January marks the beginning of a new year, bringing with it a sense of renewal and a host of significant cultural and national events. From harvest festivals like Pongal and Makar Sankranti to national pride on Republic Day, here is the complete list of important dates for January 2026.
International & Global Observances
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
Celebrated globally to mark the start of the Gregorian calendar. - January 4 – World Braille Day
Marks the birth of Louis Braille. Observed to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication for the blind. - January 10 – World Hindi Day (Vishwa Hindi Diwas)
Aims to promote the use of the Hindi language worldwide. - January 24 – International Day of Education
Highlights the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development. - January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
A day to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust and promote genocide prevention. - January 30 – World Leprosy Day
(Observed on the last Sunday of January) Focused on ending the stigma associated with the disease and increasing awareness.
Crack SSC. Lock Your Government Job.
Expert faculty, exam-first strategy, and Kerala’s most trusted SSC coaching—Xylem Learning gets you merit-ready, not just syllabus-deep.
Click HereKey National Observances (India)
- January 9 – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)
Marking the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai in 1915 celebrates the contribution of the Indian diaspora. - January 12 – National Youth Day
Birthday of Swami Vivekananda. - January 15 – Indian Army Day
Commemorates Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. - January 23 – Parakram Diwas (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti)
Honoring the indomitable spirit and selfless service of Netaji. - January 24 – National Girl Child Day
Focuses on the inequalities faced by girls in society and promotes awareness of their rights. - January 25 – National Voters Day
Encourages new voters to participate in the democratic process. - January 25 – National Tourism Day
Promotes the importance of tourism for the country’s economy. - January 26 – Republic Day of India
Marks the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950. In 2026, India celebrates its 77th Republic Day. - January 30 – Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas)
Observed in memory of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination to pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Festivals & Cultural Events 2026
- January 13 – Lohri
A popular winter Punjabi folk festival, celebrated primarily in North India. - January 14 – Makar Sankranti
The harvest festival marking the transition of the Sun into Capricorn. - January 14–15 – Pongal
A major harvest festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. - January 15 – Magh Bihu
The harvest festival of Assam. - January 21 – Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
Celebrates the arrival of spring and honors the Goddess of Knowledge. - January 25 – Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru.