Diwali 2026 Dates: Full Calendar & Day-by-Day Guide

Diwali is not a single evening. It is a five-day festival, and in 2026 the celebrations stretch across a full week of rituals, family gatherings, cooking, cleaning, shopping and gifting. If you only plan for the main night, you will spend the other days rushing — buying gifts late, cooking under pressure, and missing the quieter rituals that make the festival feel complete.

This guide gives you the full Diwali 2026 calendar, explains what happens on each day, and shares a practical prep timeline so you can enjoy the festival instead of chasing it. Whether you celebrate in the UK, the US, Pakistan, India or elsewhere, the dates below follow the widely observed Hindu calendar for 2026. Local temples and community calendars can vary by a day in some regions, so it is always worth checking your local mandir noticeboard for the final confirmation.

Diwali 2026 Dates at a Glance

Here is the full calendar for Diwali 2026. Bookmark this section and work through it day by day.

• Friday 6 November 2026 — Dhanteras: the festival opens with shopping for gold, silver, utensils and new beginnings.
• Saturday 7 November 2026 — Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): a day of cleansing baths, small diyas and preparations for the main night.
• Sunday 8 November 2026 — Lakshmi Puja (Diwali): the main night of lights, prayers to Goddess Lakshmi, fireworks and feasting.
• Monday 9 November 2026 — Govardhan Puja: a day honouring Lord Krishna, with annakut feasts and gratitude for nature’s bounty.
• Tuesday 10 November 2026 — Govardhan Puja observances continue in some regions / Bali Pratipada: regional traditions vary, and many families use this day for visiting and rest.
• Wednesday 11 November 2026 — Bhai Dooj: the festival closes as sisters bless their brothers and siblings celebrate their bond.

Note the overlap: in some communities Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada fall on different days depending on the lunar calendar and region. If your family follows a particular tradition, follow that — the spirit of the festival matters more than a one-day difference.

Day 1: Dhanteras — Friday 6 November 2026

Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali. The name comes from Dhanvantari, the god of health and Ayurveda, and it is considered an auspicious day to buy something new — traditionally gold, silver or a new utensil for the kitchen. The idea is simple: invite prosperity into the home by welcoming something lasting.

On Dhanteras, many families clean the entrance of the home, light a diya at the door in the evening, and make a small purchase, even if it is just a spoon or a coin. Businesses often treat it as the start of the festive trading season. For your home, use Dhanteras as your deadline: by the evening of 6 November, the big cleaning should be done and the main shopping finished.

What to do on Dhanteras

• Buy one meaningful item — jewellery, a utensil, or something for the home you have been putting off.
• Light a diya at your front door at dusk and place a small rangoli at the entrance.
• Finish deep cleaning the living areas so the rest of the week feels calm, not chaotic.

Day 2: Choti Diwali — Saturday 7 November 2026

Choti Diwali, also called Naraka Chaturdashi, celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura — light over darkness, good over evil. Traditionally it begins with an early oil bath, said to wash away negativity, followed by wearing new clothes and lighting a few diyas in the evening.

Think of Choti Diwali as the dress rehearsal for the main night. It is the perfect day to test your lights, finish the rangoli, set out the puja items, and prep food that can be made ahead. If you are hosting guests on the main night, use Saturday to cook bases, chop vegetables and set the table so Sunday is about enjoying, not assembling.

Day 3: Lakshmi Puja — Sunday 8 November 2026

This is the main Diwali night, and it falls on a Sunday in 2026, which makes it ideal for family gatherings. Lakshmi Puja honours Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Homes are cleaned, lit with diyas and fairy lights, and decorated with rangoli and flowers to welcome Lakshmi in.

The puja usually takes place in the evening, during the auspicious muhurat, which varies by location — check your local temple or panchang for the exact timing in your city. After the puja, families exchange sweets and gifts, burst fireworks where permitted, and share a festive meal. If you want ideas for styling your prayer space, see our guide to festive porch and entrance decor before the big night, and plan your hosting around the same principles as a good holiday hosting plan for a small home.

Running order for the main night

• Morning: finish the rangoli, arrange flowers, and set up the puja thali.
• Afternoon: cook or reheat the feast, lay out sweets and gifts, and get dressed early.
• Evening: light diyas around the house, perform Lakshmi Puja, then celebrate with family.
• Night: fireworks where allowed, a walk around the neighbourhood to see the lights, and dessert with everyone together.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja — Monday 9 November 2026

Govardhan Puja tells the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vrindavan from torrential rain. It is a day of gratitude — for food, for nature, and for the people who sustain us. In many homes, families prepare an annakut, a mountain of food offered to the deity and then shared as prasad.

For most families, this is a slower, food-focused day. Leftovers from the main night get a second life, and many people visit relatives or take a relaxed day at home. Some regions observe Bali Pratipada on this day or the next, celebrating the return of King Bali — another reminder that Diwali’s stories vary beautifully by region and family.

Day 5: Bhai Dooj — Wednesday 11 November 2026

Bhai Dooj closes the festival with the sibling bond at its centre. Sisters apply a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads, pray for their long life and wellbeing, and brothers give gifts in return. It mirrors Raksha Bandhan but with its own rituals and foods, and it is often the warmest, most personal day of the whole festival.

If siblings live far apart, Bhai Dooj works beautifully over a video call — the tilak can be symbolic, the prayers real, and the gift sent ahead. The point is connection, not ceremony for its own sake.

Your Diwali 2026 Prep Timeline

A festival this big rewards a little planning. Here is a timeline that keeps the final week enjoyable.

Diwali and the Rest of the Season

Diwali 2026 lands in early November, right in the heart of the autumn festival season. If you love decorating, the same lights and warm styling carry beautifully into the weeks that follow — our Christmas outdoor lighting ideas and winter entryway decor ideas pick up where Diwali leaves off. And if you are juggling the whole season at once, a November home maintenance checklist keeps the practical jobs from piling up behind the celebrations.

Common Questions About Diwali 2026

Diwali 2026 gives you a rare gift: a main night that falls on a Sunday, with a full week to celebrate properly. Use this calendar, start early, and let the festival feel like a celebration rather than a deadline. Happy Diwali — may your home be bright, your table full, and your year prosperous.