Diwali 2026 Date and Calendar: Dhanteras, Bestu Varas, Bhai Dooj and Labh Pancham

October 5, 2026

Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, and the festive stretch runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 11 November. In Gujarat, Bestu Varas (the Gujarati New Year) follows the day after Diwali, and Labh Pancham a few days later. Here is the full calendar in one place so you can plan your cleaning, shopping, puja and gifts.

Diwali 2026 calendar

Dhanteras: Friday, 6 November. Traditionally a day to buy something new for the home, such as utensils, silver or gold items.
Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): Saturday, 7 November. Diyas, rangoli and preparations for the main day.
Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Sunday, 8 November. The main festival day, with Lakshmi-Ganesh puja in the evening.
Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year): Monday, 9 November. The first day of Vikram Samvat 2083. Families greet each other with "Saal Mubarak". Some calendars list this as 10 November, so check your local panchang.
Bhai Dooj: Wednesday, 11 November. Brothers and sisters celebrate their bond with tilak and gifts.
Labh Pancham: Saturday, 14 November. In Gujarati business families, the day shops reopen and the new account year properly begins.

Dates are as published for 2026. Muhurat timings differ by city, so confirm with your local panchang or family priest.

After Diwali: wedding season

The wedding season usually reopens with Dev Uthani Ekadashi, which falls on 20 November in 2026. If a wedding is in your family this season, start booking venues and vendors early.

A simple four-week Diwali plan

Four weeks before: Set a budget, make a gift list, book help for deep cleaning and order outfits.
Three weeks before: Start cleaning rooms, buy gifts, order sweets and dry fruit, and buy diyas and candles.
Two weeks before: Declutter and donate, buy puja items and rangoli colours, and confirm travel plans.
Final week: Put up lights and torans, make rangoli, prepare the puja thali and pack gifts for visits.

Diwali gift ideas that feel personal

Thoughtful matters more than expensive. Popular choices include dry fruit and sweet hampers, brass diya sets, puja accessories, reusable candles and decor, and handmade or personalised gifts. For friends and relatives who love to plan, a printed festival planner makes a useful, low-cost gift.

Plan the whole festival in one place

Our printable Diwali and Bestu Varas 2026 Festival Planner includes the key dates above, a four-week countdown, a gift list tracker, a festival budget tracker, puja and decor checklists and a five-day schedule from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. It is a digital PDF, so you can download and print it instantly.