April 2026: Important Dates and Days (National & International)
April is one of the most significant months in the Indian calendar, marking major national holidays, international observances, and regional New Year celebrations. From Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti to World Earth Day, April 2026 is packed with culturally, socially, and environmentally important days.
April 2026 Important Days – Quick Overview Table
| Date | Day | Important Day / Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April | Wednesday | April Fools’ Day, Odisha Foundation Day, Prevention of Blindness Week |
| 2 April | Thursday | World Autism Awareness Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 April | Saturday | International Day for Mine Awareness and Action |
| 5 April | Sunday | National Maritime Day, Easter Sunday |
| 7 April | Tuesday | World Health Day |
| 10 April | Friday | World Homoeopathy Day |
| 11 April | Saturday | National Safe Motherhood Day, National Pet Day |
| 13 April | Monday | Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / Vishu, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Anniversary |
| 14 April | Tuesday | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti, Tamil New Year |
| 15 April | Wednesday | Bengali New Year / Bohag Bihu |
| 17 April | Friday | World Haemophilia Day |
| 18 April | Saturday | World Heritage Day |
| 21 April | Tuesday | National Civil Service Day |
| 22 April | Wednesday | World Earth Day |
| 23 April | Thursday | World Book and Copyright Day, English Language Day |
| 24 April | Friday | National Panchayati Raj Day |
| 25 April | Saturday | World Malaria Day |
| 26 April | Sunday | World Intellectual Property Day |
| 28 April | Tuesday | World Day for Safety and Health at Work |
| 29 April | Wednesday | International Dance Day |
| 30 April | Thursday | International Jazz Day |
Date-Wise Details of Important Days in April 2026
1 April – April Fools’ Day
April 1 is popularly observed as April Fools’ Day across the world, marked by harmless pranks, jokes, and light-hearted humor. Its precise origin is uncertain, but it has been widely observed since the 19th century.[1]
1 April – Odisha Foundation Day (Utkala Dibasa)
Odisha Foundation Day, also known as Utkala Dibasa, commemorates the formation of Odisha as a separate province on April 1, 1936. The day is celebrated with cultural programs and state-level events across Odisha.[2]
1 April – Prevention of Blindness Week
Prevention of Blindness Week is observed from April 1 to 7 every year in India to create awareness about avoidable blindness and promote regular eye check-ups. The week emphasises the importance of accessible eye care services for all.[1]
2 April – World Autism Awareness Day
Declared by the United Nations, World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2 every year to promote awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The day advocates for the rights and social inclusion of individuals with autism.[2]
3 April – Good Friday
Good Friday is a gazetted public holiday across India in 2026, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar, observed with prayer, fasting, and church services.[3]
4 April – International Day for Mine Awareness
The International Day for Mine Awareness and Action is observed on April 4 every year, as designated by the United Nations. It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and advocate for mine-free territories worldwide.[4]
5 April – National Maritime Day
National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 in India to commemorate the first voyage of the SS Loyalty — a ship of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company — from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919. It honours India’s rich maritime heritage and the vital role of the shipping industry.[5]
5 April – Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026, is a restricted holiday observed across India, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most important festivals for Christians, celebrated with church services, prayers, and family gatherings.[3]
7 April – World Health Day
World Health Day is observed globally on April 7 under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was founded on this date in 1948. Each year, WHO announces a specific theme to highlight a pressing global health issue.[5]
10 April – World Homoeopathy Day
World Homoeopathy Day is observed on April 10 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the German physician who founded homoeopathy in the late 18th century. The day promotes awareness about homoeopathic medicine and research.[2]
11 April – National Safe Motherhood Day
National Safe Motherhood Day is observed in India on April 11 to raise awareness about maternal health and the need for adequate healthcare services for pregnant and lactating women. It was first initiated by the White Ribbon Alliance India.[1]
13 April – Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / Vishu
Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is a harvest festival primarily celebrated in Punjab and marks the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Vishu is the corresponding New Year festival celebrated in Kerala on the same day.[5]
13 April – Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Anniversary
