2026 Diwali Date: Lakshmi Puja Muhurat & 5-Day Calendar

When is Diwali in 2026? Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. This is the day of Kartik Amavasya, the new moon night when Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening. The five-day festival begins with Dhanteras on 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj on 10 November.

Many people are unsure about the 2026 Diwali date. Some wonder if it falls on 8 or 9 November, while others still see 20 October, which was the date in 2025. For most of the country, the Diwali 2026 date in India is 8 November. Below, you will find the full five-day calendar, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat, and how the date changes across regions.

Why Diwali Falls on 8 November This Year

Diwali is celebrated on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon. The rule is simple: Amavasya tithi must be present during Pradosh Kaal, the period just after sunset when Lakshmi Puja is performed. In 2026, the Diwali Amavasya begins during the day on 8 November and lasts until the morning of 9 November. Since it is present at sunset only on 8 November, the puja is held that evening.

The date shifts every year because a lunar year is about 11 days shorter than a solar year. An extra month, Adhik Maas, is added every few years to balance this gap. 2026 has one, which is why the November 2026 Diwali date comes nearly three weeks later than 20 October in 2025.

Diwali Dates 2026: Complete 5-Day Calendar

• Dhanteras: People buy gold, silver, or new utensils. Some calendars show 7 November, but Trayodashi tithi is present on the evening of 6 November, so Dhanteras falls on that day.
• Choti Diwali: The first lamps are lit in the evening. As per some panchangs, the dawn oil bath (abhyang snan) falls on the morning of 8 November.
• Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): The main night of worship for Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
• Govardhan Puja / Padwa: Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill is honoured with annakut. The Diwali Padwa date is also celebrated as the Gujarati New Year and as Balipratipada in Maharashtra.
• Bhai Dooj: Sisters apply tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their well-being.

Diwali Puja Time and Lakshmi Puja Muhurat

Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening during Pradosh Kaal, which begins at sunset and lasts about two hours and 24 minutes. The best part of this window is when Vrishabha Lagna, a fixed (sthir) ascendant, is rising. Worship during a fixed lagna is believed to help prosperity stay in the home.
Here is the Lakshmi Puja date and time for major cities on Sunday, 8 November 2026, as per Drik Panchang:

Some families worship late at night, and some traders perform Chopda Pujan for new account books at this time. They follow Nishita Kaal (Mahanishita Kaal), a window of about 50 minutes around midnight. In Mumbai, for example, it runs from 11:57 PM to 12:48 AM. Sunset time varies by location, so check the Diwali muhurat for your own city in a local panchang.

Regional Variations Across India

The Deepawali 2026 date is shared by most of India, but the main rituals change from region to region.

• Tamil Nadu: Deepawali is celebrated on Naraka Chaturdashi with a pre-dawn oil bath. This year, Chaturdashi is present at sunrise on 8 November, so the 2026 Diwali date in Tamil Nadu is the same as in the north.
• West Bengal: The same night is observed as Kali Puja, in honour of Goddess Kali.
• Gujarat: The Padwa day marks the Gujarati New Year and the start of the new Vikram Samvat year.
• Nepal: Diwali is celebrated as Tihar, a five-day festival that honours crows, dogs, and cows on different days.

When Is the Next Diwali? Dates for Upcoming Years

Knowing the upcoming dates helps with travel, leave, and family plans. Since Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, it always falls between mid-October and mid-November.

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