Pongal holidays 2026: Tamil Nadu schools to remain shut on these dates. Check full list of holidays

Pongal holidays 2026: Pongal is regarded as India’s most widely recognised Hindu harvest festivals and is celebrated alongside Makar Sankranti across the country with great festive fervour and spirit. Pongal is celebrated in the Tai month of the Tamil solar calendar and this year, Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti both fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. In January, several major holidays such as Pongal, Thiruvalluvar Day, Kaanum Pongal and Republic Day andl lined up and students will enjoy multiple school holidays this month. The festival of Pongal is celebrated from January 14 to January 17. The Tamil Nadu government has already declared holidays on January 15 for Pongal, January 16 for Mattu Pongal and Thiruvalluvar Day, and January 17 for Kaanum Pongal and Uzhavar Thinam.

ALSO READ: Chennai has Ooty-like weather: City shivers in unusually breezy, cold weather as IMD predicts light rain. Check Tamil Nadu weather forecast

Pongal holidays: Tamil Nadu schools closed

In 2026, the traditional harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, Pongal will result in a significant mid-month break for all educational institutions. According to Tamil Nadu's government schedule, students can expect the following holidays:


January 14 (Wednesday) – January 14 marks the celebration of Bhogi. Traditionally a limited holiday, many schools either remain closed or have shorter sessions as families get ready for the main festivities. During the Pongal festival, people living in cities like Chennai typically travel to their hometowns with their families.

January 15 (Thursday) – Thai Pongal is a major public holiday when families cook the new rice and offer gratitude to the Sun God.

January 16 (Friday) – Mattu Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day is dedicated to celebrating cattle and honoring the legendary poet Thiruvalluvar.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Swami Vivekananda: 'In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart'. Check his other inspiring quotes on National Youth Day

January 17 (Saturday) – Kaanum Pongal / Uzhavar Thirunal: Marked by family outings and paying respect to the farming community. Since January 18 falls on a Sunday, students will enjoy a continuous 4 to 5-day vacation, making it the perfect window for travel to ancestral hometowns.

After the harvest celebrations, January concludes with a major national event. Republic Day, observed on Monday, January 26, 2026, brings patriotic fervor across the country. For schools without Saturday classes, this creates a three-day long weekend (Saturday–Monday). Many schools hold flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs in the morning, while the day itself is an official public holiday.

Tamil Nadu School Holidays 2026

Date	Day	Holiday / Occasion

01 January 2026

Thursday

New Year’s Day

14 January 2026

Wednesday

Pongal (Bhogi Pandigai)

15 January 2026

Thursday

Thai Pongal

16 January 2026

Friday

Mattu Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day / Uzhavar Thirunal

26 January 2026

Monday

Republic Day