Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Hindu date
- Amavasya (Krishna paksha)
Kartik (Purnimanta) · Ashwin (Amanta) - Tithi begins / ends
- 11:28 AM → 12:32 PM, 9 Nov
- Pradosh Kaal
- 5:31 PM – 7:55 PM
- Sunrise · Sunset (New Delhi)
- 6:38 AM · 5:31 PM
- Vikram Samvat
- 2083 (Gujarati: 2082)
Dates
| Year | Date | Hindu date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | Amavasya (Krishna paksha) | Open in calendar |
| 2027 | Friday, 29 October 2027 | Amavasya (Krishna paksha) | Open in calendar |
Dates are for New Delhi. Dates that have already passed are not listed. Later years are added once they have been checked.
About Diwali
Diwali, or Deepavali, is the festival of lights and the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. Its main day falls on the new-moon night (Amavasya) of the month of Kartik in the Purnimanta calendar, which is Ashwin in the Amanta calendar, and it is the centre of a five-day celebration that begins with Dhanteras. Homes are cleaned and lit with oil lamps (diyas), and families worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, together with Ganesha.
Regions tell the day differently. Many remember Rama’s return to Ayodhya, others the victory of Krishna over Narakasura, and for many business communities it marks the start of the new financial year.
How the date is decided
Diwali is kept on the Amavasya that is running during Pradosh Kaal, the window that begins at sunset. When Amavasya covers the evening of two consecutive days, panchangs do not all agree; this calendar takes the day on which it is also present at sunrise. Because sunset times differ, the date can also fall a day apart between cities.
How it is observed
- Light rows of diyas at dusk and decorate the entrance with rangoli.
- Perform Lakshmi–Ganesha puja in the evening, during Pradosh Kaal (the period after sunset).
- Share sweets and gifts with family and friends.
- In many trading families, new account books are opened with a puja (Chopda Pujan).
Diwali 2026 in other cities
| City | Date | Compared with New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| London | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| New York | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Toronto | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Sydney | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Dubai | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Singapore | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Johannesburg | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | same as New Delhi |
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (New Delhi). The tithi runs from 11:28 AM to 12:32 PM, 9 Nov.
When is Diwali in 2027?
Diwali 2027 falls on Friday, 29 October 2027 (New Delhi).
Why does the date of Diwali change every year?
Diwali follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is tied to Amavasya (Krishna paksha) of the month of Kartik (Purnimanta) · Ashwin (Amanta), not to a fixed Gregorian date. A lunar year is about eleven days shorter than a solar year, so the date moves earlier by roughly that much each year, until a leap month (Adhik Maas) is added and it jumps back.
Is Diwali on the same day everywhere?
For the cities checked (New Delhi, London, New York, Toronto, Sydney, Dubai, Singapore, Johannesburg) the date is the same. Dates can still differ in other places, because tithis are read at local sunrise or sunset.