dry days in india 2026 — complete list by month

tldr: india has 3 mandatory national dry days (republic day, independence day, gandhi jayanti) plus election dry days (48 hours before polls). most states add 10-15 state-specific dry days for religious and regional observances. total per state: roughly 15-25 dry days per year. goa has the fewest, maharashtra has the most. stock up the day before, and never count on hotels being able to serve.

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dry days in india are the days when alcohol sale is officially banned. liquor shops close, bars stop serving, and restaurants remove alcohol from their menus. if you’ve ever shown up at a liquor shop on a tuesday evening only to find metal shutters and a security guard, you’ve hit a dry day. it’s frustrating when you don’t know it’s coming, and completely avoidable if you check the calendar in advance.

the dry day system in india is a mix of national mandates, state government decisions, and election-related bans. there’s no single unified list because every state adds its own observances on top of the national dry days. this guide covers the national dry days for 2026, a month-by-month overview, state-specific patterns, and practical tips for planning around them.

this guide is part of liquor india, where i cover every major alcohol brand available in india. no sponsors, no affiliate links.

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national dry days in 2026

these three days are observed across all states (except prohibition states where every day is effectively a dry day):

date	day	occasion
26 january 2026	monday	republic day
15 august 2026	saturday	independence day
2 october 2026	friday	gandhi jayanti

these three are non-negotiable. every liquor shop, bar, restaurant, and club in india shuts alcohol service on these days. no exceptions, no workarounds. even five-star hotels don’t serve on national dry days (most of the time).

beyond these three, everything else depends on your state.

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2026 dry days: month-by-month calendar

the following calendar includes national dry days and the most commonly observed state-level dry days. your specific state may have more or fewer days. always verify with your local excise department or a quick search for “[your state] dry days 2026.”

january 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
26 january	monday	republic day	all india
23 january	friday	netaji jayanti	west bengal, some states
30 january	friday	mahatma gandhi death anniversary	most states

january typically has 2-3 dry days. republic day is the big one. gandhi’s death anniversary (30 jan) is observed in most states but not all. stock up before the 26th and the 30th.

february 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
19 february	thursday	chhatrapati shivaji maharaj jayanti	maharashtra
26 february	thursday	maha shivaratri	most states

february is relatively light. maha shivaratri is the main one, observed in most states. maharashtra adds shivaji jayanti. most other states have 0-1 dry days this month.

march 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
14 march	saturday	holi (second day)	most north indian states
30 march	monday	ram navami	several states

holi itself is not always a dry day (varies by state), but the day of or after holi is a dry day in many north indian states. the irony of holi being associated with bhang but having dry day restrictions is not lost on anyone.

april 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
6 april	monday	ram navami (if not in march)	several states
10 april	friday	good friday	some states (kerala, goa, northeast)
14 april	tuesday	ambedkar jayanti	most states
21 april	tuesday	mahavir jayanti	most states

april tends to have 2-4 dry days depending on your state. ambedkar jayanti (14 april) is widely observed. mahavir jayanti is another common one.

may 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
1 may	friday	maharashtra day / may day	maharashtra, some states
7 may	thursday	buddha purnima	most states

may is generally light on dry days. buddha purnima is the main observance. maharashtra adds maharashtra day.

june 2026

june typically has very few dry days across most states. some states observe sant kabir jayanti or other regional occasions. check your state-specific list.

july 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
17 july	friday	muharram	most states

muharram is observed as a dry day in most states. the date varies based on the islamic calendar. july is otherwise a light month.

august 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
15 august	saturday	independence day	all india
21 august	friday	janmashtami	most states

august has two significant dry days. independence day is national. janmashtami is observed in most states but not all. the fact that independence day falls on a saturday in 2026 means the long weekend is affected.

september 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
25 september	friday	milad-un-nabi (prophet’s birthday)	most states

september is generally light. milad-un-nabi is observed in most states. the exact date depends on the islamic calendar.

october 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
2 october	friday	gandhi jayanti	all india
2 october	friday	first day of navratri	some states
20 october	tuesday	dussehra	most states

october is busy. gandhi jayanti is a national dry day. navratri brings dry days in some states (especially gujarat, though alcohol is already prohibited there). dussehra/vijayadashami is observed in many states.

november 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
8 november	sunday	diwali (amavasya)	some states
12 november	thursday	guru nanak jayanti	most states

diwali itself is not a dry day in most states, which surprises many people. the amavasya day of diwali is a dry day in some states. guru nanak jayanti is widely observed. november is moderate overall.

december 2026

date	day	occasion	observed in
25 december	friday	christmas	some states (mainly northeast, goa, kerala)

december is the lightest month for dry days. christmas is a dry day only in some states. new year’s eve (31 december) is not a dry day anywhere, which is one thing the system gets right.

