Special days in January mark the perfect beginning of the year — blending national pride, cultural festivals, awareness days, and literary milestones into a month full of meaning. From widely celebrated public holidays to quieter observances that inspire reflection, January offers several opportunities to pause, learn, and engage with ideas that matter.
Whether you’re planning content calendars, school activities, reading lists, or simply want to stay informed, this curated guide to special days in January 2026 brings together key dates worth noting, helping you make the most of the year’s very first month.
January 2026 features a rich mix of national holidays, cultural festivals, and global awareness days that reflect India’s diversity and values. These days are widely observed across the country and internationally, making them relevant for educational planning, campaigns, workplace calendars, and themed content.
Here are a highlight of the most important dates to watch in January 2026.
| Date | Day | Occasion / Observance |
|---|---|---|
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | World Introvert Day |
| January 3, 2026 | Saturday | International Mind-Body Wellness Day |
| January 5, 2026 | Monday | National Bird Day |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti |
| January 9, 2026 | Friday | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas / NRI Day |
| January 10, 2026 | Saturday | World Hindi Day |
| January 12, 2026 | Monday | National Youth Day |
| January 13, 2026 | Tuesday | Lohri |
| January 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti |
| January 15, 2026 | Thursday | Pongal, Indian Army Day |
| January 16, 2026 | Friday | National Startup Day |
| January 23, 2026 | Friday | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti |
| January 24, 2026 | Saturday | National Girl Child Day, International Day of Education |
| January 25, 2026 | Sunday | National Voters’ Day, National Tourism Day |
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| January 27, 2026 | Tuesday | National Geographic Day |
| January 29, 2026 | Thursday | Indian Newspaper Day |
| January 30, 2026 | Friday | Martyrs’ Day / Mahatma Gandhi Death Anniversary |
January also holds a special place in the literary world. Several iconic writers were born this month, alongside globally recognised literary celebrations. These specail observances offer meaningful opportunities to revisit classic works, discover influential voices, and celebrate the power of books and storytelling.
| Date | Day | Author Birthdays / Literary Days |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday |
E. M. Forster Birthday J. D. Salinger Birthday |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday |
Isaac Asimov Birthday National Science Fiction Day |
| January 3, 2026 | Saturday | J. R. R. Tolkien Birthday |
| January 4, 2026 | Sunday | Universal Letter Writing Week |
| January 5, 2026 | Monday | Paramahansa Yogananda Birthday |
| January 12, 2026 | Monday |
Jack London Birthday Haruki Murakami Birthday Swami Vivekananda Birthday |
| January 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Mahasweta Devi Birthday |
| January 17, 2026 | Saturday | Javed Akhtar Birthday |
| January 18, 2026 | Sunday |
A. A. Milne Birthday National Thesaurus Day Winnie-the-Pooh Day |
| January 19, 2026 | Monday | Edgar Allan Poe Birthday |
| January 25, 2026 | Sunday |
Virginia Woolf Birthday Ashwin Sanghi Birthday |
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Anita Nair Birthday |
| January 27, 2026 | Tuesday | Lewis Carroll Birthday |
| January 28, 2026 | Wednesday |
Library Shelfie Day (Fourth Wednesday) Pride and Prejudice Published |
| January 29, 2026 | Thursday | Anton Chekhov Birthday |
