According to the latest Reserve Bank of India holiday calendar for May 2026, banks across India will observe 12 days of closures throughout the month due to regional and national celebrations. The updated schedule includes May 1 (Friday) - Maharashtra Day, Labour Day and Buddha Purnima, May 3 (Sunday), May 9 (Saturday) - Second Saturday, May 10 (Sunday), May 16 (Friday) - Sikkim's Statehood Day, May 17 (Sunday), May 23 (Saturday) - Fourth Saturday, May 24 (Sunday), May 26 (Friday) - Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti in Tripura, May 27 (Wednesday) - Bakrid/Eid-ul-Adha, and May 28 (Sunday) - Select cities including Patna, Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Jammu, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji and Srinagar. This represents an increase from the previously reported 9 days of closures, with the additional closures including May 1 for Maharashtra Day, Labour Day and Buddha Purnima, May 16 for Sikkim's Statehood Day, May 26 for Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti in Tripura, and May 28 for select city-specific celebrations.
May 16 marks Sikkim's Statehood Day, resulting in bank closures across the state. May 26 will observe Kazi Nazrul Islam's birthday in Tripura, while May 27 will see Eid-UI-Adha celebrations across India except in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Bihar. May 28 will observe Bakri ID in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Bihar. As per Patna Press, the May 28 holiday will be observed in select cities including Patna, Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Jammu, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji and Srinagar, with the specific cities varying by state.
As reported by Patna Press, banks will remain closed on 5 Sundays throughout May - May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Additionally, banks will be closed on May 9 (second Saturday) and May 23 (fourth Saturday) due to regular RBI guidelines. The first closure falls on May 1 when banks across most parts of the country will remain shut on account of Maharashtra Day, Labour Day and Buddha Purnima. The total closure period amounts to 12 days across the month, affecting both private and public sector bank branches nationwide. According to Economic Times, all scheduled and non-scheduled banks observe public holiday on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
According to the RBI guidelines, internet banking, SMS banking, and WhatsApp banking services will remain operational during all bank holidays for account holders and registered customers. These digital services will continue to support financial transactions including bill payments, mobile top-ups, fund transfers, and online bookings throughout the month. Customers can access online expenditure analysis, account balance enquiries, and various banking services even on designated holiday days, unless advised otherwise by individual banks for maintenance work. As per Patna Press, stock markets will also remain closed on select days in May, including May 1 and May 28, in addition to regular weekend closures. Customers are advised to plan their banking activities in advance, particularly for branch-related services, while relying on digital platforms during holidays.
