Labour Day 2026: Are banks near you open on May 1?

Is the bank closed on Labour Day 2026? May 1 is celebrated annually as Labour Day to honour the contributions of workers and the labour movement that took root in the late 19th century. This year, the day falls on Friday (tomorrow), and this has led to widespread confusion among bank customers as to whether banks across India will remain open or closed on Labour Day 2026.

RBI Bank Holiday Calendar 2026: Will banks remain closed on May 1 in your city?

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks are closed in 27 cities across in India, including Agartala, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada.

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The closure is on account of Maharashtra Day, Buddha Pournima, May Day (Labour Day) and the birth anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu. Other than these, bank branches are operational across the rest of the country on May 1, 2026.

Labour Day

May 1 is marked as May Day/ Labour Day, which is also known as International Workers' Day. The day celebrates the contributions of workers and the labour movement across the world. On May 1st, in many countries, to honor the contributions and achievements of the working class. It praises the historical struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement in advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers' rights.

Maharashtra Day

May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Day, which is also known as Maharashtra Diwas. It is celebrated annually on May 1st to observe the formation of the state of Maharashtra in India. This day marks the outcome of the efforts of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, a movement that advocated for the creation of a separate state for Marathi-speaking people. It was on May 1, 1960, that the Bombay State was reorganised, leading to the creation of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Also Read: Stock Market Holiday: Will NSE, BSE remain shut on May 1 for Maharashtra Day?

Full List of Bank Holidays in May 2026: Check important dates before planning your visit

Additionally, banks will be closed for eleven more days in May, including five Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays. Therefore, customers planning to visit a bank branch are advised to check the list of bank holidays issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before planning any transactions.

Key bank holidays in May 2026:

• May 1: Labour Day, Maharashtra Day, Buddha Purnima
• May 9: Second Saturday + Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti
• May 16: Sikkim State Day
• May 23: Fourth Saturday
• May 26: Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti
• May 27: Bakrid / Eid-ul-Adha
• May 28: Bakrid
• Sundays: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Bank branch closed in your city? Online banking, ATM and UPI services to remain fully operational

Physical branches will remain closed during the above-mentioned days, so customers can use online services like internet banking, mobile app and UPI, and also continue to use ATMs without any interruption, except in rare cases of scheduled maintenance.