On April 13, 1919, British troops under General Dyer opened fire on unarmed civilians gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, killing hundreds. This day is solemnly remembered as one of the darkest chapters of India’s freedom struggle.[5]
14 April – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Jayanti is a gazetted national holiday celebrated across India on April 14 to mark the birth anniversary of the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Born in 1891, Dr. Ambedkar fought tirelessly against caste discrimination and championed the rights of marginalised communities.[3]
14 April – Tamil New Year (Puthandu)
Tamil New Year, known as Puthandu, is celebrated on April 14 and marks the beginning of the Tamil calendar year. It coincides with the solar new year in many South and Southeast Asian cultures.[1]
15 April – Bengali New Year / Bohag Bihu
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) and Bohag Bihu (Assamese New Year) are both celebrated around April 15, marking the start of new harvest cycles and regional new year traditions across West Bengal and Assam respectively.[3]
17 April – World Haemophilia Day
World Haemophilia Day is observed on April 17 every year, chosen as the birthday of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia. The day spreads awareness about haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders.[6]
18 April – World Heritage Day
World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed on April 18 under the aegis of UNESCO. It aims to promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts needed for its protection.[5]
21 April – National Civil Service Day
National Civil Service Day is observed on April 21 in India to honour civil servants and their commitment to public service. The date commemorates the historic speech by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the first batch of IAS officers on April 21, 1947.[5]
22 April – World Earth Day
World Earth Day is one of the largest global environmental observances, celebrated on April 22 each year since 1970. It mobilises billions of people to take action on issues like climate change, deforestation, and plastic pollution.[1]
23 April – World Book and Copyright Day
Designated by UNESCO, World Book and Copyright Day on April 23 celebrates reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property. The date marks the anniversary of the death of literary giants William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes in 1616.[7]
24 April – National Panchayati Raj Day
National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on April 24 to mark the anniversary of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions in India.[8]
25 April – World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 under the WHO to raise global awareness about malaria prevention and control. India carries a significant burden of malaria cases, making this day particularly relevant for public health campaigns.[4]
26 April – World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to educate the public about the role of intellectual property rights in promoting innovation and creativity.[9]
28 April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed on April 28, is an international campaign by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote safe and healthy work environments globally.[4]
29 April – International Dance Day
International Dance Day is celebrated globally on April 29 to mark the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet. The day recognises dance as a universal language that transcends cultural barriers.[7]
30 April – International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day is proclaimed by UNESCO and observed on April 30 to highlight jazz music’s role in promoting peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange between nations.[9]
Summary of April 2026 Holidays in India
| Holiday | Date | Type |
| Good Friday | April 3 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti | April 14 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Easter | April 5 | Restricted Holiday |
| Vaisakhi / Vishu | April 13–14 | State/Restricted Holiday |
| Bohag Bihu | April 15 | State Holiday (Assam) |
- https://pwonlyias.com/list-of-international-national-days/
- https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/important-days-in-2026/
- https://www.bajajfinservmarkets.in/resources/list-of-indian-holidays/april-holidays
- https://www.careerpower.in/important-days.html
- https://superkalam.com/upsc-preparation/resources/important-days-in-2026-national-and-international-list
- https://xylemlearning.com/important-days-in-april-2026-national-international-days-themes-slogans-festivals/
- https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/april-international-days
- https://www.un.org/en/observances/list-days-weeks
- https://www.remitly.com/blog/lifestyle-culture/april-national-global-holidays/
- https://www.calendarr.com/india/calendar-april-2026/
- https://paytm.com/blog/holiday-list/holidays-in-april/
- https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/2026
- https://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/month/festivals-april.html?year=2026
- https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/apr/
- https://www.vedantu.com/general-knowledge/important-days-in-april
