When is Diwali 2026?
Sunday 8 November 2026
38
days until Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) in the UK
That's 5 weeks and 3 days. The five-day festival runs from Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November.
Happy Diwali
The five days of Diwali 2026
Dates are for London, from the Drik Panchang Hindu calendar. They match India's dates this year.
| Date | Day | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 6 November | Dhanteras | Day one: homes are cleaned, and gold, silver or new utensils are traditionally bought |
| Saturday 7 November | Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Day two: the eve of Diwali, with the first diyas lit |
| Sunday 8 November | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | The main day: worship of Lakshmi after sunset, lamps, sweets and fireworks |
| Monday 9 November | Govardhan Puja | Day four: Annakut, an offering of many foods; also New Year for many Gujarati Hindus |
| Tuesday 10 November | Bhai Dooj | Day five: celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters |
Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as Diwali, remembering the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort. Jains mark the nirvana of Mahavira at the same time.
Diwali dates for 2026–2030
| Year | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja), UK | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 8 November | Confirmed in published calendars |
| 2027 | Thursday 28 October | Expected (Friday 29 October in India) |
| 2028 | Tuesday 17 October | Expected |
| 2029 | Monday 5 November | Expected |
| 2030 | Saturday 26 October | Expected |
Future dates are calculated for London and can shift by a day depending on the calendar a temple follows. Your local mandir or gurdwara will confirm the date it celebrates. In 2029 Diwali is expected to fall on Bonfire Night.
How the date of Diwali is set
Diwali follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Lakshmi Puja takes place on Amavasya, the new moon night of the month of Kartika (Ashvin in calendars that start each month at the new moon), so it lands between mid-October and mid-November. The puja is held in the evening period called Pradosh, after sunset, and the day chosen is the one on which Amavasya covers that period. Sunset and moon phase times differ between London and India, which is why the UK date is sometimes a day earlier, as expected in 2027.
Diwali in the UK
Diwali is not a bank holiday, so 8 November 2026 is a normal Sunday and Monday 9 November a normal working day. The fireworks curfew moves from 11pm to 1am on Diwali night, and registered shops can sell fireworks for the three days before. In 2026 Diwali comes three days after Bonfire Night, so both fall in the main fireworks season.
- Leicester: the city's Diwali lights are switched on, without a ceremony, two weeks before Diwali, the Wheel of Light returns to Belgrave Road, and Diwali Day is on Sunday 8 November at Cossington Recreation Ground.
- London: the Mayor's Diwali on the Square is on Sunday 25 October 2026, 1pm to 7pm, in Trafalgar Square. Entry is free.
See Diwali alongside other festivals and bank holidays on the 2026 calendar or in the important dates list.
Frequently asked questions
Is Diwali on 8 November 2026 in the UK?
Yes. Lakshmi Puja, the main day of Diwali, is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in the UK, the same date as in India. The festival runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
When is Diwali 2027?
Diwali 2027 is expected on Thursday 28 October in the UK and Friday 29 October in India, because the new moon timing differs between the two. Check with your local temple.
Is Diwali a bank holiday in the UK?
No. Diwali is not a bank holiday anywhere in the UK.
How late can fireworks be set off on Diwali?
Until 1am on the night of Diwali, instead of the usual 11pm limit.
Why does the date of Diwali change every year?
Diwali is set by the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It falls on the new moon of the month of Kartika, which moves between mid-October and mid-November in the Gregorian calendar.