October 2026 has major festivals like Dussehra, Chhath Puja and Durga Puja. This month will also be a national holiday, when banks will remain closed in all states. This festive season, many states will have several bank holidays during the month. Although online banking services will be available, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has specified some special days in October 2026 when banks will be closed for physical operations.

On the other hand, there is a big update regarding the Saturday holidays as well. Although there is no official announcement yet about all the Saturday holidays in the month, 4 out of 5 Saturdays in the month of October will be holidays due to festivals. It also includes second and fourth Saturdays. On the day banks across the country are officially closed. Let us also tell you what kind of story RBI has told in its October bank holiday list.

What are the festivals in October?

Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, Mahalaya Amavasya, Maha Saptami, Dussehra (Mahashtami)/Maha Navami/Ayudha Puja/Durga Puja/Vijaya Dashami/Durga Ashtami, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) (Aso Sud-10)/Mahanavami, Ayudha Puja,/Dashami (Dasai), Durga Puja (Dasai), Lakshmi Puja/October Examination across the country. Days/festivals and days like Maharshi Valmiki’s birthday, Karva Choth, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday are celebrated. Banks will be closed on these days.

In India, all scheduled and non-scheduled banks observe public holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays. The first, third and fifth (in some cases) Saturdays shall be working days for banks, unless otherwise stated in the RBI holiday calendar. However, banks remain closed on the third and fifth Saturdays due to festivals, except for the first Saturday.

Here is the full list of bank holidays

1. 2 October 2026: Banks will be closed on 2 October 2026 due to Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. Banks will remain closed in all states and Union Territories of India as it is a national holiday.
2. 4 October 2026: As it is Sunday, there will be a holiday in banks across the country.
3. 10 October 2026: Banks are closed in Karnataka and Kolkata on October 10, 2026 due to Mahalaya Amavasya. However, banks across the country will remain closed as it is the second Saturday of the month.
4. 11 October 2026: As it is Sunday, there will be a holiday in banks across the country.
5. 17 October 2026: Banks are closed in Tripura to celebrate Maha Saptami festival on October 17, 2026.
6. 18 October 2026: As it is Sunday, there will be a holiday in banks across the country.
7. 19 October 2026: Banks are closed in Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Meghalaya on October 19, 2026 to celebrate Dussehra (Mahashtami)/Maha Navami/Ayuth Puja/Durga Puja/Durga Ashtami.
8. 20 October 2026: Tripura, Gujarat, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Sood-10 to celebrate Dussehra/Dussehra (Vaijyami)/Mahanvami, 20 October, Ayudha Puja/Durga Puja on 2026 Banks are closed in Goa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Banks are closed in all states except Manipur and Sikkim on 20 October 2026.
9. 21 October 2026: Banks are closed in Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Kerala and West Bengal on October 21, 2026 for Vijayadashami/Durga Puja (Dasain).
10. 22 October 2026: Banks will remain closed in Sikkim on October 22, 2026 to celebrate Durga Puja (Dasain).
11. 23 October 2026: Banks will remain closed in Sikkim on October 23, 2026 to celebrate Durga Puja (Dasai).
12. 24 October 2026: The fourth Saturday of the month is a bank holiday across the country.
13. 25 October 2026: As it is Sunday, there will be a holiday in banks across the country.
14. 26 October 2026: Banks in Tripura, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar and Himachal Pradesh will remain closed on October 26, 2026 on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja/Adhigrahana Diwas/Maharshi Valmiki Jayanthi.
15. 29 October 2026: Banks will remain closed in Himachal Pradesh on October 29, 2026 to celebrate Karva Choth.
16. 31 October 2026: Banks will remain closed in Gujarat on October 31, 2026, on account of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Digital banking will be available during bank holidays

Customers can do most of their banking from home using online banking, smartphone apps and UPI-based payments, even on bank holidays. Money transfers, bill payments and account management can be done instantly during holidays.