January 2026 Calendar: National and International Days, Festivals and Key Events

January 2026 Calendar: January is the first month of the year and is filled with national celebrations, international observances, cultural festivals and awareness days. These important dates are widely observed across India and around the world for social awareness, education, culture, history and public participation.

Knowing the January 2026 calendar is helpful for students, teachers, government offices, media platforms, social organizations and event planners. Below is a detailed and easy-to-understand overview of all major national and international days in January 2026.

Importance of January Observances

January represents fresh beginnings and renewal. Many important days during this month focus on youth, education, human rights, national pride, language, health awareness and cultural heritage. Major festivals like Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Lohri highlight India’s agricultural traditions, while days like Republic Day and National Youth Day strengthen national values.

International observances during January also encourage awareness about education, wildlife, mental health, social equality and global unity.

In India, key events in January include National Bird Day, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, National Youth Day, National Startup Day, National Voters’ Day, National Geographic Day and Martyrs Day/Shaheed Diwas.

January 2026: Day-wise List of Important Dates

January 1

• Global Family Day
  A day that promotes peace, unity and harmony within families and communities.

January 2

• World Introvert Day
  Dedicated to understanding and appreciating introverts and their strengths.

January 3

• International Mind-Body Wellness Day
  Focuses on the connection between mental and physical well-being.

January 4

• World Braille Day
  Highlights the importance of Braille for visually impaired people and inclusive education.

January 5

• National Bird Day
  Encourages bird conservation and protection of wildlife.

January 6

• Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
  Birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru.

• World Day of War Orphans
  Raises awareness about children affected by war.

January 7

• Mahayana New Year
  Celebrated by followers of Mahayana Buddhism.

January 8

• African National Congress Foundation Day
  Marks the establishment of the ANC in South Africa.

January 9

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)
  Honours the contribution of Indians living abroad.

January 10

• World Hindi Day
  Celebrates the global presence and importance of the Hindi language.

January 11

• Death Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri

• National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
  Focuses on preventing human trafficking and protecting victims.

January 12

• National Youth Day
  Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, inspiring youth empowerment.

January 13

• Lohri
  A traditional harvest festival celebrated mainly in North India.

January 14

• Makar Sankranti
  Celebrates the Sun’s transition into Capricorn.

• Pongal
  Harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu.

January 15

• Indian Army Day
  Honours the bravery, service and sacrifice of the Indian Army.

January 16

• National Startup Day
  Encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and startups in India.

January 17

• Benjamin Franklin Day
  Recognizes the legacy of Benjamin Franklin.

January 19

• Kokborok Day
  Celebrates the Kokborok language and culture of Tripura.

January 20

• Penguin Awareness Day
  Promotes conservation of penguins.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  Observed in some countries to honour the civil rights leader.

January 21

• Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya Foundation Day
  Marks the formation of these Indian states.

January 23

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti
  Birth anniversary of one of India’s greatest freedom fighters.

January 24

• National Girl Child Day
  Promotes the rights, education and empowerment of girls.

• International Day of Education
  Highlights the role of education in development and peace.

January 25

• National Voters’ Day
  Encourages citizens to participate in democracy.

• National Tourism Day
  Promotes tourism and cultural heritage.

January 26

• Republic Day (India)
  Celebrates the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

• International Customs Day
  Recognizes the role of customs authorities in global trade.

January 27

• National Geographic Day
  Promotes geographical awareness and exploration.

January 28

• Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

• K. M. Cariappa Jayanti
  Honours India’s first Field Marshal.

January 29

• Indian Newspaper Day
  Recognizes the role of newspapers and journalism.

January 30

• Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas)
  Observed in memory of freedom fighters.

• World Leprosy Day
  Raises awareness about leprosy and removes social stigma.

January 31

• International Zebra Day
  Promotes wildlife conservation and biodiversity.