti |
| 3 April | Good Friday |
| 5 April | Easter Sunday |
| 6 April | International Day of Sport for Development and Peace |
| 7 April | World Health Day |
| 11 April | National Safe Motherhood Day |
| 12 April | International Day of Human Space Flight |
| 14 April | Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti, Baisakhi |
| 15 April | Vishu, Kerala |
| 18 April | World Heritage Day |
| 19 April | Akshaya Tritiya |
| 21 April | World Creativity and Innovation Day, Civil Services Day in India |
| 22 April | Earth Day, International Mother Earth Day |
| 23 April | World Book and Copyright Day |
| 25 April | World Malaria Day |
| 26 April | World Intellectual Property Day |
| 28 April | World Day for Safety and Health at Work |
| 29 April | International Dance Day |
| 30 April | International Jazz Day |
Vishu on 15 April and the major April public holidays were checked against Kerala’s official 2026 schedule. International April observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
May 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 May | May Day, International Workers’ Day, Buddha Purnima, Vesak |
| 3 May | World Press Freedom Day |
| 8 May | World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day |
| 10 May | Mother’s Day |
| 11 May | National Technology Day |
| 12 May | International Nurses Day |
| 15 May | International Day of Families |
| 17 May | World Telecommunication and Information Society Day |
| 20 May | World Bee Day |
| 21 May | International Tea Day, Anti Terrorism Day in India |
| 22 May | International Day for Biological Diversity |
| 27 May | Bakrid, Eid al Adha. This date may change depending on moon sighting. |
| 29 May | International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers |
| 30 May | International Day of Potato |
| 31 May | World No Tobacco Day |
The Government of India and Government of Kerala currently list Bakrid on 27 May 2026, but the Kerala calendar specifically notes that the date can change with moon sighting.
National Technology Day was cross checked with an official Government of India source. Major global May observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
June 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 June | Global Day of Parents, World Milk Day |
| 3 June | World Bicycle Day |
| 5 June | World Environment Day |
| 7 June | World Food Safety Day |
| 8 June | World Oceans Day |
| 11 June | International Day of Play |
| 12 June | World Day Against Child Labour |
| 14 June | World Blood Donor Day |
| 15 June | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day |
| 16 June | International Day of Family Remittances |
| 17 June | World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought |
| 18 June | Sustainable Gastronomy Day, International Day for Countering Hate Speech |
| 20 June | World Refugee Day |
| 21 June | International Day of Yoga, Father’s Day, World Music Day |
| 23 June | United Nations Public Service Day, International Widows’ Day |
| 24 June | International Day of Women in Diplomacy |
| 25 June | Muharram according to the current Kerala government calendar. The date may change depending on moon sighting. Day of the Seafarer |
| 26 June | Muharram according to the current Government of India holiday calendar. The date may change depending on moon sighting. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking |
| 27 June | Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Day |
| 29 June | International Day of the Tropics |
| 30 June | International Asteroid Day, International Day of Parliamentarism, Social Media Day |
As with Eid ul Fitr, the published Muharram date differs between the Kerala and central government calendars. Kerala currently lists 25 June, while the central government list gives 26 June. Final observance may depend on moon sighting.
Major international June observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
July 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 July | National Doctors’ Day in India, Chartered Accountants Day, GST Day |
| 4 July | International Day of Cooperatives |
| 7 July | World Chocolate Day |
| 11 July | World Population Day |
| 15 July | World Youth Skills Day |
| 16 July | Rath Yatra |
| 17 July | World Emoji Day |
| 18 July | Nelson Mandela International Day |
| 20 July | World Chess Day, International Moon Day |
| 25 July | World Drowning Prevention Day |
| 26 July | Kargil Vijay Diwas |
| 28 July | World Hepatitis Day |
| 29 July | Guru Purnima, International Tiger Day |
| 30 July | International Day of Friendship, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons |
Major international July dates were checked against the United Nations calendar.
