Festivals · 2026
Holi 2026: Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Holi in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 and runs through 4 March 2026. Computed for Delhi (IST) from the drik-ganit panchang, by the rule: purnima at sunset, with the classical bhadra split-day adjustment (delhi convention). Abhijit Muhurat runs 12:10 PM – 12:56 PM IST.
The date
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) 12:10 PM – 12:56 PM IST
Rule: Purnima at sunset, with the classical Bhadra split-day adjustment (Delhi convention)
Reference city: Delhi (IST)
Note from the computation: 2026 note: Bhadra timing split state observance (Maharashtra Mar 2–3; Delhi/UP Mar 3–4). This entry follows the Delhi convention.
All days of Holi 2026
| Date (Delhi) | Observance |
|---|---|
| 3 March 2026 | Holika Dahan |
| 4 March 2026 | Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) |
Shubh muhurat windows
The critical timing is the Holika Dahan muhurat after sunset, classically required to be free of Bhadra. Bela's listed Abhijit Muhurat serves the day's other observances; the dahan window is computed in the app.
| Window | Time (IST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 12:10 PM – 12:56 PM | Delhi |
The Abhijit Muhurat is the midday window most digests treat as universally auspicious — Wednesdays excepted (what it is and why). Windows are computed for Delhi; your city's exact span shifts with local sunrise — check the city panchang or the Bela app.
What does Holi celebrate?
Holi celebrates the victory of devotion over evil — Prahlada's rescue and Holika's burning — and the arrival of spring. Holika Dahan (the bonfire) is lit after sunset on the first day; the next morning is Rangwali Holi, when everyone plays with colour.
The story and significance of Holi
Holika Dahan re-enacts the burning of the demoness Holika, who carried Prahlada into fire and was herself consumed. The pyre is lit after sunset, at a muhurat that must avoid Bhadra — when Bhadra spans the evening, observance splits across states, as the note above records.
The following day, Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi), needs no muhurat at all: colour, gujiya and bhaang from morning till noon, then visiting and feasting.
Holi dates by year
| Year | Date | Day | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 March 2026 | Tuesday | This page |
| 2027 | 21 March 2027 | Sunday | Holi 2027 → |
Frequently asked questions
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 and runs through 4 March 2026. The date is computed for Delhi from the rule: purnima at sunset, with the classical bhadra split-day adjustment (delhi convention).
What does Holi celebrate?
Holi celebrates the victory of devotion over evil — Prahlada's rescue and Holika's burning — and the arrival of spring. Holika Dahan (the bonfire) is lit after sunset on the first day; the next morning is Rangwali Holi, when everyone plays with colour.
What is the shubh muhurat on Holi 2026?
The computed windows for 3 March 2026 (Delhi): Abhijit Muhurat — 12:10 PM to 12:56 PM IST. The critical timing is the Holika Dahan muhurat after sunset, classically required to be free of Bhadra. Bela's listed Abhijit Muhurat serves the day's other observances; the dahan window is computed in the app.
Does the Holi date change from city to city?
Yes, it can. Holi is fixed by a tithi prevailing at a specific moment — sunrise, noon, sunset or midnight — and that moment is local. Moving west or east across longitudes can push the prevailing tithi across a civil-date boundary, so Mumbai, Kolkata or New York can observe a day apart from Delhi. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions also differ on some fasting days. The date above follows the popular North-Indian convention for Delhi; the Bela app recomputes for your exact location.
When is Holi in 2027?
Holi in 2027 falls on Sunday, 21 March 2027 and runs through 22 March 2027. Full windows and notes are on the Holi 2027 page, linked below.
Related
Every festival, computed the same honest way.
Exact dates, muhurat windows and the classical rule behind each one — for your own city, not just Delhi.
