Kamal Ghorui
School Holiday May 2026: As of April 30, 2026, schools across India are following a mix of gazetted holidays, weekend offs and state-specific summer vacation schedules. Buddha Purnima, a gazetted holiday, falls on Friday, May 1, 2026, marking the first nationwide closure of the month alongside regionally declared breaks.Rising temperatures and ongoing heatwave conditions in several parts of the country have already led to early summer vacations or revised school timings. In many states, academic calendars have been adjusted to reduce exposure during peak heat hours, with closures extending into June in multiple regions.Gazetted holidays and weekly offs in May 2026Schools will remain closed on fixed national and recurring weekly holidays during May.
Summer vacations across heat-affected statesSeveral states have already announced or implemented summer vacations due to extreme heat conditions.In Delhi-NCR, schools are scheduled for summer vacations from May 11 to June 30, 2026, with reopening on July 1. Authorities continue to monitor heatwave conditions, although no revision in dates has been issued.Odisha has advanced its summer break from April 27 following directives issued in view of severe heat conditions. Similar early closures are in place in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where schools began vacations from April 24, with reopening expected in mid-June.Chhattisgarh initiated one of the earliest extended closures, with schools shut from April 20 to June 15, 2026. West Bengal schools in several districts also began vacations from April 22, with staggered closures continuing into May in some areas.State-wise summer vacation schedule 2026
Revised school timings in heat-affected regionsStates such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have introduced morning-only school schedules in several districts to avoid peak afternoon heat. Timings typically range between early morning hours and noon, depending on local directives.Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in multiple regions, including Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow, will observe summer vacations from May 8 to June 16, 2026, as part of their centralised academic calendar.Across India, May 2026 school closures remain a combination of fixed national holidays, staggered state-wise summer vacations and heatwave-driven administrative adjustments, with schedules varying significantly by region.