August 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 August | World Breastfeeding Week begins |
| 2 August | Friendship Day in India |
| 6 August | Hiroshima Day |
| 7 August | National Handloom Day |
| 9 August | Quit India Movement Day, Nagasaki Day, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples |
| 12 August | International Youth Day, Karkadaka Vavu, Kerala |
| 15 August | Independence Day |
| 19 August | World Humanitarian Day, World Photography Day |
| 20 August | Sadbhavana Diwas |
| 25 August | First Onam, Kerala Milad un Nabi according to the current Kerala government calendar. The Milad date may change depending on moon sighting. |
| 26 August | Thiruvonam, Kerala Milad un Nabi according to the current Government of India holiday calendar. The Milad date may change depending on moon sighting. |
| 27 August | Third Onam, Kerala; World Lake Day |
| 28 August | Fourth Onam, Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti, Ayyankali Jayanti, Raksha Bandhan |
| 29 August | National Sports Day, International Day Against Nuclear Tests |
| 30 August | International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances |
| 31 August | International Day for People of African Descent |
For Kerala audiences, August is one of the most important months of the year. Kerala’s official 2026 calendar lists First Onam on 25 August, Thiruvonam on 26 August, Third Onam on 27 August and Fourth Onam on 28 August.
The same calendar currently places Milad un Nabi on 25 August, while the central government schedule lists 26 August. The date should be confirmed again nearer the occasion because it depends on moon sighting.
National Handloom Day was cross checked with an official Government of India source, while major international August observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
September 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 2 September | World Coconut Day |
| 4 September | Janmashtami, Sreekrishna Jayanti |
| 5 September | Teachers’ Day in India, International Day of Charity |
| 7 September | International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies |
| 8 September | International Literacy Day |
| 9 September | International Day to Protect Education from Attack |
| 10 September | World Suicide Prevention Day |
| 12 September | United Nations Day for South South Cooperation |
| 14 September | Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindi Diwas |
| 15 September | Engineers’ Day in India, International Day of Democracy |
| 16 September | International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commonly known as World Ozone Day |
| 17 September | World Patient Safety Day, Vishwakarma Day |
| 18 September | International Equal Pay Day |
| 20 September | World Cleanup Day |
| 21 September | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day, Kerala; International Day of Peace; World Alzheimer’s Day |
| 23 September | International Day of Sign Languages |
| 24 September | NSS Day in India, World Maritime Day |
| 25 September | World Pharmacists Day |
| 27 September | World Tourism Day |
| 28 September | World Rabies Day, International Day for Universal Access to Information |
| 29 September | World Heart Day, International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste |
| 30 September | International Translation Day |
Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day on 21 September and Sreekrishna Jayanti on 4 September are included in Kerala’s official 2026 calendar. Major United Nations observances in September were checked against the official UN calendar.
October 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 October | International Coffee Day, International Day of Older Persons |
| 2 October | Gandhi Jayanti, International Day of Non Violence |
| 4 October | World Animal Day |
| 5 October | World Teachers’ Day |
| 8 October | Indian Air Force Day |
| 9 October | World Post Day |
| 10 October | World Mental Health Day |
| 11 October | Navratri begins, International Day of the Girl Child |
| 13 October | International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction |
| 15 October | International Day of Rural Women |
| 16 October | World Food Day |
| 17 October | Saraswati Puja, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty |
| 19 October | Durga Ashtami |
| 20 October | Dussehra, Vijayadashami nationally; Mahanavami in Kerala |
| 21 October | Vijayadasami, Vidyarambham in Kerala |
| 24 October | United Nations Day |
| 26 October | Valmiki Jayanti |
| 27 October | World Day for Audiovisual Heritage |
| 29 October | Karwa Chauth, International Day of Care and Support |
| 31 October | National Unity Day, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Halloween, World Cities Day |
The Government of Kerala calendar places Mahanavami on 20 October and Vijayadasami on 21 October in 2026. Dussehra is listed nationally on 20 October.
Major global October observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
November 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 November | Kerala Piravi, World Vegan Day |
| 2 November | International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists |
| 5 November | World Tsunami Awareness Day |
| 6 November | Dhanteras |
| 8 November | Diwali, Deepavali |
| 9 November | Govardhan Puja |
| 10 November | World Science Day for Peace and Development |
| 11 November | Bhai Dooj, National Education Day in India, Singles’ Day |
| 13 November | World Kindness Day |
| 14 November | Children’s Day in India, World Diabetes Day |
| 15 November | Chhath Puja |
| 16 November | International Day for Tolerance |
| 17 November | International Students’ Day |
| 19 November | International Men’s Day, World Toilet Day |
| 20 November | World Children’s Day |
| 21 November | World Television Day, Guruvayur Ekadasi, Kerala |
| 24 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti, Gurpurab |
| 25 November | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women |
| 26 November | Constitution Day of India, National Milk Day, Thanksgiving, World Sustainable Transport Day |
| 27 November | Black Friday |
| 30 November | Cyber Monday, Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare |
Diwali is listed on 8 November 2026 in the Government of India holiday schedule. Govardhan Puja falls on 9 November, followed by Bhai Dooj on 11 November.
In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on 26 November, Black Friday on 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November. These dates can be useful to Indian ecommerce and retail brands even though they are not Indian public holidays.
Major international November observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
December 2026
| Date | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|
| 1 December | World AIDS Day |
| 2 December | National Pollution Control Day in India, World Computer Literacy Day |
| 3 December | International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
| 4 December | Indian Navy Day, International Day of Banks |
| 5 December | World Soil Day, International Volunteer Day |
| 7 December | Armed Forces Flag Day in India, International Civil Aviation Day |
| 9 December | International Anti Corruption Day |
| 10 December | Human Rights Day |
| 11 December | International Mountain Day |
| 14 December | National Energy Conservation Day in India |
| 16 December | Vijay Diwas |
| 18 December | International Migrants Day, Minorities Rights Day in India |
| 20 December | International Human Solidarity Day |
| 21 December | World Meditation Day, World Basketball Day |
| 22 December | National Mathematics Day in India, Winter Solstice |
| 23 December | National Farmers’ Day, Kisan Diwas |
| 24 December | Christmas Eve, National Consumer Day in India, International Anti Cybercrime Day |
| 25 December | Christmas Day, Good Governance Day in India |
| 27 December | International Day of Epidemic Preparedness |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve |
Christmas Day is listed on 25 December in both the central and Kerala 2026 holiday schedules. Major international December observances were checked against the United Nations calendar.
How to Use This 2026 Social Media Calendar
Knowing the dates is only the first step. Choosing the right dates is more important.
Choose Events That Fit Your Brand
A hospital does not need to create a post for World Chocolate Day simply because it appears on a calendar.
A chocolate shop probably should.
An education brand may find more value in National Science Day, Teachers’ Day, International Literacy Day, National Education Day and Vidyarambham.
A travel business can plan around World Tourism Day, holiday seasons, Onam, summer travel periods and long weekends.
A fashion or ecommerce brand may care more about Valentine’s Day, Vishu, Onam, Diwali, Black Friday and Christmas.
Relevance is more useful than volume.
Plan Major Campaigns Early
Do not begin planning an Onam campaign the day before Onam.
For large festivals and sales periods, start discussing the idea several weeks in advance. This gives your team time for photography, video production, graphic design, approvals, ad planning and landing page updates.
Smaller awareness day posts may need much less preparation.
Avoid Posting Generic Wishes for Every Occasion
A calendar can easily turn into a long series of posters saying “Happy this” and “Happy that.”
That does not automatically make a social media account useful.
Instead, ask one simple question:
If the answer is no, skipping the post may be the better decision.
Give Local Dates More Attention
National content calendars often miss occasions that matter strongly to people in Kerala.
For a business in Kochi or Ernakulam, dates such as Vishu, Onam, Sree Narayana Guru related observances, Vidyarambham and Kerala Piravi may be more relevant than many international awareness days.
Local context can make a content calendar feel connected to the people who actually follow the business.
Recheck Moon Based Dates Before Publishing
Do not rely on a January content calendar for the final date of Eid several months later.
Moon sighting can change the observed date. In fact, the published central and Kerala government calendars already show different provisional dates for Eid ul Fitr, Muharram and Milad un Nabi in 2026.
Keep the campaign prepared, but confirm the local date before the final post is scheduled.
Important 2026 Dates for Kerala and Kochi Businesses
Businesses in Kerala may want to pay particular attention to these occasions:
| Date | Kerala Occasion |
|---|---|
| 15 April | Vishu |
| 25 August | First Onam |
| 26 August | Thiruvonam |
| 27 August | Third Onam |
| 28 August | Fourth Onam, Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti and Ayyankali Jayanti |
| 21 September | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day |
| 20 October | Mahanavami |
| 21 October | Vijayadasami and Vidyarambham |
| 1 November | Kerala Piravi |
| 21 November | Guruvayur Ekadasi |
The right choice still depends on the business. A Kochi restaurant, fashion label, school, property company and software startup will not need the same content calendar.