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election dry days: the wildcard

election dry days are the most disruptive because they’re announced with relatively short notice and affect the 48 hours before polling day. here’s how they work:

the 48-hour rule: alcohol sale is banned starting 48 hours before polling begins in any constituency where voting is scheduled. if polling is on a wednesday, the dry period starts monday evening. the ban lifts after polling closes.

scope: for general elections and state elections, the ban covers the entire state or the specific constituencies voting that day (since voting happens in phases). for municipal and local body elections, the ban typically covers just the affected area.

2026 impact: state assembly elections are expected in several states in 2026. each election phase brings 2-3 dry days per constituency. if your state has elections in 2026, expect 4-8 additional dry days clustered around polling dates.

the practical problem: election dry days are announced 1-2 weeks before polling. this is enough time to stock up, but many people forget or don’t pay attention until the shutters are down. set a reminder to buy whatever you need before election season hits.

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state-specific patterns

maharashtra: the most dry days

maharashtra typically has 20-25+ dry days per year, more than most states. the state observes all national dry days plus regional ones like shivaji jayanti, ambedkar jayanti, and various religious occasions. mumbai and pune residents are the most affected. the good news: maharashtra’s dry days are usually well-publicised in advance.

goa: almost no dry days

goa is the most alcohol-friendly state in india (among those without prohibition). it typically observes only the three national dry days and election dry days. almost no state-specific dry days. this is one reason goa’s bar and restaurant industry thrives. even on the few dry days that do exist, enforcement at beach shacks and tourist areas can be relaxed.

delhi: moderate

delhi observes 12-15 dry days per year including national days, religious observances, and election days. the delhi excise department publishes the annual list in january. enforcement in delhi is relatively strict at licensed establishments. neighbourhood liquor shops always close on dry days.

karnataka: surprisingly strict

karnataka has a relatively high number of dry days (18-22 per year) and enforcement in bangalore is stricter than many other metros. the state adds several regional observances beyond the national list.

tamil nadu: TASMAC and dry days

tamil nadu’s alcohol retail is entirely through government-run TASMAC shops, which close on dry days without exception. since there’s no private retail, you can’t find workarounds. plan ahead in tamil nadu more than other states.

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how dry days actually work (and don’t)

what closes

all government and private liquor shops close. bars, pubs, and clubs stop serving alcohol. restaurants with liquor licenses remove alcohol from their menus. wine shops, beer shops, and department stores with alcohol sections all shut their liquor counters.

what stays open (sometimes)

some five-star hotels and premium resorts serve alcohol to in-house guests on dry days, particularly state-level dry days (not national ones). this is technically a violation, but enforcement at high-end hotels is inconsistent. i wouldn’t count on it. if you’re staying at a five-star and there’s a dry day, ask the concierge beforehand. don’t be surprised if the answer is no.

home consumption

dry days restrict sale, not private consumption. if you already have alcohol at home, drinking it on a dry day is not illegal in most states. this is why the advice to stock up the day before is the most practical response to dry days.

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planning around dry days

check the annual list in january. most state excise departments publish the year’s dry day calendar in the first week of january. save it on your phone or bookmark it.

stock up before long weekends. if a dry day falls on a weekend (like independence day on saturday in 2026), buy your drinks by thursday. shops will be crowded on friday.

watch for election announcements. when election dates are announced, immediately check if your area is voting and calculate the 48-hour window. buy early.

travel around dry days. if you’re travelling to goa, check if there’s a dry day. there probably isn’t. if you’re going to maharashtra, definitely check. it matters.

for more on drinking laws in india, see the legal drinking age guide. for brand-specific guides, check the main liquor india hub.

drink responsibly. must be of legal drinking age in your state.