Vaisakhi 2026

When Is Vaisakhi in 2026?

In 2026, Vaisakhi falls on April 14. The observance lasts 1 day. Vaisakhi is observed on a fixed date each year. Solar Vaisakha 1 is determined by the sun's entry into Aries (Mesha samkranti); the date is April 13 or 14 (occasionally 15) based on IST. For Sikhs, it commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699; the same solar date marks Vishu (Kerala), Puthandu (Tamil New Year), and Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year). Vaisakhi is observed on the same date each year: April 14. Here are the dates for the next five years: Year Date 2026 April 14 2027 April 14 2028 April 13 2029 April 14 2030 April 14

What Time Does Vaisakhi Start in Your Time Zone?

Vaisakhi is calculated by the sun's position — specifically, the sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Aries (Mesha Sankranti), which falls on April 13 or 14 each year on the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, Vaisakhi falls on April 14. Because the festival is calculated astronomically rather than by the lunar phase, it falls on a nearly fixed date worldwide. The sun's entry into Aries occurs at the same astronomical moment worldwide — in 2026, on April 14 at 02:25 UTC. This means that in time zones east of UTC, the festival falls on April 14 (India, IST UTC+5:30, observes it on April 14). Sikh communities worldwide, from London to Surrey to Kuala Lumpur, observe Vaisakhi on the same Gregorian date — April 14 in 2026 — though the time of day for gurdwara visits and processions varies by local custom. The table below shows the observance date for Vaisakhi in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA April 14 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK April 14 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India April 14 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia April 14 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE April 14 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi — also spelled Baisakhi — is a major festival observed on April 13 or 14 each year, celebrated as the harvest festival of Punjab and as the founding day of the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood. The festival has both agricultural and religious significance, and it is one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar. Agriculturally, Vaisakhi marks the harvest of the rabi (winter) crop in Punjab, the breadbasket of India. Farmers celebrate the year's harvest with feasting, folk dancing (bhangra and gidda), and fairs. The festival also marks the start of the new solar year in the traditional Punjabi calendar, which is calculated by the sun's position rather than the moon's phase. Religiously, Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in Sikh history. On Vaisakhi day in 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth — the community of initiated Sikhs — at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. The Guru called for volunteers willing to die for their faith, and five men (the Panj Pyare, or Five Beloved Ones) stepped forward. The Guru initiated them into the Khalsa by baptism with amrit (sweetened water stirred with a double-edged sword), and they in turn initiated him. The Khalsa was established as a community of saint-soldiers, bound by the Five Ks (kesh, kangha, kara, kachera, kirpan) and committed to defending justice and righteousness. Vaisakhi is celebrated as the birthday of the Khalsa.

How Vaisakhi Is Celebrated

Vaisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Punjab and among Sikh communities worldwide. The day begins with visits to the gurdwara (Sikh temple), where the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book) is read continuously in the days leading up to Vaisakhi. The Granth Sahib is carried in a procession (nagar kirtan) through the streets, accompanied by music, singing, and the Panj Pyare — five initiated Sikhs representing the original Five Beloved Ones. The most important processions are at Anandpur Sahib (where the Khalsa was founded) and at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Bhangra and gidda — energetic Punjabi folk dances — are the cultural heart of Vaisakhi. Dancers in colorful traditional dress (men in kurta-pajama with turbans, women in salwar kameez) perform to the beat of the dhol drum, with movements that evoke the rhythms of agricultural work. Bhangra has become a global phenomenon, with Vaisakhi celebrations in London, Vancouver, Toronto, and other diaspora cities featuring bhangra competitions and performances. Wrestling matches (kushti) and folk sports are traditional at village fairs. Kar seva — voluntary service — is a central Vaisakhi tradition. Gurdwaras serve free meals (langar) to all visitors, and many Sikhs perform acts of service on Vaisakhi as a way of honoring the Khalsa's commitment to selfless service. The festival is also an occasion for new initiations into the Khalsa, with amrit ceremonies held at gurdwaras worldwide. New clothes are worn, sweets are distributed, and families gather for festive meals featuring traditional Punjabi dishes like makki di roti (corn flatbread) and sarson da saag (mustard greens).

Vaisakhi on the Calendar

Vaisakhi is calculated by the solar Hindu calendar used in Punjab and other parts of North India. The festival marks the sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Aries, which is also the start of the new solar year in this calendar. Because the solar year is about 365.24 days, the festival's date drifts very slowly — about one day every 70 years. Currently, it falls on April 14 most years, occasionally April 13. The Punjabi solar calendar is one of several regional Hindu calendars that follow the sun's position rather than the moon's phase. This makes Vaisakhi, like Pongal and Makar Sankranti, a festival with a nearly fixed Gregorian date — unlike lunar Hindu festivals like Diwali or Holi, which shift within a multi-week window each year. The festival marks both the harvest and the founding of the Khalsa, and the date is set by astronomical calculation, not by religious observation.

First day of Vaisakh month (solar); April 13 or 14 per Indian solar calendar

Traveling for Vaisakhi? Where to Go

Vaisakhi draws enormous Sikh pilgrim crowds to Anandpur Sahib, the city where the Khalsa was founded, and to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Hotels and guesthouses in these cities book out months in advance. The nagar kirtan processions in major Sikh population centers — Delhi, London, Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Kuala Lumpur — draw hundreds of thousands of participants and are major cultural events in those cities. Surrey, British Columbia hosts one of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside India, drawing over 500,000 attendees. Top destinations for this holiday: Amritsar: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Anandpur Sahib: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Chandigarh: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Ludhiana: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for vaisakhi, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Amritsar fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for Vaisakhi travel →]

Did You Know? Vaisakhi Facts & Trivia

Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi) is celebrated on April 13 or 14 each year, calculated by the sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Aries. The festival has both agricultural and religious significance for Punjabis and Sikhs — it marks the harvest of the rabi crop and the founding of the Khalsa. On Vaisakhi day in 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth — the community of initiated Sikhs — at Anandpur Sahib. The Guru called for volunteers willing to die for their faith, and five men (the Panj Pyare, or Five Beloved Ones) stepped forward. Bhangra and gidda — the energetic Punjabi folk dances performed during Vaisakhi — have become a global phenomenon. Bhangra in particular has been incorporated into popular music worldwide, with Vaisakhi celebrations in London, Vancouver, and Toronto featuring bhangra competitions and performances. The Five Ks — kesh (uncut hair), kangha (wooden comb), kara (steel bracelet), kachera (cotton undergarment), and kirpan (steel sword) — are the visible symbols of Khalsa Sikh identity, established by Guru Gobind Singh on Vaisakhi 1699. The kirpan is one of the most religiously significant items, symbolizing the defense of justice.