Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad school holiday: When is Makar Sankranti 2026 break in NCR?

Parents and students across Delhi-NCR are searching for one simple answer, will schools be closed for Makar Sankranti 2026 this week? The short reply is yes, but the reason changes from state to state.

Here is how the holiday situation looks in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and the rest of NCR around Makar Sankranti 2026.

Are Delhi schools closed on January 14 for Makar Sankranti?

Delhi schools will remain closed on Tuesday, January 14, 2026, but not because of a special Makar Sankranti holiday.


The closure is part of the ongoing winter vacation, which is scheduled to continue till January 15, 2026, as per the official academic calendar of the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of Delhi.

So, students, parents and teachers do not need to wait for any new holiday announcement for January 14, schools are already shut under the pre-declared winter break.

Most private schools in Delhi usually follow the DoE winter vacation schedule, although families are advised to confirm with their individual schools.

Is Makar Sankranti a gazetted holiday for Delhi schools?

In Delhi, Makar Sankranti is not listed as a gazetted school holiday in the government’s official holiday calendar.

This means that on a normal academic day, schools in Delhi usually remain open unless a special holiday is announced.

However, in 2026, the issue does not arise because January 14 falls within the winter vacation, which keeps all schools closed anyway.

Schools in Delhi will reopen after January 15, and regular classes will resume from the next working day.

What is Makar Sankranti and why is it important?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on January 14 and marks the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara).

The festival is deeply linked to the harvest season and is known by different names across India:

• Pongal in Tamil Nadu
• Uttarayan in Gujarat
• Magh Bihu in Assam

It is a day associated with gratitude, fresh beginnings, traditional food and community celebrations.

Uttar Pradesh schools: Noida and Ghaziabad holiday confirmed

For students in Noida, Ghaziabad and other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Makar Sankranti will bring a proper public holiday.

The Uttar Pradesh government has declared Thursday, January 15, 2026, as a public holiday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

This means:

• All government schools, colleges and offices will remain closed
• State-run banks and public sector institutions will also shut
• The holiday falls under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, ensuring full closure

Earlier, January 14 had been listed as a restricted holiday, but the state government later revised the calendar and upgraded January 15 to a full public holiday.

Most private schools and offices in UP generally follow state-declared public holidays, though managements have the final say.

What about Gurgaon and the rest of Haryana?

In Gurgaon and across Haryana, there is no separate Makar Sankranti holiday, but schools are still closed.

The Haryana Directorate of School Education has confirmed that winter vacations for all government and private schools run from January 1 to January 15, with classes resuming on January 16, 2026.

So students in Gurgaon will also stay home through Makar Sankranti week because of the winter break.

Key takeaway for parents and students

Here is the simple takeaway for Delhi-NCR:

• Delhi: Schools closed on January 14 due to winter vacation
• Noida & Ghaziabad (UP): Schools closed on January 15 due to Makar Sankranti public holiday
• Gurgaon (Haryana): Schools closed till January 15 because of winter holidays

So, whether it is winter vacation or a state-declared festival holiday, students across the NCR get a mid-January break around Makar Sankranti 2026.

Inputs from agencies