Banks across India will remain closed on May 28, 2026 for Bakrid/Eid al-Adha celebrations, with staggered closures varying by region due to different moon sighting dates. According to reports from Mint, since Bakrid/Eid al-Adha is a gazetted holiday, it will be observed as a public holiday for Central Government offices, banks, and most state government offices nationwide. The Centre has declared May 28 as a public holiday for Eid-ul-Azha, with the personnel ministry stating that central government administrative offices will remain closed on this date. As per latest reports, Thursday, May 28 will see bank closures in several cities for Bakrid celebrations, with customers advised to check local holiday schedules before visiting branches.
The date confusion has been resolved with most states observing May 28 as the official holiday, while Jammu and Kashmir will celebrate on May 27 based on local moon sighting practices. As reported by Mint, the crescent moon for Zil Hajj was not sighted across most parts of India on the evening of May 18, causing the date to shift. The Jama Masjid Shahi Imam confirmed that the moon was not visible in most parts of the country, making May 28 the official date for Bakrid prayers and Qurbani rituals. However, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Indonesia have declared May 27 as Eid al-Adha, with several other Gulf nations also celebrating on the same day. Central Government offices in Delhi will be closed on May 28, with the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issuing a revised notification on May 22 confirming this date change. The Supreme Court also modified its working schedule, with the court functioning normally on May 27 while matters originally listed for May 28 will now be heard a day earlier.
Banks in major Indian cities will observe staggered closures across the two-day period due to regional variations in moon sighting. Cities like Ahmedabad, Kolkata, New Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, and Srinagar will have their banks shut on May 27, while Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Panaji follow on May 28. As reported by Mint, the Kerala government declared May 27 and 28 as holidays, with the General Administration Department clarifying that Wednesday and Thursday will be non-working days for all government offices, including public sector undertakings and educational institutions. Since the festival depends on moon sighting, different states and cities may celebrate it on different days, making it essential for customers to check local holiday schedules before visiting branches.
Despite branch closures, online banking services remain operational throughout the holiday period, ensuring continuity for digital transactions. According to Mint reports, customers can perform multiple tasks including UPI transactions, money transfers, net banking services, applying for loans online, and requesting chequebooks during the holiday period. ATMs also remain operational during bank holidays, allowing customers to conduct cash transactions even when bank branches are closed, ensuring continuous access to banking services during the holiday period. Mobile banking and UPI services will keep working as usual during the holidays, providing uninterrupted digital banking access for customers. Even though bank branches will remain closed, digital banking services are expected to work normally, meaning most daily banking activities can still be completed without visiting a branch.
The current holiday period follows previous closures, with banks closed on May 1, 2026 for May Day/Buddha Purnima. As reported by Mint, banks will also remain shut on the second Saturday (May 9) and fourth Saturday (May 23), along with five Sundays throughout May. The upcoming holiday on May 31 (Sunday) will be the next scheduled closure, with some states observing additional local holidays requiring individual state-wise verification. People planning bank-related work are advised to check local holiday schedules before visiting branches, as different states and cities may celebrate it on different days due to moon sighting variations.
