When is Diwali?
Updated August 24, 2026 · this page carries the 2026 and 2027 dates.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is the biggest celebration of the year for Indian-American communities — and on the national closing calendars it's an ordinary day: banks, mail, the markets, federal offices, and delivery all run normally. No state closes offices for Diwali.
What's changing is schools: New York City made Diwali a school holiday starting in 2023, Pennsylvania and several New Jersey districts followed, and the list grows most years. The date follows lunar calendars and lands in October or November — and because regional traditions differ on which day is the main night, communities can celebrate a day apart.
| Year | Falls on |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, October 29, 2027 |
The date shown is the main festival night, Lakshmi Puja. Diwali runs five days around it, and because regional calendars differ, some communities mark the main night a day apart.
What's open and closed on Diwali?
| Who | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | Open — regular hours; Diwali isn't on the Federal Reserve holiday calendar. | Federal Reserve holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Mail & the Post Office | Running — normal delivery and retail hours. | USPS holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| The Stock Market | Open — a normal trading session on U.S. exchanges. | NYSE holiday calendar Checked August 2026 |
| The Bond Market | Open — SIFMA's calendar doesn't mark Diwali. | SIFMA recommended holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| UPS | Running — normal pickup and delivery. | UPS holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| FedEx | Running — normal pickup and delivery. | FedEx holiday service schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Federal Offices | Open — Diwali isn't one of the eleven federal holidays. | OPM federal holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Trash Pickup | Running — collection calendars don't mark Diwali. | your city or hauler's holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Schools | Varies — New York City schools close for Diwali, and a growing number of districts do too; most stay open. Check your calendar. | your school district's calendar Checked August 2026 |
Questions people ask
Do schools close for Diwali?
A growing number do. New York City public schools added Diwali as a holiday starting in 2023, and districts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and elsewhere with large South Asian communities have followed. Most U.S. districts remain open — the district calendar is the reliable answer.
Is Diwali a federal or bank holiday in the US?
No — banks, mail, the markets, and federal offices all run normally on Diwali. The U.S. closures that exist are school districts and local government offices in a handful of communities, plus businesses choosing to close.
Why do Diwali dates differ between calendars?
Diwali is a five-day festival dated by lunar calendars that differ by region — north and south Indian traditions can place the main night, Lakshmi Puja, a day apart, and the new-moon timing can shift the date against the standard calendar. The date on this page is the main festival night most U.S. celebrations follow.