Tamil festival dates 2026 by country
India = Chennai printed almanac · other countries = the main city's own sunrise, local date ·
In 2026, 5 of 7 Tamil festivals fall on a different day outside India. Navarathri begins: Sat 10 Oct in Canada, USA (India Sun 11 Oct). Saraswathi Pooja / Ayudha Pooja: Tue 20 Oct in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia (India Mon 19 Oct). Deepavali: Sat 7 Nov in Canada, UK, USA (India Sun 8 Nov). Thirukarthigai Deepam: Mon 23 Nov in Canada, USA (India Tue 24 Nov). Vaikunta Ekadasi: Sat 19 Dec in Canada, USA (India Sun 20 Dec).
Festival dates 2026 by country
| Festival | India Chennai | Singapore | Malaysia Kuala Lumpur | Sri Lanka Colombo | Canada Toronto | UK London | USA New York | UAE | Australia Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinayagar Chathurthi | Mon 14 Sep 2026 | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep | Mon 14 Sep |
| Navarathri begins | Sun 11 Oct 2026 | Sun 11 Oct | Sun 11 Oct | Sun 11 Oct | Sat 10 Oct 1 day earlier | Sun 11 Oct | Sat 10 Oct 1 day earlier | Sun 11 Oct | Sun 11 Oct |
| Saraswathi Pooja / Ayudha Pooja | Mon 19 Oct 2026 | Tue 20 Oct 1 day later | Tue 20 Oct 1 day later | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct | Tue 20 Oct 1 day later |
| Deepavali | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Sun 8 Nov | Sun 8 Nov | Sun 8 Nov | Sat 7 Nov 1 day earlier | Sat 7 Nov 1 day earlier | Sat 7 Nov 1 day earlier | Sun 8 Nov | Sun 8 Nov |
| Kandha Sashti (Soorasamharam) | Sun 15 Nov 2026 | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov | Sun 15 Nov |
| Thirukarthigai Deepam | Tue 24 Nov 2026 | Tue 24 Nov | Tue 24 Nov | Tue 24 Nov | Mon 23 Nov 1 day earlier | Tue 24 Nov | Mon 23 Nov 1 day earlier | Tue 24 Nov | Tue 24 Nov |
| Vaikunta Ekadasi | Sun 20 Dec 2026 | Sun 20 Dec | Sun 20 Dec | Sun 20 Dec | Sat 19 Dec 1 day earlier | Sun 20 Dec | Sat 19 Dec 1 day earlier | Sun 20 Dec | Sun 20 Dec |
'-' = outside the computed range for that country. Why the dates differ →
2026 · 2027 table · All festivals →
Countries: Singapore · Malaysia · Sri Lanka · Canada · UK · USA · UAE · Australia
Frequently asked
Why do Tamil festival dates differ abroad?
A festival is fixed by the thithi or star in force at the city's own sunrise (for Pongal, by when the Sun enters Makaram). That moment is the same worldwide, but in local time it can fall on the previous day in London, Toronto or New York, or the next day in Sydney. In 2026: Navarathri begins: Sat 10 Oct in Canada, USA (India Sun 11 Oct).
How are these dates computed?
India is the Chennai printed almanac (Vakya). Each other country is its main city, by its own sunrise, Thirukanitha, local date. Check your local temple too.