A useful social media plan filters the yearly calendar through the interests of the actual customer.
Which 2026 Dates Are Useful for Marketing Campaigns?
Commercial dates can be valuable when there is a genuine connection to what you sell.
Some of the biggest opportunities in 2026 include:
| Date | Marketing Occasion |
|---|---|
| 14 February | Valentine’s Day |
| 10 May | Mother’s Day |
| 21 June | Father’s Day |
| 2 August | Friendship Day in India |
| 26 August | Thiruvonam |
| 14 September | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 20 October | Dussehra |
| 31 October | Halloween |
| 8 November | Diwali |
| 26 November | Thanksgiving |
| 27 November | Black Friday |
| 30 November | Cyber Monday |
| 24 December | Christmas Eve |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve |
These dates do not automatically require discounts. A brand can use an occasion for educational content, a useful guide, a story, a video, community interaction, product discovery or a simple relevant message.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the most important social media dates in India in 2026?
Some of the biggest dates include Republic Day on 26 January, Holi on 4 March, Vishu on 15 April, Independence Day on 15 August, Thiruvonam on 26 August, Ganesh Chaturthi on 14 September, Dussehra on 20 October, Diwali on 8 November and Christmas on 25 December.
The most important dates for your business will depend on your audience, location and industry.
2. Which 2026 festival dates can change?
Islamic observances such as Eid ul Fitr, Bakrid, Muharram and Milad un Nabi may change depending on the sighting of the moon.
The official Kerala calendar specifically marks these dates as subject to change.
Some Hindu festival timings can also differ by region and panchang, so locally important festival dates should always be checked again before publishing scheduled content.
3. When is Eid ul Fitr in India in 2026?
The current Government of India holiday schedule lists Eid ul Fitr on 21 March 2026. The Government of Kerala calendar lists it on 20 March 2026.
The actual date can change depending on moon sighting, so businesses should confirm the local observance before publishing or scheduling Eid content.
4. When is Onam in Kerala in 2026?
According to the Government of Kerala 2026 calendar, First Onam is on 25 August, Thiruvonam is on 26 August, Third Onam is on 27 August, and Fourth Onam is on 28 August.
For most brands, Thiruvonam on 26 August will be the main date around which the largest Onam campaign is planned.
5. When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 14 September 2026.
Hindi Diwas also falls on the same date, so brands planning national content should account for both occasions.
6. When is Diwali in India in 2026?
Diwali falls on 8 November 2026 according to the Government of India holiday schedule.
Dhanteras falls on 6 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November.
7. What are the important shopping and ecommerce dates in 2026?
Useful commercial dates include Valentine’s Day on 14 February, Mother’s Day on 10 May, Father’s Day on 21 June, Friendship Day on 2 August, Halloween on 31 October, Diwali on 8 November, Black Friday on 27 November, Cyber Monday on 30 November and Christmas on 25 December.
Which ones matter depends on the product, customer and market.
8. Should a business post on every important day?
No.
Posting about every awareness day can make a social media page repetitive and disconnected from the brand.
Choose dates based on your audience, business, values, location and content goals. Ten relevant occasions can be more useful than fifty generic posts.
9. How early should brands plan festival social media content?
For a major campaign such as Onam, Diwali, Christmas or a large seasonal sale, planning a few weeks in advance is usually sensible.
Campaigns involving video shoots, influencers, advertisements, landing pages or several pieces of content may need even more preparation.
Simple awareness posts can be planned much closer to the date.
Conclusion
A social media content calendar should make planning easier, not give your team hundreds of dates to post about.
Use this 2026 calendar as a starting point. Pick the festivals, national occasions, awareness days and commercial events that make sense for your audience. Give extra attention to local events if your customers are in Kochi, Ernakulam or other parts of Kerala.
Most importantly, plan early for the dates that matter and check changeable religious dates again before publishing.
Need Help Planning Your Social Media Content?
If deciding what to post, when to post and how to turn important dates into useful content is taking too much time, The Clever Apes can help.
The Clever Apes is a Digital Marketing Agency in Kochi that works with businesses across social media management, branding, SEO, performance marketing, video production, web development and other digital marketing needs.
WhatsApp The Clever Apes – 8848544547
